The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is proud to announce the
11th Annual

Rocky Mountain Tea Festival

July 24 - 25

Please call us at 303-442-4993
to register for classes!

Saturday July 24

9:00 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, Aji Latin American Restaurant, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, and The Huckleberry.

11:00 am –Taiwanese Oolong Tasting with Brian Wright
This hands-on tasting will feature several spring 2010 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.

1:00 pm - ‘Are There Tannins in My Tea?’ with Donna Fellman

Over the last 15 years of teaching tea, I’ve heard a lot of questions: ‘Are there tannins in my tea? How much caffeine is in tea? What is milk oolong? Is it flavored? Which tea is the most healthful tea to drink?’ Come join me as I answer all these questions and more. The chemistry of tea is fun, fascinating and easy to understand when we’re looking at what’s in the cup and exploring how it got there.

Donna Fellman recognized the importance of tea education for management, staff and the public at large while managing teahouses. As director of the Tea Education Alliance (T∙E∙A), she offers professional consulting and staff training programs, and publishes educational materials about tea. She is co-author of Tea Here Now, (Inner Ocean Publishing, 2005) exploring a relationship to tea as a teacher and a lifestyle. As a member of the Specialty Tea Institute’s Advisory Board and the STI Education Committee, she continues to support and expand the educational core of the Tea Certification Program to meet the needs and demands of the rapidly growing tea industry and its professionals.

3:00 pm - Tea Leaf Reading with Caroline Dow

The gentle art of divining your future in a teacup has been practiced for centuries. Tea leaf reading remains popular in contemporary times because it allows us to pause in our hectic daily lives, relax, and reach deep within ourselves to contemplate life's larger issues. Teacup reading enables us to travel into our subconscious minds and make connections between personal images and universal symbols to help guide us on life's journey. In ths workshop, Caroline presents some history and techniques of tea leaf reading taken from cultures worldwide. You'll have the opportunity to practice reading two cups. Learn to read your cup every day, and each time, receive fresh inspiration.

Caroline Dow has written 15 books on esoterica and Brazilian folk religions. She learned tea leaf reading at her auntie's knee, and now presents workshops in the USA and Europe based on the information from her book, Tea Leaf Reading for Beginners: Your Fortune in a Teacup. Currently she is writing a new mystery novel series featuring a Latina amateur aromatherapist sleuth.

5:00 pm – From Garden to Cup: Tea 101 & Beyond – with Yoon Hee Kim

Join tea specialist Yoon Hee Kim, on a wondrous journey of a tea leaf from garden to cup. A multi-media presentation utilizing the celebrated photos of Yoon Hee Kim that are part of a "One World in Tea" photo exhibit in conjunction with a fast-paced Tea 101 workshop.  You will travel through the world tea regions and learn about the different types of tea, their origins and how they are processed. Along the way, you will also unearth some of the existing tea controversies and myths.., and differentiate the various styles of steeping a perfect cup of tea, one that's just right for you! Highly recommended for all tea enthusiasts.., regardless of where you are in your own tea journey.
Yoon Hee Kim is a tea specialist, photographer, multicultural educator, chef and tea ceremony artist. As president of TeaClassics and Hancha Tea, offering premium wholesale teas and tea wares as well as tea photos, educational seminars and consulting services, Yoon Hee travels the world in pursuit of the finest teas.
An international lecturer and frequent speaker at tea conferences, corporate trainings and educational institutions, Yoon Hee is also a certified instructor for the U.S. Tea Association’s Specialty Tea Institute (STI), Co-Chair of its Education & Certification Committee, serves on the STI Advisory Board, and is Vice President of the Western Tea Businesses Association. As a certified tea master with the Tea Culture Association of Korea, Yoon Hee serves as its U.S. Director, teaches and performs the traditional art of Korean Tea Ceremony, founded the Korean Tea Culture Foundation, and has been recognized as Korea's Tea Ambassador by the Governor of JeollaNamDo. Prior to transitioning to the tea industry full time, Yoon Hee was a highly regarded Asian Pacific American community leader and civil rights advocate. By sourcing fine teas and sharing her stories of tea from across the regions, Yoon Hee’s lifelong passion for tea and deep seeded desire to create positive social change and help connect the world is being realized, one delicious cup at a time.

7:00 pm – Chado – The Tea Ceremony of Japan

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 and events, including: The Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanical Gardens, and The Japan America Society.

Sunday July 25

10:00 am Tea and Qi: Why Tea is So Important In Chinese Healing Arts with Kenneth Cohen
Qigong is the ancient Chinese science of using posture, movement, breath, and imagery to gather life force (qi) and improve health. Ken will lead you in seated qigong meditations that deepen the breath and create a wonderful feeling of well-being and vitality. And then, as we taste fine Chinese teas, discover for yourself why qigong practitioners love tea! Qigong awakens the senses so you can more fully enjoy the tea experience. Tea also enhances qigong’s healing effects. According to Chinese medicine, tea helps to spread and smooth the flow of life force.

Ken Cohen (www.kennethcohen.com), former student of Alan Watts and Joseph Campbell, has followed the Way of Tea for more than 35 years, including many years teaching the Japanese Tea Ceremony. A China scholar, health educator, and Qigong Master, he is the author of The Way of Qigong (Ballantine Books) and best-selling Sounds True audio and dvd courses. Ken’s work has been sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic, the Canadian Ministry of Health, and numerous universities.

12:00 pm – Nature’s Healing Herbs with Brigitte Mars
Healing Herbal Teas: We know many of them taste lovely. Come learn how herbal teas have traditionally been used as nourishing tonics and even for their therapeutic effects. Learn to put intention into every cup you brew and feel the healing benefits!

Brigitte Mars is a professional member of the American Herbalist Guild, and a nutritional consultant working with Natural Medicine for over forty years. She teaches Herbal Medicine at Naropa University, Omega Institute, Hollyhock, Boulder College of Massage, Esalen and Bauman Holistic College of Nutrition. She blogs for the Huffington Post, Care2 and My Intent.
Brigitte is the author of twelve books, including The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, Beauty by Nature, Addiction Free Naturally, The Sexual Herbal, Healing Herbal Teas, and Rawsome!.

2:00 pm - Puerh 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 30 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, and currently works closely with the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse to import the finest Chinese teas directly following the annual harvest.

Tea Bazaar

Booths will be set up to offer tastings and sales of premium teas, tea ware, and other tea related goods.
Are you interested in being one of our vendors? Please contact us at

Tea Fest Vendor Info

The Children's Teddy Bear Tea Party