Clackamas

Introduction to the 5 major tea types and ceremonial tea.
Join us for an introduction to the five major types of tea; green, white, oolong, black, and dark tea. Together we will explore the origins of Camellia sinensis, trace its history and cultural roots, and experience the art of gongfu ceremonial tea service. This class is an invitation to step into the magic, wonder, and devotion that tea inspires, while learning how its many expressions continue to connect us to the natural world and our human nature.

This gathering is offered with a suggested contribution of $35. In the spirit of inclusivity and balance, you are welcome to offer what feels right for you, whether that is $35, $25, or more if you have the means. Contributions above the suggested amount help make this experience accessible to those with financial need and sustain the ongoing care and energy poured into holding spaces like this. Every offering, whether financial or energetic, affirms the value of community supported education.

We also acknowledge the systemic barriers that have long limited access for BIPOC communities. To honor this, a $15 option is available for BIPOC participants who would benefit from it. This is one way we commit to equity, ensuring that diversity is not only welcomed but integral to the richness of the experience.

If the listed prices are still a barrier, please reach out directly. I am more than willing to work with you to ensure that tea remains within reach for all who feel called to share in it.

All are welcome here. You are invited to arrive exactly as you are and take part in a space rooted in openness, care, and community, a living space where each presence is honored and where we grow together through the deep, transformative beauty of tea.

To help us hold a mindful and welcoming space, we ask participants to be considerate of sensory sensitivities by avoiding strong fragrances. This is a space of gentle awareness, where we honor our own needs as well as those of others. By showing up with openness, care, and respect for each other’s boundaries, we create a collective meditative atmosphere where, tea, and community belonging can flourish.

In the spirit of reciprocity and uplifting community together, five dollars from each participant will be donated to Q Center, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ2SIA+ communities through advocacy, resources, and safe spaces, embodying tea’s spirit of connection, reflection, healing, and belonging.

This class is led by D’Guar (they/them), a trans person of color, tea guide, and community builder based in Portland, Oregon. D’Guar has devoted their path to exploring the spirit of Camellia sinensis through mindful practice, storytelling, and connection. Through their project Water Fairy Tea, they create spaces where tea becomes a bridge between nature, presence, and belonging. Their offerings weave education with devotion, inviting participants to meet tea not only as a beverage, but as a living companion in self discovery and community care with nature and the world around.

We acknowledge that this work takes place on the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Clackamas, Chinook, Kathlamet, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other Indigenous ancestors and communities. We honor their enduring presence, care, and wisdom, and offer gratitude to the land and to the people who have tended it since time immemorial.

Explore green tea as a pathway to clarity in a guided tasting class centered on presence, flavor, and mindful attention. Participants will engage with the leaf’s story through taste, reflection, and conversation, discovering how each infusion can foster serenity and a felt connection to nature’s wisdom. A sliding scale contribution supports access and sustainability, with $35 suggested and the option to offer $25, $35, or more as means allow. A $15 option is available for BIPOC participants to honor equity and reduce barriers. If pricing remains a concern, arrangements can be made to keep this experience within reach. All are welcome in a space grounded in care, openness, and community, where every person is valued. To support those with sensory sensitivities, participants are asked to avoid strong fragrances. Respect for personal boundaries helps nurture a setting where meditation, tea, and queer belonging can flourish. Five dollars from each participant will be donated to Q Center, supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ communities through advocacy, resources, and safe spaces. The gathering is guided by D’Guar (They/Them), a trans person of color, tea guide, and community weaver rooted in Portland, Oregon, whose practice with Camellia sinensis blends learning with reverence through ritual and story. Through Water Fairy Tea, they cultivate spaces where tea becomes a companion in personal discovery, collective care, and relationship with the natural world. This work honors the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Clackamas, Chinook, Kathlamet, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other Indigenous peoples, with gratitude for their enduring presence, care, and wisdom.

Explore the art of brewing tea with a gaiwan, the classic lidded bowl whose simplicity reveals rich nuance. This hands-on class covers how to hold, pour, and brew with ease, examines the vessel’s anatomy, and builds confidence in finding your own rhythm for steeping. Small, meaningful choices that shape each cup are highlighted so you leave with practical methods to use at home and a refreshed relationship with tea. Rooted in technique yet guided by the senses, the session fosters presence and intuition. Brewing is approached as an ongoing dialogue between you and the leaf, with the gaiwan as the place where that conversation begins. This offering uses a sliding scale. The suggested contribution is $45. Options such as $35 or amounts above the suggested figure are welcome, and higher contributions help keep the experience accessible for those with financial need. BIPOC participants who would benefit from it may contribute $15. If price remains a hurdle, the organizer is committed to working with participants so tea education stays within reach. Everyone is welcome in a space shaped by openness, care, and community. To support those with sensory sensitivities, please avoid strong fragrances. Participants are encouraged to honor personal needs and boundaries, creating a calm, shared atmosphere where tea and belonging can thrive. The class is led by D'Guar (they/them), a trans person of color, tea guide, and community builder based in Portland. Through Water Fairy Tea, they hold spaces where education and devotion meet, inviting people to meet Camellia sinensis as a companion in reflection, connection, and community care with the natural world. This work honors the traditional lands of the Multnomah, Clackamas, Chinook, Kathlamet, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and other Indigenous peoples, with gratitude for their enduring presence, wisdom, and stewardship.

Discover the clear, focused character of green tea through a facilitated tasting that centers mindfulness and flavor. Participants tune their senses with attentive sipping and dialogue, noticing how each expression carries its own narrative. The experience blends tasting, introspection, and dialogue to heighten perception and foster a closer relationship with the leaf. It offers a calm pathway into nature’s wisdom, encouraging serenity and insight throughout the session.

Explore teas from the collection in a gathering where the selections themselves guide the learning. Each session may feature unusual cultivars, experimental processing, aged or stored teas, or other expressions of Camellia sinensis beyond the familiar. Led by D’Guar, a tea guide and community builder, the class brings together tea, mindful practice, storytelling, and community connection. All are welcome, and participants are asked to avoid strong fragrances to help support sensory sensitivities. The suggested contribution is $40, with a $15 option available for BIPOC participants who would benefit from it. If cost remains a barrier, flexible contributions may be discussed.