Something New About Tea Every Day

Tea Educator Judi Slack has a talent for discovering some of the most interesting details about tea history that surprise and delight. She weaves her research into a colorful tapestry of classes and into a blog, “The ABC’s of TEA”. We shared her 2021 New Year’s Tea Resolution with you in January to continue searching every day for something new. But when we recently visited her blog, we found a some of her tea facts from the beginning of the alphabet.

Many of us say that, being students of tea, there is more than a lifetime’s-worth to learn: An unending journey. Judi shares her delight in this work.

A is for…Aerated Bread Company

The Aerated Bread Company (or A.B.C. Bakery as they were commonly known), Ltd. was founded by Dr. John Dauglish in 1882 in Islington, a London borough. Now…there are several reasons why the Aerated Bread Company was revolutionary for its time and its close connection to tea, but you’ll have to read on to discover the relationship between the A. B. C. Bakeries and our favorite beverage! Happy Reading!

B is for…Penelope Barker

Penelope Pagett was born on June 17, 1728, in Edenton, North Carolina, and she truly made her mark on the tea world during the American Revolution. 

Want to know why? I am not going to tell you – you’ll find out for yourself.  All I can say is that she was a pain in the neck to King George!  Read On!

C is for…Caddy Spoon

This was a piece of flatware which had the privilege of being held in high regard as a symbol of prosperity and wealth – being from a bygone era where it was necessary to use a precious, hand-crafted piece of silver.  But just what was it? Want to read more?

D is for…Dr. Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) was an English writer who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. Dr. Johnson was one of the greatest literary figures of the eighteenth century. Do YOU know what connection tea had to this grumpy, old curmudgeon?  Read on and find out!

E is for…Eisai

See if you can fill in the blanks in this sentence.

The person who first brought ____    _____ to ______. 

Kind of tricky – huh. 

Want to fill in those blanks?  You’ll have to read!

F is for…Robert Fortune

The infamous Scotsman who barely made it out of China alive! 

Why?? Inquiring minds want to know.

Click here to read more.

G is for…Gardens

How many gardens do you think flourished in London from the 16th to the early 19th centuries?

None…?   100…?   300…?   Over 500?

And why gardens and tea?????   Read On.

More About Judi Slack 

Judi Slack is a certified tea specialist, certified tea professional, certified tea sommelier and certified tea health expert by the World Tea Academy. She teaches various tea related courses at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, a provider of education to individuals 55 and older within an academic environment that recognizes their intellectual interests. She additionally teaches at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Baldwin Wallace University which also offers senior adults the opportunity to continue learning in a non- competitive academic setting and Lorain County Community College. She also provides informative tea education programs for local libraries.

Ms. Slack organizes the “No Hats Required“ Meetup group, with a current membership of 103. The group has been in existence since 2010 and she has organized more than 360 tea related events for it. Her passionate goal is to educate others on the diverse wonders of tea in general, especially some of the little known but extremely interesting connections to tea.