Phillips Manor Hall State Historic Site and the Friends of Phillips Manor Hall will host a hybrid in-person/virtual talk on the history of tea with Sarah Wasberg Johnson, education and programs manager at Phillips Manor Hall State Historic Site. “Spilling the Tea: A History of Tea Drinking in New York State” will be held in-person at Phillips Manor Hall State Historic Site (29 Warburton Ave. Yonkers, NY) on Wednesday, June 12, 2024 at 7 pm. The talk will be broadcast virtually via WebEx.
How did a beverage developed in Asia find its way to the banks of the Hudson River? Why do Americans sweeten their tea? How has tea drinking influenced culture and commerce?
In “Spilling the Tea,” Wasberg Johnson explores the origins of tea, how it came to America, and how American tea consumption differs from other parts of the world. Learn about the history of tea in colonial New York, from its introduction in the Dutch colony of New Netherland to the Tea Act boycott during the American War of Independence. Join us on a journey through the global and local history of tea and sugar, all the tools you need to drink tea, and New York’s unique role in American tea culture.
Sarah Wasberg Johnson is the Education and Programs Manager at Phillips Manor Hall State Historic Site. She has worked in museum education and interpretation since 2007 and holds a Master’s in Public History from the University at Albany. In her spare time, she loves researching food history and hosting tea parties.
Tickets for the in-person program are $6 for adults and $3 for seniors and students and include a light snack. To reserve a seat, call 914-965-4027 or email philipsemanorhall@parks.ny.gov. Tickets for the virtual broadcast are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register at https://www.philipsemanorhall.com/programs-and-events/lecture-spilling-the-tea .
