This unique event offers 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.

Use the printable mail in registration form to sign up for classes, or call 303-442-4993 to register by phone.
Printable Registration Form: Word Document | PDF

Saturday June 29

Cooking with Tea
with Lenny Martinelli
Saturday 10:00 am
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 its daily operations. Mr. Martinelli has over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry from busing tables to ownership. Mr. Martinelli is also the owner and operator of the Naropa Cafe, in The Naropa University. Mr. Martinelli's passion for tea is evident in his ""Tea Dinners" he developed for the past three Rocky Mountain Tea Festivals as well as his tea recipes that will be included in a book by the Republic of Tea. Mr. Martinelli has a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He currently resides in Louisville, Colorado with his wife and three children.

Organic India
with Shashank Goel
Saturday 12:00 pm
Learn the organic and biodynamic growing techniques that are producing some of India's finest teas. Participants will have the opportunity to taste a range of teas from India's two most famous regions, Darjeeling, and Assam.

Shashank Goel is an owner of Ambootia , a certified organic and bio-dynamic tea garden in Darjeeling and the certified organic Kopili Tea Estate located in Assam, India. Ambootia has been a leader in the development of both organic and bio-dynamic tea farming practices. Mr. Goel , a member of the American Premium Tea Institute's Board of Directors, has been a frequent speaker and writer on both tea and organic farming. Born and raised on a tea estate, he shares with us his own unique experiences of the estates.

Herbal Teas - From Garden to Cup
with Sara Stewart Martinelli
Saturday 2:00 pm
This fun and interactive workshops allows participants the opportunity to blend their own, custom tea blend by choosing from over twenty five tea herbs. The class covers the growing, drying, and storing techniques of common tea herbs, and explores the traditional medicinal uses and the folklore surrounding the plants. Each participant will take home a sample of their custom tea blend.

Sara Stewart Martinelli is the owner and tea blender of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse. She blends many of the teas that the Teahouse serves, and works directly with importers to ensure the quality of the tea menu of the Teahouse. Sara has a degree in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, and is now studying medicinal herbalism at the Rocky Mountain Center for Botanical Studies. Sara teaches workshops and classes throughout the year at the Teahouse.

Travels through Japan
with Barbara Graves
Saturday 4:00 pm
Join Barbara Graves as she relates the story of her travels through the tea gardens of Japan. Japanese teas are often considered some of the finest teas available, with a distinctive taste that sets them apart from mainland teas. Participants will have the opportunity to taste a variety of teas, such as Bancha, Sencha, and the exquisite Gyokuro, as well as some of the famous toasted and brown rice teas of Japan.

Barbara Graves has been the Minister of Commerce (VP of Sales and Marketing) for The Republic of Tea for six 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.. Ms. Graves led an expedition to Japan in September.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony
with The Kito Sokyo-Shatcyu Tea Group
Saturday 6:00 pm
The Kito Sokyo-Shacyu Tea Group will present a Japanese Tea Ceremony "Cya-no-yu" demonstration.

All the Tea in China
with David Lee Hoffman
Saturday 8:00 pm
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.

David Lee Hoffman has been traveling the backcountry of Asia for 25 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. Mr. Hoffman is the author of numerous articles on Tea, and has an upcoming book,

Sunday June 30

Taiwanese Oolong Tasting
with Brian Wright
Sunday 10:00 am
This hands-on tasting will feature several spring 2001 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.

Youth Class - Blending Herbal Teas for Health and Fun
with Brigitte Mars
Sunday 10:00 am
This class is specifically designed for children and young adults, ages 8 - 15. Brigitte Mars, herbalist and nutritional consultant will talk about creating herbal tea formulas. A discussion of the properties of herbal flavors (sour, bitter, sweet, pungent and salty), their correspndence to nature and the body and what they indicate will be discussed. Herbal safety, efficacy and enjoyment are the focus of this program.

Tea Leaf Reading
with Morwyn
Sunday 12:00 pm
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 a Ph.D. in Portuguese, a Master's in Spanish, and a B.A. in Latin American Studies. She is a former Fulbright, Gulbenkian and N.D.E.A. Title VI Fellow. She taught at major universities, including Brown for 15 years. For the last 15 years she has been an Intercultural Trainer,, has lived abroad throughout Latin America and Europe and speaks 5 languages. She was president 2000 of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Sisters in Crime and writes mystery novels under the name C.R. Blackmore. She has written seven books on esoterica and the occult, including The Complete Book of Psychic Arts. Under the name Doņa 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.

Tea Basics 101
with Stephanie Klausner
Saturday June 29 2:00 pm
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.

Stephanie Klausner is a tea merchant and sole proprietor of Red Crane Teas, a Denver based mail order tea company and consultation firm. Red Crane's line of specialty teas reflects Stephanie's discriminating palate and overwhelming passion for the leaf. She teaches classes at the Denver Botanic Gardens in the history and mystery of teas and conducts tea tastings and events around the area. Stephanie lives in Denver with her extensive collection of teapots and her cat named Keemun.

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