A Unique 'Tea Party' inspires Creative Nonfiction Class
11/3/2009
Adrienne Etkin, the owner of Admari Tea in Midland Park, is passionate about tea. It was that passion and expertise that English teacher Margaret Miles wanted students in her new Creative Nonfiction honors elective to see and to feel for their food writing unit of the class.
On October 26th , Ms. Etkin conducted a unique “tea party” for the members of the class. She explained to the students how it is possible to “taste history in the tea” as she talked about her travels across the globe to source leaves, visiting artisanal tea gardens that have been in existence for centuries, checking gardens for best farming practices and making sure that no pesticides are used.
Ms. Etkin demonstrated brewing techniques for several different varieties of tea and students had the opportunity to smell and taste the different aromas and tastes of each. The highlight came when Ms. Etkin brewed a special pot of Evergreen Iron Buddha, an extremely rare tea, of which only four pounds are produced each year by a renowned, ancient tea master; a truly once-in-lifetime experience for the class. Throughout the demonstration, students posed questions to Ms.Etkin to pave the way for their next major writing assignment, writing a profile piece.
Ms. Miles included the unit on food writing because of the integral part food plays in our lives. “I was thrilled when Adrienne accepted my invitation to come to SRDS,” said Mrs. Miles. “The class learned a lot about tea and how it brings people together. in addition to developing an appreciation of what it takes to run a business and still follow your dream.” As part of the food writing unit, students read “Tender at the Bone,” by food legend Ruth Reichl and wrote an essay of memories they associate with food.
Admari Tea opened two years ago. Ms. Etkin, who is trained as a chef, is dedicated to bringing the finest teas from around the globe and sharing them with the public. “Tea is a miracle elixir that has been worshipped for thousands of years because of its unique properties,” she said. “My goal is to have my own brand of tea be as popular as Starbuck’s within the next five to ten years.” Visit Admari Tea on the web at www.admaritea.com for more information.