F26-37 Spilling the White House Tea: A Presidential Look at Tea NEW
Class | Registration opens 8/16/2026 9:00 AM EDT
Join us for a detailed look at the American presidents and the tea-drinking habits that followed them into office. This course investigates the domestic lives and public diplomacy of every U.S. President, revealing how a simple beverage reflected the changing tastes and political climates of the country. We will discuss personal anecdotes and the strategic ways tea was sometimes used as a powerful political tool for diplomacy, helping to soften tensions and forge alliances during high-stakes negotiations. From the battlefield camp chests of the Revolution to the elegant drawing rooms of the Gilded Age and the modern Oval Office, you will discover how these leaders utilized the tea table to navigate the complexities of power. Each session provides a flavorful connection to the past, as five different kinds of tea and cookies will be served.
Judi Slack
Judi Slack received her Bachelor's degree from Iowa State University and Master's degree in Education from Cleveland State University. Her early career days were as a psychiatric social worker. The remaining years of her career were spent as an elementary school teacher and then as an administrator. She has taught education courses at Cleveland State, University of Akron and Notre Dame. Tea has been a lifelong passion and she has four different certificates from the World Tea Academy: Tea Specialist, Tea Professional, Tea Sommelier, Tea Health Expert.