Tea Essentials: History, Culture, Production and Brewing Techniques

Regular and lottery registration open on January 8, 2026.
Dates: January 25, 2022
Meets: Tu from 10:00 AM to 12 N
 Location: Steep Mountain Tea
Cost:  $26.00

Sorry, the signup deadline has passed.

Date Day Time
01/25/2022Tuesday10 AM to 12 N

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2021 - 2022 OLLI at MSU Membership

Tea is the second-most consumed beverage globally after water, and its legacy is over 3,000 years old. Join Steep Mountain Tea Manager Melissa Herron on an interactive journey through the essentials of tea history, culture, production, and consumption through centuries and across cultures. This program will also include brewing techniques and tasting a variety of caffeinated and herbal teas on-site at the teahouse. Each guest will receive a take-home sample of loose-leaf tea.

Course Takeaways

Historical overview of tea production and consumption through centuries and across cultures.

Tea tasting featuring a variety of caffeinated and herbal teas from around the world, including information on brewing techniques and tools.

Each guest will receive a take-home sample of loose-leaf tea.


Apply for a needs-based scholarship to take this offering.

Fee:  $26.00

Steep Mountain Tea

402 E Main St. Suite 1

Melissa Herron

Melissa Herron opened Townshend's Teahouse in 2014 with her husband and business partner, Scott. In 2015, Melissa was honored as one of the Bozeman Daily Chronicle's "Top 20 Under 40." In addition, she received Bozeman Professional Women's "Young Careerist" award in 2017. In late 2020, the Herron's sold Townshend's to Serena Rundberg and Nick Garbiel, who co-own the restaurant group, Inspired Madness, Inc. The teahouse was rebranded as Steep Mountain Tea.