In a city infamous for its 24-hour cocktail culture, I embarked on a mission that felt downright subversive: infiltrating the 2025 World Tea Expo at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Armed with nothing but a press pass and a caffeine tolerance built from years of three-cup mornings, I ventured into a world where the highest form of intoxication comes from properly steeped leaves.
The Matcha Mob
The moment I stepped onto the expo floor, it became clear: matcha has become the Don Corleone of the tea world. This vibrant green powder dominated booth after booth, with vendors whipping their whisks like conductors leading a very zen orchestra. I sampled more varieties than I could count, though the lattes proved to be gateway drinks for this journalist.
The true kingpin of the matcha world? Japanese Green Tea Co., whose Ceremonial Matcha swept the 2025 Global Tea Championship Awards like a tea-world Scarface. They claimed Best Ground Leaf Profile, Best Cup Character, Best Ceremonial, and the coveted Grand Prize. I half-expected to see their competition sleeping with the koi fishes.
Beyond the Leaf
But the tea revolution extends far beyond traditional leaves. I encountered botanical rebels creating concoctions from cacao, passion flower, and mushrooms. The most Instagram-worthy discovery was the Butterfly Pea Flower tea, which transforms from deep indigo to sky blue when milk is added—nature’s mood ring in a cup.
Even Perrier joined the party, slinging tea-infused sparkling mocktails that gave me flashbacks to my mixology adventures, minus the next-day regrets. For those who can’t commit to liquid refreshment, vendors hawked hard candies infused with tea, because apparently, Las Vegas hasn’t met a vice it couldn’t convert into a socially acceptable format.
Macho Matcha
Perhaps the most Vegas-appropriate development was the emergence of “Tea for Guys“—because nothing says masculine insecurity quite like needing gender-specific dried leaves. These brews promised all the antioxidants with none of the perceived emasculation of traditional tea culture. I’m still waiting for the neon signs and slot machine sound effects to complete the transformation.
The Zen and the Zing
While the World Tea Expo maintained a surprisingly tranquil atmosphere upstairs—all mindful sipping and thoughtful contemplation—downstairs told a different story. The main Bar and Restaurant Expo roared with alcohol samples, food tastings, and even cannabis-infused cocktails. It was like witnessing the duality of Vegas itself: meditation retreat meets bachelor party, all under one roof.
The Vegas Tea Crawl
For those inspired to explore Las Vegas’s burgeoning tea scene beyond the convention center, I’ve compiled the essential stops for your own caffeine-fueled adventure:
The Tea Terrace (6830 S Rainbow Blvd STE) offers full “Royal Afternoon Tea” and “High Tea” experiences—because nothing says “Las Vegas” quite like pretending you’re British royalty in the middle of the desert.
The Cobblestone Cottage (7795 W Sahara Ave) serves an impressive array of teas in a setting that looks like your grandmother’s living room—if your grandmother were simultaneously decorating for four different holidays.
Teaspoon Summerlin (1990 Village Center Cir) brings trendy vibes to traditional boba milk teas, proving that Sin City can make even drinking tea feel like a nightclub experience.
Halloween Emporium and Haunted Tea Room (4555 S Fort Apache Rd) might be the most Vegas tea experience of all—combining spooky novelties with exotic brews. You can’t sit down to enjoy your tea, but who needs chairs when you’re surrounded by decorative skeletons year-round?
The Last Drop
As I exited the convention center, jittery from sampling everything from thousand-dollar ceremonial matcha to tea-infused energy drinks, I realized that our fair city has once again proven its ability to elevate any experience to spectacular heights. In a city built on excess, even the humble tea leaf gets its moment in the spotlight—no showgirls required (though I’m sure that concept is already in development for next year’s expo).
