An invitation to Return To Our Roots

Much of what is taught about tea today has been shaped by colonial histories, commodification, and the mindset of standardisation, severing us from its depth, cultural significance, and true essence. This disconnection extends beyond tea, distancing us from our roots, identity, and innate sense of interconnectedness. These Foundational Courses are created to restore that connection through the direct transmissions of generational tea masters and indigenous wisdom holders.

According to their teachings, a journey with tea is not only about exploring flavour charts or understanding processing methods; it is, more importantly, a journey of returning to ourselves. The ancient wisdom of tea remains one of the most skilful guides we can rely on for navigating the complexities of modern life with clarity, resilience and harmony.

We hope this time-honoured, living knowledge and its caring guidance will exemplify an education that transcends intellectual mastery or the pursuit of being “smart”, transforming knowledge into living wisdom that is vividly felt, experienced and embodied in daily life. May it become your trusted companion on the journey of life, reawakening presence, awareness, compassion, and reciprocity within yourself and the world around you.

Our Foundational Courses

  • The Roots Of Tea

    A foundational course that brings critical mindset to how tea has been taught and reintroduces you directly to tea’s origins beyond colonial narratives, commodification and industry frameworks. A transformative invitation to unlearn, reconnect and embody tea as a way of life. Suitable for both beginners and those who wish to return to the roots of tea.

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  • Gong Fu Cha

    This course prioritises the cultivation of inner Gong Fu (the martial) and the decolonisation of tea (the art), challenging the limited ways Gong Fu Cha is often taught as mere technique. Translated directly from the words of tea masters, join us to explore the richness of tea cultures, ancient philosophy, virtuous attitude, artistic discipline, and cultural nuances, mastering every cup you pour with true Gong Fu.

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  • Cha Dao

    Cha Dao cannot be oversimplified as “The Way of Tea”! Rooted in ancient literature and practices, this course restores Cha Dao's true significance and richness, examining Dao in every aspect of tea, from growing, picking, and processing to brewing, sharing, and storing. Within a multilingual, multi-cultural environment, it also challenges the generalised notion of “tea ceremony”, offering clear guidance on intention, self-cultivation, and service for others.

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Our Courses

  • The Roots Of Tea

    This transformative, foundational course takes you beyond tea's colonial narratives to reclaim tea’s ancestral wisdom. Learn directly from the words of tea masters and indigenous knowledge, explore traditional brewing and serving practices, and cultivate a deep connection to nature guided by the ancient philosophy of tea. You'll never look at tea the same way again!

    Explore

  • Gong Fu Cha

    This transformative, foundational course takes you beyond tea's colonial narratives to reclaim tea’s ancestral wisdom. Learn directly from the words of tea masters and indigenous knowledge, explore traditional brewing and serving practices, and cultivate a deep connection to nature guided by the ancient philosophy of tea. You'll never look at tea the same way again!

    EXPLORE

  • Cha Dao

    This transformative, foundational course takes you beyond tea's colonial narratives to reclaim tea’s ancestral wisdom. Learn directly from the words of tea masters and indigenous knowledge, explore traditional brewing and serving practices, and cultivate a deep connection to nature guided by the ancient philosophy of tea. You'll never look at tea the same way again!

    explore
1 3

Testimonials

“Rui is incredible. So wise, so deep, and so humble. Her way of teaching is exactly how I feel true teaching should be - a fluid, alive, open-ended, breathing space where feeling and an intuitive approach to Tea (and life) are at its core.“

Lera from T-Lovers

A Way Forward

Rui's guidance opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of a culture's practice in tea craftsmanship, in addition to experiencing tea with a heightened sense of intuition. Whether you are new to the vast world of tea or have been a practitioner for decades, this course merely requests that you arrive with an open heart, challenge and participate in group discourse, and step into the messy unknown that seeks to preserve a tradition and attunement to the natural world. You'll never look at tea the same way again and will have gained powerful allies in embracing all of the tea's complicated history and beauty.

Marco N.

Rui’s approach to tea education was a breath of fresh air. And this course was a truly reinforcing experience on so many levels, it integrated technique/form along with gaining a better understanding of the way tea’s chemical constituents can calm, focus, and energize our bodies and mind. We also focused on the historical, social, and ecological aspects of tea culture, tea production, and sustainable tea harvesting. Throughout the course, we explored how tea culture can promote community: By sharing tea together, we take time to communicate, and better listen and learn from one another. I highly recommend this tea course for people of all levels of tea knowledge/experience. I will be utilizing what I learned in this course for years to come.

Shiloh G.