Stage Presentations

Something interesting is happening in the beverage world. More people are choosing alcohol-free options, but they’re not looking for substitutes. They’re looking for experiences—drinks with complexity, character, aroma, and a story worth sharing.

At the same time, tea lovers have long appreciated those same qualities. So what happens when tea culture and zero-proof cocktail culture meet? Join Juanita Unger of The NA Sommelier and Jennifer Diamond of A Matter of Taste Seattle for an exploration of how tea, flowers, rooibos, and honeybush are helping shape a new generation of sophisticated alcohol-free beverages.

Through aroma exploration, guided tasting, and real-world examples, we’ll examine why these ingredients work so well together and what they can teach us about balance, flavor, hospitality, and connection.

Participants will experience a signature tea-based botanical mocktail and leave with new ideas for enjoying tea beyond traditional brewing.

1. Two Major Raw Pu-er tea growing regions - Lincang City and Xishuangbanna Prefecture; 2. Local tea planters' culture - minority groups of Bulang, Wa, Oahu and Hani.

This presentation expands tea appreciation beyond taste, antioxidants, and relaxation by demonstrating how tea practice cultivates attention, emotional clarity, and daily ritual. Through a synthesis of neuroscience and Zen principles rooted in Japanese tea practice, participants will experience tea as a practical tool for modern well-being, cognitive presence, and emotional regulation.

Attendees will:

• Experience a guided tea practice that trains focused attention and sensory awareness
• Learn how attention influences emotional regulation and shifts reactivity into calm presence
• Discover practical, science-informed ways to integrate tea into daily life as a grounding clarity ritual

This session offers tea enthusiasts an evidence-informed lens that strengthens engagement with tea culture, enhances tea time as a more restorative and conscious practice, extends clarity and presence into daily life, and supports the continued evolution of the tea community.

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, yet most people never think about what goes into making it taste the way it does. This presentation walks you through the key factors that shape every cup from the cultivar of the tea bush and the elevation of the farm, to the soil it grew in and the way it was processed. By the end, you will have a good idea of the major factors that affect your cup of tea.

Join us for an introduction to the rich world of Taiwanese teas. This presentation will explore the history and culture of tea production in Taiwan, the unique characteristics of popular teas such as High Mountain Oolong, Dong Ding Oolong, Sun Moon Lake black, High Mountain Matcha and Oriental Beauty, and the factors that influence tea quality and flavor. Participants will learn how Taiwanese teas are grown, processed, and evaluated, while gaining practical tips for selecting, brewing, and tasting premium teas. Attendees will also have the opportunity to experience the distinctive aromas and flavors that make Taiwanese teas highly regarded by tea enthusiasts around the world.

Join Ocha as they discuss their years of experience dispelling the myth of elitism in tea by use of storytelling, hobbies, casual education, and endearment. Learn strategies to bring new drinkers into your communities and inundate tea into a simple pleasure of daily life.

Through the detailed study of the economics of tea and over a decade of experience in the international tea trade and innovative tea retail, Petersen will ask the question "What is the price of tea?" This is a nuanced exploration into market dynamics and how there is not one objective price for tea. Part mathematics and part philosophy, this presentation will empower you to be a more mindful consumer and supporter of the products you love. Tea retailers aren't just selling a crafted leaf but an experience that can only be valued by the customer.

How can a tea app become a living tea community? In this presentation, Vincent Liu shares how MyTeaPal grew from a digital brewing and tracking tool into a global network of tea drinkers connected through gong fu cha, virtual tastings, tea clubs, origin travel, and local gatherings. Attendees will learn how technology can make gong fu cha more approachable, how online communities can become meaningful in-person tea tables, and how thoughtful hosting can turn tea into cross-cultural exchange. Vincent will also share his vision for a Gong Fu Cha Ambassador network connecting tea producers, teaware makers, and community hosts worldwide.

Big changes are coming to our favorite teas, whether drinkers want them or not. As trends in global warming, labor economies, and regional politics continue through the 21st century, the realities of growing great tea are set to collide with some harsh truths. This talk from award-winning tea journalist Max Falkowitz will survey how enterprising farmers are adapting to making tea in a new world. We'll explore advances in automation, climate-resilient plants, and changes in labor equity—and how they'll all shape the tea in our cups in the years to come.

A look at tea gardens and their history of biodynamic permaculture practices for healthy ecosystems with an overview of C. Sinensis' unique needs and options for adapting PNW gardens for successful tea growth.

Takeaways:

1. Gain awareness of strengths and weaknesses of various garden structures for different climates and goals
2. Identify key challenges facing tea growers in the PNW
3. Learn how to create ideal growth structure for tea in our region

Gabriel will lead a discussion on how tea makes everything more fun using many examples from his own tea journey thus far,  as well as some stories from fellow tea friends he has made along the way.  Gabriel's experience in the wine world gives him a unique perspective and point of entrance into the tea world, but his enthusiasm for tasting, learning and connecting with tea and tea people is what he feels is most important.  Come and hear from Gabriel and friends on how to approach tea in a playful and engaged way.

In this presentation, with a brief introduction of her family and her village's geography and agricultural significance, Shu will walk the audience through a year-in-the-life of a small traditional Pu-erh tea-farming village, and describe how daily life and culture is intertwined with the seasons of tea growing, harvesting, prepration, and drinking. There will be pictures and videos to help illustrated how pu-erh tea is planted, tended, harvested, and appreciated in the village. By the end, Shu hopes the audience can walk away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Pu-erh tea and its deep connection to the people, rhythms of life, and culture of the people who grow it. 

This workshop introduces the concept of tea as medicine through an Ayurvedic lens. You will learn how to identify your body type (dosha) and understand how different teas can support digestion, energy, and overall balance. We will explore how to choose the right tea based on your current state, not just general trends. You’ll gain practical tools to build simple, daily tea rituals using herbs and ingredients that align with your body’s needs. This session focuses on clarity, not complexity, helping you make more intentional choices for long-term wellness.

How did tea arrive in Mexico? This session uncovers a story rarely told: tea's journey across the Pacific aboard the Manila Galleons, the role of Mexican silver in the global tea trade, and the beverage culture that shaped how tea took root in Mexico. Drawing on original research, period newspapers, and historical archives, attendees will learn how tea connected Asia and the Americas centuries ago, discover the historic teaware that accompanied it, and explore how Mexico's tea culture is being rediscovered today.

Tea has long been one of the world’s most consumed beverages, yet it is only recently beginning to be discussed with the depth often reserved for wine, coffee, chocolate, and fragrance. This presentation explores how tea culture is evolving through changing ideas of taste, quality, rarity, and origin. Attendees will gain insight into the rise of the premium tea segment, learn how sensory elements such as structure, mouthfeel, and finish shape modern tea appreciation, and leave with a broader understanding of how language and culture are redefining tea today.

Explore the rich and often overlooked world of indigenous wild tea traditions of India. We will dive into tea practices that existed long before colonial influence, shaped by local communities, land, and culture. Participants will learn about unique tea-growing regions, traditional processing methods, and the importance of preserving these craft practices.

Explore the rich history of Japanese tea, from its origins and development to its place in modern Japanese culture. This presentation will also touch upon the history of Sugimoto Tea Company, a family-owned tea producer as they celebrate their 80th anniversary in 2026.

Every great tea began somewhere—usually, a long time ago in a village far, far away. Drawing on fieldwork and ongoing heritage projects in Qimen (birthplace of Keemun black tea), Jeff Niu explores China’s historic tea villages as living ecosystems shaped by landscape, tradition, and taste. 

Attendees will discover how tea connected rural China to the world, examine the pressures threatening living heritage today, and consider how holistic conservation, adaptive reuse, and renewed global exchange can foster relevance and resilience. Come for the fun stories and stay for a tea journey that steeps you from the past into the future.

Gongfu cha is often described as a Chinese tea ceremony — but that framing misses a lot. This session covers the basics: what gongfu cha means, where it actually came from (hint: not ancient), and why the practice is built the way it is.

In Chinese culture, tea isn't something you drink alone. It's how you welcome a guest, strengthen a friendship, or simply sit with someone without needing to fill the silence. The small cups and multiple infusions aren't just a brewing method — they're a structure for being present with other people.

Attendees will leave with a clear framework for understanding gongfu cha, a short gear list that cuts through the noise, and a different way of thinking about what they're doing every time they sit down to brew.

For all levels — no prior experience required.