Join Preena Chauhan in a lively demonstration and talk about the art of making traditional Masala Chai, India’s most beloved hot beverage—black tea infused with warming spices and milk. Through operating her own chai café, Arvinda’s Spices & Chai, her years of experience of masala making through her line of premium spice blends called Arvinda’s and teaching Indian cooking classes, she’ll share with you her family’s tradition of authentic masala chai making and essential tips to making your perfect cup!

Preena Chauhan is an Indian food expert, entrepreneur and co-author of the award-winning cookbook New Indian Basics. For nearly three decades Preena and her mother Arvinda have been teaching traditional Indian cooking classes with the goal of making it exceptionally delicious with absolute ease.

The goal of this session is to inspire you to embrace create your own masala chai ritual at home and it includes a cup of masala chai and a sweet pairing of Chocolate Orange and Vanilla Cardamom Barfi, an Indian-style fudge from New Indian Basics.

Registration required.

Register here: Chat, Chai Demo & Tasting

Experience the serene beauty of a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony in this immersive demonstration. Learn about the history and the art of preparing and serving tea while delving into the rich history and cultural significance of chadō, The Way of Tea.

Participants will be seated using floor cushions.
Limited chair seating will be available.
Please reach out to mpl@beinspired.ca if a chair is required.

Momo Yoshida
Momo is a serious tea lover and advocate. She is Japanese and has been living in Toronto since 2003. Momo belongs to the Urasenke (裏千家) school of chanoyu (茶の湯). Urasenke is the name of one of the main branches of Japanese tea ceremony followers. She is Certified TAC TEA SOMMELIER ™/℠ Professional since 2010.

Momo Tea
Momo Tea’s goal is to introduce high quality Japanese tea to Canadians through events and their online tea store. In order to enjoy fresh Japanese tea every day, the price must be affordable, and Momo Tea makes this happen.  Momo Tea carries limited stock in order to keep tea fresh so you might need to wait a week or two to receive your order.  Momo Tea is continuously on the lookout for new fresh tea sources from Japan. All of the tea goes through rigorous taste testing, and are Momo’s favourites. Proudly imported and introduced directly from Japan to Canada.

Meaning of the Momo Tea Logo
There is thought into the creation of this logo. The top flower is a peach flower (桃の花).  The middle bar describes a folding fan (扇子・sensu).  Sensu is used during the Japanese Tea Ceremony to show respect. Sensu in folding in front of us when we bow. We bow not only for a person but also for the tea goods as well.  The bottom is in the shape of a Japanese Tea Cup. The message from the logo is “Momo respects Tea and everyone who enjoys drinking tea”.

Registration required.

Register here: Japanese Tea Ceremony and Chat

Tie your apron and roll up your sleeves for this one-hour hands-on cookie experience with Joyce of Cooking. Learn Joyce’s delicious cookie dough recipe to make your own batch of cookie dough to take home and bake fresh. Then, make a delicious tea-flavoured drizzle icing together and ice pre-baked cookies. From beginners to baking enthusiasts, all are welcome to join in on this tea-licious cookie making and decorating workshop.

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The Joyce of Cooking started off as a blog about Joyce’s favourite restaurants. Shortly after starting the blog, Joyce decided to share their recipes and food adventures along the way as well! Joyce has worked in the food and beverage industry for over 10 years and in every position from dishwasher to general manager. With their combined passion for food and marketing, they have expanded their business into helping brands grow in the digital world.

Joyce also offers virtual and in-person cooking classes in Hamilton and surrounding areas in Ontario.

Brands Joyce has worked with include: Rishi Tea, Skip the Dishes, Uber Eats, Ontario Apple Growers, Home Hardware, California Strawberries, Norfolk County, and MSC Certified Sustainable Seafood.

(Picture: Joyce with Masterchef Canada’s Alvin Leung – their matching last names are a 100% coincidence!)

Registration required.

Register here: The Joyce of Cooking with Tea.

Unfortunately, Wicked Botanicals will not be able to attend. We hope to see them next year!

Create soothing, hydrating and refreshing herbal infusions that are perfect throughout the warm and humid days of spring and summer. Learn how different blends can be enjoyed as a hot beverage or a cold brew. Explore various kinds of herbs and discover how they can bring out the most amazing flavours. Get your creativity flowing in this fun, interactive workshop!

Althea is a Certified Reflexologist and Holistic Practitioner with a background in   Nutrition, Herb Blending and Aromatherapy and has been practicing for over 15   years. She is the founder and formulator of Shea Essence Wholesome Food for Skin   – a plant based skincare brand that supports women, men and children with various   skin sensitivities. Althea is passionate about health and wellness and aims to provide   holistic options, products and services to various communities.

Registration required.

Register here:  Tea Blending Workshop

Let’s take a pause for ourselves, steep some tea, listen to poetry, and connect back with our bodies. Journaling optional.

Tea bowls, tea leaves, cards with journaling prompts, and pens will be provided for the session.

Taniya Gupta is a poet, yogi, and tea lover. Her first book of poems, What Will People Say, was released in January 2024. She was listed as one of Indigo’s favorite Canadian Poets for poetry month. She loves practicing mindfulness through tea. She’s a graduate from Being Tea’s teacher training, a program that emphasizes inclusivity and trauma-informed education. Through her work, Taniya advocates for voice and mental health. She loves creating spaces where we can gather and share our stories safely. Taniya hosts tea and poetry workshops both online and in-person.

Read more about her work on her website:
https://yogateapoetry.com/work/tea or Instagram: @yogateapoetry

Registration required.

Register here:  Tea Meditation – Slowing Down with Tea, Poetry and Journaling

1. Is pre-registration required?
   Yes, pre-registration is required for each program.
2. How do I register?
   Click on the registration link listed in each program description. You will be directed to the event listing on Milton Public Library calendar. Scroll to the bottom of the page. On the left-hand side there will be a ‘Register’ button. A library card is not required for registration.
3. Will I receive a registration confirmation?
   Yes, an email confirmation will be sent upon registration completion. Please check your spam folder.
4. How do I cancel my registration?
   Cancel your registration by clicking the ‘cancel/modify registration’ link in the confirmation email, or by emailing (mpl@beinspired.ca) or phoning (905-875-6552) the Library.
5. Will there be a waitlist?
   No, a waitlist will not be made available for these programs.
6. Can I drop-in?
   No, all programs require pre-registration. If you are interested in a program that is already full, please come to the program at least ten minutes before the program start time. Any cancellations or no-show spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.