Classes

Tea classes are offered in three varieties: In-Person, Long-Distance, and Business.

The In-Person classes are customized classes in NYC tearooms that cater to your particular tea interests. They include one-on-one discussion, as well as handouts covering resources for further learning, any detailed topics we may cover (so you can review them later) and (if requested) a list of tearooms in NYC suited to your tastes, complete with menu highlights and other useful notes. The location is determined based on your particular tea interests and which parts of the city are convenient to you. Most attend alone for ease of learning, but you may bring up to two companions if you so choose.

To schedule an In-Person tea class, e-mail me with your areas of interest (hip tearooms, tea 101, tea sweets, tea cocktails, tea types/palate development, tea trends, etc.), times and dates of availability, preference of neighborhood or borough (if applicable), expected group size, and approximately how long you’d like the class to last (one hour minimum).


The Long-Distance tea classes use a combination of telephone and Internet to teach about tea. They are highly customized, so when you contact me about a long-distance tea tour, please let me know specifically what you are interested in learning about. Also, please let me know about your technological capabilities. (Do you have high-speed Internet connection, Powerpoint, Quicktime, Flash, and a telephone?) Rates vary. E-mail me for more information.


The Business classes are for business owners/managers, prospective business owners, the staffs of small businesses, and the clients of tea rooms. They involve e-mail and/or phone contact, meeting in person, and (in extant businesses) multiple business visits.

For owners and managers, I offer my professional opinion of the overall tea menu (what to add/remove, drink recipes, pricing strategies, etc.), ideas on generating business and maintaining clientele, suggestions on brewing practices and tea presentation, and guidelines for training employees to make and serve tea. I can also aid in sourcing new teas to build or modify your tea menu.

For prospective business owners, I offer a wealth of information on tea suppliers, how to create an appropriate tea menu for your business, how to price your teas, the basics of brewing and serving tea, business generating techniques, and guidelines for training employees with regard to tea.

For small businesses, I offer staff training in how to answer common customer questions, how to brew tea, and how to serve tea. This training is customized to your particular tea menu and client base, as well as your staff’s learning style.

For your clients, I offer classes/events on your specific teas, and why they should continue to buy them from you. The focus of the class is determined by visits to the tea room, the tea menu offerings, the clientele, and the type of event you wish to have, so the will vary widely with the tea room. Previous topics include "World Tour of Tea," "Taste of India," "Tango at the Teabar" (a yerba mate and Argentinian wine tasting with salsa dancing), and "An Introduction to Tea Tasting and Pairing." Topics are usually specific to the location, but more general event themes include "Tea 101," "Cooking (or Baking) with Tea," "Tea Trends," "Tea Cocktails," and "Developing Your Palate from Assam Black to Yerba Mate."

Rates vary with the scope of the project and my expected input of time and preparation. Contact me with your interests for an estimate.