10:00 am The Virtues of Herbal Teas with Caroline Macdougall
An overview of the beneficial health properties of popular tea herbs, the art of composing a tasteful blend, and a variety of health incentives for reducing your intake of caffeine by drinking herbal teas.

12:00 pm Tea Basics 101 with Barbara Graves
This basic overview of tea will teach the differences of black, green and oolong teas. Learn about the different growing regions, processing methods, and finished leaf styles of the worlds most recognized teas. You’ll have the opportunity to taste the teas side by side.

2:00 pm In Search of Organic China with David Lee Hoffman
a presentation of stories and adventures from 8 years of travels in China collecting rare teas, and working with the farmers to promote organic tea farming. Includes a demonstration of various brewing techniques, ceremonies, and tea tasting.

4:00 pm How to Brew the Perfect Cup with Wendy Rasmussen
This hands on class will teach the proper techniques for brewing black, oolong, green, and herbal tea. Learn the importance of details such as water quality, temperature, steeping time, and measured amounts to make the best possible cup.

SUNDAY

10.00am Gung Fu Style Oolong Tasting with Brian J. Wright
A hands on tasting teaching the methods used to prepare oolong teas in the traditional Gung Fu style, often described as the Chinese Tea Ceremony. Teas tasted will be some of Taiwan’s most celebrated teas of the year that Brian hand chose on his spring trip to Taiwan.

12:00 pm The Romance of Tea with James Norwood Pratt
A Verbal Voyage of Discovery through the history of this Miracle of Vegetation and the role it's played in human affairs these millennia past. As wine is the Christian sacrament, tea is Taoist/Buddhist communion and its story illuminates all Asian life and culture for almost 4,000 years before the most recent 400 years that tea has also been known to the West and gradually become the world's most popular beverage-- a ripping yarn thrillingly related by a master story teller and professional historian of the living leaf, James Norwood Pratt, author, and troublemaker.

2:00 pm Discovering Darjeeling with Devan Shah
Darjeeling teas have long been considered the most sought after teas in the world, as people anxiously await the first flush of the year and often pay enormous sums. Learn about the regions special microclimate and get a glimpse into the mystique by tasting some of the finest teas of the year. Barbara Graves has been the Minister of Commerce (VP of Marketing) for the Republic of Tea for four years. She serves on the board of The American Premium Tea Institute, and is the leader of the Republic of Tea’s annual trips to tea gardens in Asia. She has been involved in the Specialty Food Industry since 1982.

David Lee Hoffman has been traveling the backcountry of Asia for years seeking out the finest, best tasting leaves. With his 25 year passion for tea and a background in vermiculture and soil fertility, he is now working in China with the prestigious Tea Institute and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to implement sustainable organic tea farming.

Caroline MacDougall has been a pioneer in the herbal beverage industry for over 25 years. She started her career with Celestial Seasonings in 1972. Caroline has developed award winning herbal teas for The Republic of Tea, Seelect Teas, Uncle Lee's Tea and the Yogi Tea Company. She also created the best selling coffee substitute brand, Teeccino Caffeine-free Herbal Coffee ..

James Norwood Pratt is the author of The Tea Lover’s Treasury and The Tea Lover’s Companion, as well as other books and countless articles and columns, making him one of the most widely read experts on tea. Mr. Pratt was Honorary Director of the first traditional Chinese Teahouse in America, instrumental in creating APTI, and founder and editor of Tea Trade, the magazine of the world tea business.

Wendy Rasmussen is the Executive Director of the American Premium Tea Institute, and a frequent contributor to tea industry journals. She is the author of Tea Basics.

Devan Shah is the owner and importer of India Tea Imports, and owner of the Chado Tea Room in Los Angeles. Full bio not available.

Brian J. Wright is owner and founder of Shan Shui Teas in Washington D.C., importing top quality oolong teas from Taiwan. Mr. Wright frequently travels to Taiwan to hand pick the premium teas that he offers.

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