Classes

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

The In-Person classes can be arranged for many of the New York tearooms. These are customized classes that cater to your particular tea interests. They allow for far more one-on-one discussion than you can get from group tours, which typically have 6-12 people. You can attend alone, or with up to two friends. Unlike the tours, they remain in one location through the course of the tour. The location is determined based on your particular tea interests and which parts of the city are convenient to you.

Select from the following courses or contact Vee Tea to customize a course based on your interests. To pick my brain about tea, the cost is $80 per hour plus the cost of all tea and food, with a minimum of one hour. If you want to learn about tea, but don’t know where to start, I suggest “Tea 101.” If you’re new to NYC or interested in moving here and wondering if a particular neighborhood is for you, try “Tea by Neighborhood.” I can also customize a class around whatever other tea interests you may have, from gong fu cha to bubble tea, and the health benefits of tea to hip tea rooms in NYC.

Tea 101: The basics of tea. How it is grown and processed, its range of tastes and caffeine contents, its health benefits, it history, and more.

Tea by Neighborhood: As a certified sightseeing guide for the city and former dormitory RA (Resident Advisor/ Assistant, depending on where you went to school), I am well equipped to ease your transition. We can meet in your new or prospective neighborhood for tea and talk about the feel and history of the neighborhood, where to get tea, cool hangout spots, etc. If you’re interested in art, knitting/fibers, or vegetarianism, I can also give you a good list of related places to check out around town.

To schedule an In-Person tea class, e-mail me with your areas of interest, 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. I’ll respond quickly with my availability.


The Long-Distance tea classes use a combination of telephone and Internet to teach about tea. They are essentially a congruent teleconference and a Powerpoint presentation made up of your tea interests. They are highly customized, so when you contact me about a long-distance tea tour, please let me know very 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 an evaluation of the business’s teas, my thoughts on the overall tea menu, ideas on generating business and maintaining clientele, suggestions on brewing practices and tea presentation, and guidelines for training employees to make and serve tea.

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 styles.

For your clients, I offer classes 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. A few possible topics include “Tea 101,” “World Tour of Tea,” and “Tea Processing from the Seed to Your Cup.” I will only provide this service to tearooms which I feel provide a variety of high quality, well-brewed teas in an environment that suits their clientele.

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