Workshops

Workshops are a more in-depth study of the material covered in programs. The workshop contains all the material of a tea program, but with more information, more hands on involvement, and a tea tasting. There are four sessions in each workshop, each lasting from ninety minutes to two hours with a break between each session. The entire workshop can last from eight to ten hours depending on the client's preferences. Price starts at $90 per person but is determined by the content of the workshop. Tours to tea rooms are available at an additional cost.

Workshop Sessions

• Session 1 - The History of Tea
• This session follows tea throughout history, from the discovery to present day. How was tea brought from the Far East to Europe and then to the United States. See teapots and accessories from around the world. Look closely at the pekoe (“white hairs”) leaves on a tea plant. Why was tea considered unpatriotic to drink for a time in the United States, and why is it making such a comeback now?

• Session 2 - How to Prepare Tea Properly
• Have you ever had tea that tasted like you did not want a second cup? Have you ever tried to have a good cup of tea in a restaurant? Have you gone to a tearoom or teahouse and ordered a fine tea but the second or third cup seems bitter? Tea is enjoyed around the world and you will learn to make and have an exquisite cup of this wonderful beverage.

• Session 3 - The Etiquette of Tea
• Who pours tea during teatime and why was it a risky thing to do during Victorian times? Why are you not supposed to stick out your pinky when drinking tea? Learn when to place your napkin on your lap and what to do with it during the entire meal. See how to eat a scone and learn what Devonshire cream is used for. Have an edge in business with the confidence to eat anywhere with anyone and know that you are seen as someone who has good manners.

• Session 4 - Tea tasting
• Look at different kinds of fine full leaf teas before and after steeping. Feel the weight of a tea brick and taste tea from it. Smell different varieties of dry tea leaves and taste the differences of the steeped beverage from these leaves. Watch the “agony of the leaf” as full leaf tea unfolds in your cup. Use all your senses during the tea tasting, broaden your palate, and learn to order fine tea that will delight you and your guests.