The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is proud to announce the
9th Annual

Rocky Mountain Tea Festival

August 2 and 3

Please call us at 303-442-4993

to register for classes!

Seminars and Tastings

A wonderful opportunity to learn in a hands-on atmosphere from some of the leading experts in the field! Classes include workshops about Tea Basics, Exotic Teas, Blending Teas, Tea Leaf Reading, and more!

2008 Schedule

Saturday August 2

9:00 am - Cooking with Tea with Lenny Martinelli
Experience the variety of ways that tea can be used in the culinary arts, in this unique, hands- on class with the Executive Chef and owner of the Teahouse, Lenny Martinelli. Using all kinds of tea, including black, oolong, green, and herbal, Mr. Martinelli will demonstrate the versatility of the leaves with delicious, unique recipes that you can recreate at home. Participants will have the opportunity to taste the dishes made, as well as take home the recipes.
Lenny Martinelli is Owner and Executive Chef of the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse and is actively involved in the daily operations. Mr. Martinelli has over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry from bussing tables to ownership. He is also the owner and operator of the Naropa Cafe, Aji Latin American Restaurant, Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant, and The Huckleberry.

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11:30 am - Tea Basics with Kristina Richens
This basic overview of tea will teach the differences of black, green and oolong teas. Learn about the different growing regions, processing methods, and finished leaf styles of the worlds most recognized teas. You’ll have the opportunity to taste the teas side by side. This is a perfect introduction to the world of tea.

Kristina Richens is Minister of Commerce for The Republic of Tea. She is responsible for all Ambassador sales, management of the Commerce Team and new business development. She was the Minister of West Commerce at The Republic of Tea starting in January 2003 and was promoted to Minister of Education in August of 2007. As Minister of Education she developed the new, much-appreciated Ambassador Training Manual and completed the first tea educational video as seen on YouTube Kristina travels extensively, visiting the finest tea and herb growing countries of the world. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Delaware. She also holds a certificate of completion from Front Range Herbal Institute and Specialty Tea Certification program for Levels One and Two.

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1:00 pm - The Taste of Enlightenment: The Culture and Healing Benefits of Chinese Tea with Kenneth Cohen
Ken will discuss the early legends and history of Tea, including the relationship of tea to Taoism, Buddhism, and Chinese medicine. He will also discuss both the traditional Chinese view of how tea treats disease-- bitter flavor for the heart, green color for the liver, etc.--as well as cutting edge scientific research that shows how and why tea works. Laboratory experiments suggest that tea may prevent cancer, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and aging itself! Most importantly, tea slows us down and reminds us to stop, look, listen, smell, and taste. Drinking tea can lead to a life of taste in the widest sense-- a life of leisure, grace, and refinement.

Ken Cohen (www.kennethcohen.com), former student of Alan Watts and Joseph Campbell, has followed the Way of Tea for more than 35 years, including many years teaching the Japanese Tea Ceremony. A China scholar and health educator, he is the author of The Way of Qigong (Ballantine Books) and has written about Tea for Chanoyu Magazine, Yoga Journal, Alternative Medicine, and many other journals. Ken was one of the first Tea educators to lecture at medical schools and oncology clinics.

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3:00 pm - The Rainbow of Green
Yoon Hee Kim, TeaClassics

Focus: Green Teas of China, Korea and Japan

What do “Longjing” Dragon Well, “Jaksul” Sparrow’s Tongue and “Sencha” Spider Leg have in common with each other? In fact, what are they and where in the world can one find them? Join multicultural tea specialist, Yoon Hee Kim, on an exploratory journey into the world of green teas. Focusing on the countries of origin for green teas – China, Korea and Japan, this essential primer and interactive workshop will help identify the major green tea producing regions, classic leaf styles, flavor characteristics and steeping techniques. Through tastings, we will also discover how the traditional production methods such as steaming and pan-firing affect the teas we may find in our favorite tea shops.

Highly encouraged for tea enthusiasts of all levels.

Yoon Hee Kim travels the world photographing, tasting, cooking with and seeking out the finest teas. From a mountaintop Korean Buddhist hermitage, to a remote Chinese village devoted entirely to artisanal tea production., to tea rooms of Asia, Europe and Africa, she helps spread the wonderful stories of this life enhancing leaf and beverage. As a lifelong passionate student of tea, she continues to study with Buddhist Tea Masters, and returns frequently to pluck and hand-fire green teas in the hills of Korea’s Boseong and Haenam regions. As a trained Chef, she also enjoys creating tea recipes and cultivating tea pairings. Among her current projects is completing a photo essay book on the tea gardens, productions and customs of China, India, Korea and Japan.

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5:00 - Tea Leaf Reading with Morwyn
The gentle art of divining your future in a teacup has been practiced for centuries. It has remained popular into contemporary times is because it allows us to pause in our hectic daily lives, relax, and reach deep within ourselves to contemplate the larger issues of life. Tea leaf reading enables us to travel deeply into our subconscious minds and make connections between personal images and universal symbols to help guide us on life's journey. In this workshop, Morwyn will present some of the history and techniques of tea leaf reading taken from cultures worldwide. You’ll have the opportunity to practice by reading two cups. Learn to read your cup every day, and each time, receive fresh inspiration.
Morwyn has written seven books on esoterica and the occult, including The Complete Book of Psychic Arts. Under the name Doña Carolina da Silva, she is co-authoring a series of 16 books in Spanish. Morwyn has given many tea leaf reading workshops both in the USA and in the UK based on the information on tea from her book Green Magic.

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6:30 pm - Chado - The Japanese Tea Ceremony wit The Kita Sokyu- Shacyu Tea Group
This is a great opportunity to witness the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony, presented by the Kita Sokyo-Shacyu Tea Group. The demonstration will include explanation of the history of the tea ceremony and its cultural significance. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to taste the special whisked tea prepared in the ceremony.

Kita Shachu Tea Group has conducted performances at various locations and events, including: The Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanical Gardens, and The Japan America Society.

SUNDAY AUGUST 3

10:00 am – Herbal Teas for Health and Joy with Brigitte Mars.
This workshop will teach participants to identify several local plants that have a long history of use as medicinal tea and food such as raspberry leaf, mint, rosehips, mullein and more. Learn how to make sun tea, infusions and decoctions. . Learn to make simple herbal formulas, use herbs and edible flowers in cooking, and expand your herbal repertoire. The workshop will include discussion on collecting plants in an ecological fashion and preserving them for winter use, the properties of herbal flavors, and their correspondence to nature and the body. Herbal safety, efficacy and enjoyment are the focus of this program.

Brigitte Mars is an herbalist and nutritional consultant with over thirty six years experience. She is the author of Beauty by Nature, Rawsome!, Sex, Love and Health, Addiction Free Naturally, Healing Herbal Teas, The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, and co-author of The Hemp Nut Health and Cookbook. Brigitte has had a radio show on KGNU called Naturally for over twenty years. She is a professional member of The American Herbalist Guild. Ms. Mars teaches at Naropa University, Boulder College of Massage, Esalen Institute, Omega Institute, and Kripalu.
Brigitte has been happily married for thirty years, to human design analyst, Tom Pfeiffer with whom she teaches raw food workshops.
www.BRIGITTEMARS.com

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12:00 pm - Taiwanese Oolong Tasting with Brian Wright
This hands-on tasting will feature several spring 2007 oolong teas from Taiwan. Participants will compare the diverse range of flavors found among oolong teas, and at the same time get experience brewing them gongfu style, using a small unglazed teapot. The geography of Taiwanese teas, nuances of seasonal variation, and basics of tea processing will also be discussed. This workshop offers the chance to taste some of the finest oolong teas from Taiwan, (Formosa)often considered some of the best teas in the world.
Brian J. Wright, proprietor of Shan Shui Teas in Washington DC, became enamored with Chinese tea while studying in Taipei and Beijing in 1989-90. He continued his hobby after returning to the U.S., and expanded it into a business in 1993 to satisfy his friends' appetites for fine tea. Currently, Brian specializes in providing top quality Taiwanese oolong teas, Korean green teas, and teaware for their preparation.

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2:00 pm - Puerh Teas of China with David Lee Hoffman
Join David Lee Hoffman in a discussion and presentation of his many adventures in the backcountry of China in search of premium tea. Learn the methods of tea cultivation on traditional Chinese tea farms, and how Mr. Hoffman hand chooses each tea that he imports to the US. This class offers the opportunity to taste some of Mr. Hoffman's teas, often unavailable from any other source, with special emphasis on the exotic Puerh teas from the Yunnan region.
David Lee Hoffman has been traveling the backcountry of Asia for 29 years seeking out the finest, best tasting leaves. With his passion for tea and a background in vermiculture and soil fertility, he is now working in China with the prestigious Tea Institute and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to implement sustainable organic tea farming. Mr. Hoffman is the founder of Silk Road Teas.

2007 Schedule of Events

Saturday Night Tea Dinner

Indulge yourself with a delicious four course meal, each dish prepared with TEA!

Menu to be Announced and subject

to change at the whim of the Chef.

SAMPLE MENU - Sample Tea Dinner Menu

Reservations strongly recommended 303-442-4993

Tea Bazaar

Booths will be set up to offer tastings and sales of premium teas, tea ware, and other tea related goods.
Are you interested in being one of our vendors? Please contact us at

Tea Fest Vendor Info

The Children's Teddy Bear Tea Party