Wednesday October 24, 2007 | 11 comments
I was invited to Hood River Valley High School to share some knowledge about, and taste, tea with a group of teens. These young people have asked for their own separate tea time, separate from the Tuesday Teas which have been so popular for 
the last five weeks. The Tuesday Teas began with boys, followed by girls, then to a mixed group. For the past two weeks the Tuesday Teas have been made up of students who requested to be included.
I arrived to find an interesting mix of teenagers: boys; girls, sophomores; juniors and seniors; boys and girls with long hair; boys with short hair; Latinos and Caucasians. What a wonderful group of amazing young adults! They showed a genuine interest in tea and quite frankly, some sophistication about the different tastes of tea. One young woman even gave a brief description of matcha! Back a hundred years ago, when I was in high school . . . I don’t think I would have taken my free time to taste tea. These young tea drinkers will become the next wave of tea enthusiasts and I, for one, applaud them.
As I passed through the halls, I saw posters about drugs, anger, political messages, sports announcements, student art work, notification of the next dance – all things pertinent to high school life. I’m fascinated by this particular group of kids who were so bright and interested in tea. I wish I could understand what attracted them and how to enlist their help in spreading the word to their generation about this wonderful ancient brew. They clearly understood the issues about not adding milk or sugar and why that was important. They looked, they touched, they smelled, they tasted. Perhaps this was an isolated sample: no one was over weight and one young man was munching 
on baby carrots. Teen- aged me preferred devil dogs and potato chips. In fact, I left feeling very hopeful for the next generation. I’m told there’s actually a waiting list to attend these tea time lunches! If one teacher could inspire this small group of teens, think of the possibilities around the country! I had originally typed in ‘around the world’, but I’m reminded that kids around the world do drink tea.
I’m thankful for a very thought-provoking afternoon. Would it be asking too much to hear some of their voices on T Ching?
it is really inspiring to see young people moving towards tea.. a good sign of a healthy tea scenario in the near future.
I hope in the near future to entice the Allentown, Pa. School District to allow me to try this. I believe it needs to start here at my place first. Let the students bring the request. The Board and the District have more important issues. Like crime, gangs & drugs. We’ll see when I come back from our trip to New England….PJF
Thanks so much, Michelle and Sandy, for coming. Three of the tasters were regulars (boys who have asked for a regular tea time of their own!) and three were drop ins. One of the drop ins came to me after school on the day of your visit and said, “Hey, I didn’t think I liked tea!”
For that reason, Paul, you won’t find kids coming to you to ask for tea. And, there is no future in trying to convince a school board to let you come in . . . remember what Mark Twain said about school boards! Go to your local high school website; invite yourself to an English Department meeting, and bring those intrepid essay readers a pot of Nepalese Oolong or a nice sweet Kishanganj Snowbud. When you get these folks hooked; see if you can start a Tuesday Tea.
That being said, I could not do it at HRV without the support of T Ching: they have donated tea (Matcha Genmaicha is the teen fave); a teapot; utensils; and know how. As far as asking “permission,” I don’t. With bureaucracies, it is much easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. BTW, three teachers who saw my door sign (“Ask me about Tea on Tuesdays”)
requested tea one Tuesday night after school!
America is ripe for tea, but we have to bring it to them. Thanks again. Your enthusiasm and respect for these teens was like a big hug. They just don’t get enough of that.
This was a great experience with a great group of teens. These young people are the best of the best. Very bright and talented kids. Most of them are part of the award winning debate team.
Although it was a bit rushy (they only have 1/2 hr. for lunch) we managed to taste 2 teas and provide some information about the teas and the proper preparation. They expressed some interest in Matcha, so we may be back in the near future demonstrating the preparation and tasting of this unique tea. I would love to find a way to create more time to delve in greater depth about tea with these and other interested young people at the school. Maybe an after school Tea Club!
This is great! Regena, you obviously understand the value of student-driven enthusiasms; if it’s student-initiated, it becomes a “thing of interest”.
I can’t imagine a better setting for “hanging out” than tea time–it’s a natural. And after all, hanging out is what teens like to do much of the time.
Thanks Regena, I agree with with you, but I’ll stay with my original plan. I have some young people already lined up. This City (and it’s politics) is a mess. The School District just as bad. I want to stay away from that. We have a plan. If T Ching can help, that would be wonderful. By the way I have already been approached by several youngsters looking for coffee. So stage two indoctrination starts when I get back. I’ll let them lead the way. My place has always been a hang-out for specialty beverage lovers. Young and old for over 30 years….PJF
I am a student at HRVHS and although I couldn’t make it to the tasting, I have been a regular Tuesday and Thursday attendant. Thank you very much for the donated tea, it has given us the opportunity to try exotic teas from all over the world. I found that I actually liked tea and will be spreading the word to all of my friends who have not been exposed to this wonderful drink. I’m looking forward to the Matcha!
-EKW
That’s wonderful Eliot, We all thank you for responding so positively, so soon. I’ll use you and your compatriots at the High School to entice my guys and gals here Penna. to get on the Tea Band Wagon. By the way I’m using Matcha Genmaicha as special treat in the afternoon….PJF
I too am a sophomore at HRVHS, and I was fortunate enough to attend the tasting. I know I’ve said this before, but thank you for coming and donating so much tea. Previous to this year, my only experience with tea was what comes from a grocery store. I drank only herbal tea, and only a few variations of that. I had no idea that there were so many types of tea for me to try. Furthermore, I now know a bit of the history of the tea I indulge in. Thank you again.
Yet another of the students here. I found the visit very rewarding. As an avid drinker of sachet teas, I thought I knew an inkling about tea, but that’s a drop in the ocean compared to the rich history of true teas. I learned many things about handmade tea that I never would have guessed. I learned that real tea is destined to be steeped many times, and I now know the subtleties between steepings of Matcha Genmaicha. I really appreciate Sandy and Michelle coming over to have tea with us, and look forward to next Tuesday! Thank you all!
To explain the rapidity of these comments: these lads were in at lunch today, and my computer was in full display of today’s post. Patrick asked if there was “time for tea?” I said, “I have a meeting, but this post is about YOU!” I left the room for a meeting, and returned to find that three new subscribers had joined the ranks at T Ching! Eliot asked to comment during the first few minutes of his class with me; and the other two followed in rapid order after school. After reading their comments, I am sure you will agree that I am privileged and honored to “teach” these guys. They keep me on my toes. Teaching them about tea may be the only thing I give to them that they don’t already know. . .