Winnipeg and the world’s love for tea on the rise

WINNIPEG — It’s no longer just a British tradition, the popularity of tea is surging. According to the Tea Association of Canada, tea consumption is expected to jump 40 per cent by 2020.

The Amsterdam Tea Room is the latest specialty tea shop in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. They currently carry 58 varieties of tea.

RELATED: Pricey tea a growing niche crop in US, Canada

“We retail loose leaf tea and tea ware,” owner Mark Turner said. “We absolutely love tea.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We retail loose leaf tea and tea ware," owner Mark Turner said. "We absolutely love tea."

Turner believes one of the big draws is not just the taste, but the experience of discovering all of the different varieties.

“There’s fruit tea, healthy tea options, wellness teas and a wide variety in black teas,” Turner said.

RELATED: Nunavut photographer turns tossed tea into frozen art

Nowadays there is even a tea sommelier certification. One of those experts says that the rise in popularity is due to the increase in the number of people trying to be more health conscious.

“We just ride the health wave,”  Raelene Gannon, sommelier from Toronto said. “It’s the oldest new trend I’d say, it has so many benefits and there’s so much you can do with it,” Gannon said.

It’s an old tradition that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.