Roving Tea Plantation
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“Tea met sugar, forming a power couple that altered the course of history” — Maria Godoy
The Roving Tea Plantation is a decolonising meditation on tea. Harnessing the incantation of the tea party, “fancy a cuppa?” and its revolutionary power to swing elections, start wars, and bring down colonies, this tea trail traverses the brewing arts and ceremony of Moreland’s historic and contemporary tea culture. Pedalling a tea chest brimming with tea plants along the art trail, Jiann laid down roots at five gathering grounds to contest the banality of the beverage. Rovers enjoyed selected brews while invited speakers discussed the significance of tea in their culture.
Tea Parties
Parktopia — Baa bap bul garran morrandu (Bush Medicine): Artist and bushtukka woman Cassie Leatham from the Taungurung / Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation shared her knowledge of the healing properties of native plants and brewed teas including a wattleseed moccacino.
Merlynston Station — Beit e’Shai (House of Tea): Artist and nutritionist Rasha Tayeh drew on her knowledge of traditional Arabic medicine and herbalism, sharing stories and teas from her Palestinian heritage.
Fawkner Cemetery — Tropical Brews: Plant biologist Dr Tien Huynh joined via video link from her research trip to Vietnam to discuss the medicinal properties of teas and the importance of tea in Vietnamese culture.
Merlynston Progress Hall — High Femme Tea: Jane Tomlinson of the CWA Sydney Road branch discussed how the Country Women’s Association has been advancing the rights and equity of women since 1922.
Joe’s Market Garden — Growing Your Own: Melbourne’s last surviving inner city market garden, farmed continuously by Chinese and Italian gardeners for over 150 years. Participants learned what it takes to grow tea.