These unique events will offer the opportunity to experience workshops, classes, and tastings with some of the leading experts in the Tea Industry. Classes range from beginner level to advanced, and each offers a unique view of the world of premium tea.

Friday July 29

4:00 pm - Tea Leaf Reading with Morwyn
The gentle art of divining your future in a teacup has been practiced for centuries. One of the reasons why it has remained popular into contemporary times is because it causes us to pause in our hectic daily lives, relax, and reach down deep within ourselves to contemplate the larger issues of life. Tea leaf reading enables you to travel deeply into your subconscious mind and make connections between personal images and universal symbols to help guide you on your life's journey. In this workshop, Morwyn will present some of the history and techniques of tea leaf reading taken from cultures worldwide. You’ll have the opportunity to practice by reading two cups. Learn to read your cup every day, and each time, receive fresh inspiration.

Morwyn has written seven books on esoterica and the occult, including The Complete Book of Psychic Arts. Under the name Doña Carolina da Silva, she is co-authoring a series of 16 books in Spanish. Morwyn has given many tea leaf reading workshops both in the USA and in the UK based on the information on tea from her book Green Magic.

Saturday July 30

10:00 am - Tea Basics 101 with Richard Guzauskas
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. This is a perfect introduction to the world of tea, and offers a wonderful opportunity to learn to appreciate the leaf.

Richard Guzauskas - Richard officially entered the main stream of the tea industry in 1991 by founding the company Leaves Pure Teas. He remained sole owner of Leaves Pure Teas until April 2001, at which time China Mist Tea Company purchased the brand. Richard presently acts as a consultant to the China Mist Tea Co and continues to grow the Leaves brand within the food service arena both domestically and overseas.
A well-received contributor to many tea publications, Richard has taught several overflowing classes on the subject of tea and continues to lead seminars on teas across the country and abroad. Richard presently chairs the committee charged with creating a program of seminars on tea education for the Specialty Tea Institute.

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12:00 pm - Teas of India with Shashank Goel
Travel through northern India on an exploration of some of the worlds finest organic teas. Learn about the organic and biodynamic practices employed.

Shashank Goel is a co-owner of his family eight tea plantations- two of the most renowned being Ambootia, a certified-organic and biodynamic tea garden in Darjeeling that is registered with Fair Trade and the Kopili Tea Estate, a certified organic tea estate located in Assam, India. Producing premium teas catering to tea connoisseurs worldwide, the estates have been leaders in the development of organic and biodynamic tea farming practices through a socially and environmentally conscious approach. Born and raised on a tea estate and now managing the international marketing for these certified organic and biodynamic teas, Shashank is able to share a unique experience of tea. He has been a frequent speaker on tea, organic and biodynamic farming, socially and sustainable business practices and marketing of such products. He is published in several national and international publications. Shashank is the Chairman of the Specialty Tea Institute and is a Director of the Tea Association of USA. Furthermore, he serves on the International Relations Committee for the Organic Trade Association.

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2:00 pm - Rooibos Tea - Wonder Herb of Africa with Barbara Graves
Experience an extraordinary trek to the southernmost tip of Africa. The
mountainous Cape Region is our final destination. Here the landscape is arid and dry and only the most hearty and powerful plants survive. On a peak known as Cedarburg Mountain we view low shrub-like plants as far as the eye can see that yield a powerful herb known as Rooibos (Roy-boss), meaning Red Bush. Join Barbara Graves, Minister of Commerce for The Republic of Tea, as we taste 5 offerings of this caffeine-free herb rich in antioxidants. Learn about the health benefits, cultivation, processing and history of Rooibos.

Barbara Graves is the Minister of Commerce for The Republic of Tea. She has traveled to the finest tea gardens in the world including India, China, Japan and South Africa. Barbara has been invited to speak at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, annual Specialty Tea Symposium, and other tea conferences on topics such as Organic Tea, Tea Rituals and Origins of Tea. She has served on the board of the American Premium Tea Institute and currently serves on the board of The Specialty Tea Institute. She delights in bringing tea to people and people to tea. Her expertise provides a world of knowledge, and her effervescent personality makes for an entertaining presentation, at any venue where tea, its many varieties, history and health benefits are discussed.

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4:00 pm - Puerh Teas and Exotic Teas of China
with David Lee Hoffman

Join David Lee Hoffman in a discussion and presentation of his many adventures in the backcountry of China in search of premium tea. Learn the methods of tea cultivation on traditional Chinese tea farms, and how Mr. Hoffman hand chooses each tea that he imports to the US. This class offers the opportunity to taste some of Mr. Hoffman's teas, often unavailable from any other source. With special emphasis on the exotic Puerh teas from the Yunnan region.

David Lee Hoffman has been traveling the backcountry of Asia for 26 years seeking out the finest, best tasting leaves. With his 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. Mr. Hoffman is the founder of Silk Road Teas.

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6:00 pm - Chado - The Japanese Tea Ceremony
with The Kita Sokyu- Shacyu Tea Group
This is a great opportunity to witness the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony, presented by the Kita Sokyo-Shacyu Tea Group. The demonstration will include explanation of the history of the tea ceremony and its cultural significance. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to taste the special whisked tea prepared in the ceremony.

Kita Shachu Tea Group has conducted performances at various locations andevents, including: The Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanical Gardens, and TheJapan America Society.

Sunday July 31

10:00 am - Cooking with Tea with Lenny Martinelli
Experience the variety of ways that tea can be used in the culinary arts, in this unique, hands on class with the Executive Chef and owner of the Teahouse, Lenny Martinelli. Using all kinds of tea, including black, oolong, green, and herbal, Mr. Martinelli will demonstrate the versatility of the leaves with delicious, unique recipes that you can recreate at home. Participants will have the opportunity to taste the dishes made, as well as take home the recipes.

Lenny Martinelli is Owner and Executive Chef of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse and is actively involved in the daily operations. Mr. Martinelli has over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry from bussing tables to ownership. He is also the owner and operator of the Naropa Cafe, in The Naropa University, and The Huckleberry, in Louisville.
Lenny has developed the “Tea Dinners “ for the Rocky Mountain Tea Festivals for the past five years.

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12:00 pm - Taiwanese Oolong Tasting with Brian Wright
This hands-on tasting will feature several spring 2005 oolong teas from Taiwan. Participants will compare the diverse range of flavors found among oolong teas, and at the same time get experience brewing them gongfu style, using a small unglazed teapot. The geography of Taiwanese teas, nuances of seasonal variation, and basics of tea processing will also be discussed. This workshop offers the chance to taste some of the finest oolong teas from Taiwan, (Formosa) often considered some of the best teas in the world.

Brian J. Wright, proprietor of Shan Shui Teas in Washington DC, became enamored with Chinese tea while studying in Taipei and Beijing in 1989-90. He continued his hobby after returning to the U.S., and expanded it into a business in 1993 to satisfy his friends' appetites for fine tea. Currently, Brian specializes in providing top quality Taiwanese oolong teas, Korean green teas, and teaware for their preparation.

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2:00 pm - Tea and Ceremony with Donna Fellman
An Exploration of the Ceremonial Celebration of Tea around the World.
In this workshop, you will explore the ways people around the world have embraced the beverage of tea, and how it has become entrenched both in everyday life and in ceremonial expression. From the elegant and meticulous Japanese Tea Ceremony to the refined English Afternoon Tea, cultures have incorporated this leaf into their lives. In addition, you'll be introduced to the Gung Fu ceremony of China, the ceremonies of Africa, and the ways tea is enjoyed in the US.

Donna Fellman, M.S. (Holistic Nutrition) As director of T·E·A, the Tea Education Alliance, dedicated to promoting tea and the tea lifestyle through education and experience, Donna offers workshops and classes, professional consulting and tea training, and publishes and distributes educational materials about tea. Donna is owner of The Bodhidharma Tea Company, offering tea and tea ware for a contemplative lifestyle. She is the co-author of Tea Here Now, (Inner Ocean Publishing, to be released in October 2005) introducing tea as a lifestyle. She studies chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony through the Urasenke Foundation.

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4:00 pm - Tea Leaf Reading with Morwyn
The gentle art of divining your future in a teacup has been practiced for centuries. One of the reasons why it has remained popular into contemporary times is because it causes us to pause in our hectic daily lives, relax, and reach down deep within ourselves to contemplate the larger issues of life. Tea leaf reading enables you to travel deeply into your subconscious mind and make connections between personal images and universal symbols to help guide you on your life's journey. In this workshop, Morwyn will present some of the history and techniques of tea leaf reading taken from cultures worldwide. You’ll have the opportunity to practice by reading two cups. Learn to read your cup every day, and each time, receive fresh inspiration.

Morwyn has written seven books on esoterica and the occult, including The Complete Book of Psychic Arts. Under the name Doña Carolina da Silva, she is co-authoring a series of 16 books in Spanish. Morwyn has given many tea leaf reading workshops both in the USA and in the UK based on the information on tea from her book Green Magic.

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