Friday Lectures

Discover the healthful benefits of nature’s healing mushrooms during this educational journey into the world of medicinal mushrooms in teas. This program explores the functional and adaptogenic properties of edible mushrooms, highlighting how these remarkable forest foods are being used to promote a healthy wellbeing. This gentle introduction to natural wellness invites you to explore how mushrooms can nourish both body and mind. Abbe Turner, forest farmer and founder of Golden Cloud Brand Mushroom Teas will lead this informative session. A lifelong lover of the woods, Abbe has always enjoyed collecting plants and fossils, building forts, and racing toads. Today, she cultivates shiitake mushrooms along with medicinal and culinary herbs on her farm in Ohio. 

Have you ever heard of the Chitra Collection? Probably not, but while its name might suggest a gallery of famous paintings, its treasures are far more unique. These masterpieces don’t hang on walls; they are sculpted from solid gold, encrusted with rare diamonds, and designed to honor the world’s most storied beverage. As the preeminent private museum of tea antiquities in London, the Chitra Treasury houses over 2,000 functional sculptures that rival the finest art galleries in existence. From the record-breaking $3 million Egoist teapot to imperial jade treasures, this collection proves that a vessel can be just as culturally vital as a Rembrandt. Join us as we explore a hidden gallery where the humble tea leaf meets a thousand years of world-class artistry and royal opulence. Instructor Judi Slack  is a passionate tea devotee from Cleveland. With a lifetime of interest in tea, coupled with various certificates achieved from the World Tea Academy, and the enthusiasm to share her knowledge, this informative session promises to be an interesting deep dive into the diversity of tea as expressed in art.

Tea, coffee, sugar, and chocolate were vital to the diets of colonial Americans. During this informative session we will step back in history and explore how sugar, tea and chocolate relate to one another. In addition, we'll highlight the effects these commodities had on the pre-industrial, industrial, and post-industrial society. During this presentation, we will explore the light and dark sides of each commodity. Certified Tea Specialist Mike Raab of Tea-for-All in Trenton, NJ will guide you on this discovery into our nation's past and the intersection of tea, sugar, and chocolate in the making of the modern world.

Take a deep dive into tea with this informative program as Kathleen Hippeli explores the origins and history of tea, how tea is produced, and the different types of tea enjoyed around the world. Kathleen will also discuss current trends in the tea industry, including the growing popularity of teas grown, harvested, and processed in the United States. Whether you are new to tea or a longtime enthusiast, this presentation offers a flavorful journey through the past and present of one of the world’s most beloved beverages. Join Kathleen Hippeli, Certified Tea Specialist/Sommelier and former tearoom owner (One Steep at a Thyme, NJ) for an engaging introduction into the world of tea.

 Framed through the lens of the guests experience, this presentation explores the essential elements of planning an afternoon tea. When planning a tea party, one must consider the choices in menu, tea selection, presentation, and how the atmosphere will shape the event as a whole. Practical guidance will extend to both intimate gatherings and fundraising occasions, emphasizing thoughtful planning, visual harmony, and the creation of a memorable and welcoming environment. This informative program will be presented by Karen Donnelly, owner of Greenhalgh Tea and Certified Tea Sommelier from the Tea & Herbal Association of Canada.