Teaching a tea class, looking for feedback.

Hi, everyone!

I’m about to launch a new email based tea class. It’s basically an overview and introduction to tea, targeting beginners. I’d love to get some feedback on the topic list (below). Thanks!

Anything I missed?

- Introduction (What is tea?)
- History of Tea
- Camellia sinensis
- Types of Tea
- Tea Processing (picking, withering, oxidation, etc)
- Tea Production (where is it grown? how much?)
- Brewing
- Tasting / Evaluating
- Blends
- Blending Your Own
- Tips (where to buy, how to store, etc)

9 Replies

Perhaps you should add storage, how long different teas last, and the difference between bagged teas and loose-leaf…?

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Pandeme said

I love this idea! I’m pretty new to tea so I think this is a great way to get information. Speaking as a beginner, maybe something on the whole natural/artificial flavoring issue? There is an article that has been circulating on facebook called “Do You Know What’s Really In Your Tea?” by Food Babe (If you google it I believe it is the first article that comes up). And personally I don’t know what to think about it, so some additional information on those issues would be useful so tea newbies like me don’t get overwhelmed or scared off.

Dexter said

I agree with what Pandeme is saying – I think there is a whole list of “fear” articles out there – including the artificial flavoring, pesticides in tea, radiation (re Japanese teas), there is the fair wage/working conditions issues, certified organic, etc. You might want to put together a chapter on some of those. Also there is a lot of misunderstanding about caffeine content in teas – might want to work that in somewhere too.
But it does sound like an interesting project you are working on.

TeaLady441 said

Yes – I just had someone else ask me about that Food Babe article and I don’t know how much of it is truth either..
(http://foodbabe.com/2013/08/21/do-you-know-whats-really-in-your-tea/)

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Thanks!

I think I’ll add a “Misconceptions” chapter to address some of those fears. The class is mostly discussing (if not advocating) full leaf, loose teas. So, the concerns about bagged teas.

The caffeine content is definitely in the works. I’m planning to compare it to coffee (as a baseline), since most people understand that.

Still finishing up the content, but you can sign up now and get a $5 discount (it will launch for $14, but you get it for $9 if you sign up early).

http://www.shuttl.es/courses/exploring-tea

Thanks again!

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Lala said

What/who is your intended audience? Are you are catering to a certain group of people?

The hope is that it’s accessible for beginners, but goes into just enough depth for more experienced drinkers to get something out of it too. Thanks!

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I would suggest a brief summary of herbal teas. Rooibos. Chammomile. Mint etc. Also, yerba mate- just because it has caffeine doesn’t make it tea, I had no idea til I joined this site! :)

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SFTGFOP said

Isn’t 14 dollars a little pricey? Just thinking of how much a book costs vs. online e-books.

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