Diane Eddy
Whether you call it tea, thé or cha, tea is so much more than just a beverage. For many, its mystique is living art, steeped in ceremony and thoughtfulness — a reflection of the things and people we love. Although it is quite basic, tea satisfies not just our thirst, but also our spirit, helping us feel a bit more civilized and sophisticated.
Tea seems like such a simple infusion — a few dried leaves soaked in hot water producing a dark, reddish-brown or green liquid. However, despite its unimpressive appearance, tea is the drink of choice for billions of people — the second most-consumed beverage on the planet — second only to water. Why is it so popular? Why is it in such demand today? What does tea mean to your — childhood memories? Comfort when ill? Good friendships? A healthy lifestyle?
If the tea leaves could answer these questions, they would tell you of the rituals, enchantment and the darker side of tea. Or just maybe, they would tell you that the study of tea can be fun, easy and lead to life-long friendships. During this season’s Sun Lakes tea-tasting classes, you will find those little dried leaves will whisper all of their secrets in your ear — just as they talk to the majority of humanity.
November 21, 2017, will be the first of a series of six monthly tea tasting classes led by Global Tea Mart’s Certified Tea Professional Diane Eddy. Come and join us on our journey along the ancient tea trail on November 21 and December 19, 2017, and January 16, February 20, March 20 and April 17, 2018. Tantalize your nostrils and intrigue your taste buds with many different exceptional teas. Come and experience the stunning single estate teas, Chinese Dragonwell and Indian Assams and Darjeelings, and so many others. Each of these extraordinary teas takes just minutes to steep, yet creates memories for a lifetime. And as a very special treat, our April 17 class will present an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony, performed by tea ceremony volunteers from the Arizona Chado Urasenke Tankokai.
At the first class, we will explore mastering black teas — those oh-so-familiar and delicious teas we all love. You will discover that creating great-tasting black tea is quite easy. There are only a few steps — looking at the dry leaves, steeping the tea correctly, examining the wet leaf, smelling the aroma of the infused tea and, finally, tasting some of the most exquisite teas in the world.
Students, please bring a teacup and saucer, along with your sense of humor and adventure. Bring your friends and come join us November 21, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in the Sun Lakes Country Club’s Navajo Room for a fun-filled morning of sipping and slurping terrific tea. The cost of the class is $5 per person, and reservations are necessary.
Please call Diane at 480-219-6211 or email her at [email protected] for more information and to make your reservation.