Initial Tea Proposal

Here is what was submitted and accepted as our "first flush" stab at how tea can be presented at Slow Food Nation in response to their initial Event Overview and Particulars (see below). This is only meant to be a springboard to get us rolling. Please feel free to comment! The only way this will really fly is if we all develop a unifying force on what we should present.

Proposal for Tea Experiences at Slow Food Nation

Tea is rich in tradition and cultural heritage wherever it is grown and embodies Slow Food. As the world addresses our future in food and culture, tea is a huge stabilizer and common denominator, remaining the most popular beverage after water.

What is completely unique about tea in America is that we as a culture haven’t developed a tradition around tea (thank you Boston Tea Party). This is wonderful! Now, at a time when different tea regions are communicating with each other about tea openly for the first time in its four thousand year history— we here are beginning our journey in truly embracing tea. It means that we have the opportunity to enjoy and respect any and all traditions. What a beautiful, even playing field for us to be able to come together and look, taste and experience without judgment.

We see Slow Food Nation as an opportunity to show a full spectrum of what tea offers, by approaching it from mainly two different vantage points:

Interactive Taste: The best way to experience tea, the scent of the leaf, the discovery of what has been hand chosen and processed, the taste of the season or the taste of generations of expertise, is an interactive tea bar where visitors not only watch tea being made, they can make it themselves with an experts’ guidance. A rotating collection of tea experts from around the country could be available throughout each day and the choices would stay limited in order to change easily and keep focus. There are different styles of making and drinking tea that have developed over thousands of years as ways that put forth the most enjoyment of a tea so we see much opportunity to keep this interactive taste fresh and interesting throughout Slow Food Nation. The sourcing world of tea for America is still fairly small and there are many excellent candidates who would be interested in helping at this station. We also have the American Tea Institute which focuses on tea education that could supplement the primary group of experts. This interactive tea bar would have special water & electrical needs, but can be easily custom made for this event. It could even be portable (or a portable hybrid could also be created) to experience tea in this way at a variety of locations as needed. Greg Dunham, who designed the tea bar at Modern Tea can help your designers with these creations.

Respite(s): Sitting down with tea is valued around the world. One of the truest joys in life is to share a moment with yourself or with others and allow for that moment to become more than the sum of its parts. Tea is known for its ability to promote this presence. In our world plugged into commerce, to have a simple, calm & relaxing area where those wanting to take a break from the stimulation of the event, can do so without pretense or decisions to make. Picture an overflowing pot of tea or two (one camellia sinensis, one herbal) poured for visitors when they come in to allow them the opportunity to find that moment. Non-invasive education could supplement this space anywhere from customized brochures to a library of tea literature. No deep meditation required, just a space and some tea.

Other Possibilities with Tea:

Speakers on the state of tea as a crop today and its future.

Offering a tea experience that can dovetail with other side events- bringing tea out to nature is easy and would work well with food taken on a hike or picnic for example.

Understanding various tea rituals – what makes them Slow Food friendly is all of them have an appreciation of the moment and an appreciation of the tea. While the interactive bar will often use the tea ware in these ceremonies, more is understood when one experiences the entire ritual. Perhaps these respite area(s) mentioned above can become places to demonstrate rituals at times if desired.

This may not be Slow Food-ish, but as we will go through many cups, perhaps supplying a small souvenir handle-less teacup made from a sustainable supplier for Slow Food Nation attendees could be a possibility – or have it be a fund raiser for purchase. Imagine everyone walking around with a cup of tea – how uniting!

Alice Cravens

February 8, 2008