Cultural Bridges With AARP: Taste of Taiwan: Tea, Culture, and Craft

About

Schedule: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 5 p.m. Workshop. REGISTER NOW. Taiwan's misty high mountains, with their cool air, mineral-rich soil, and slow-growing tea plants, produce some of the most sought-after tea in the world, prized for its floral, creamy, and naturally sweet character. Join a hands-on journey into this rich tradition, from sipping rare Taiwanese teas to brewing kombucha and grinding Hakka Lei Cha. Guests will also make their own matcha and black sesame mochi to take home. Enjoy a sensory celebration of Taiwan's tea culture, one cup (and one bite) at a time. About the Speaker: Connie Lacobie has owned a local tea business since 2005, first as a shop in Montrose for 10 years, and now operates Té House of Tea as an online tea retailer and local custom wholesaler to Houston restaurants (March, Tiny Champions, Nancy's Hustle, Baso HTX) and cafés (Coffee Trend, Zelie Beans, Honey Art Café, Araya Chocolates). For the past few years, Connie has supported Blackwood SkyFarm Farmers Market. She has led tea tasting events at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, Weekley YMCA, Trotter YMCA, Belmont Senior Living, The Church of Saint John the Divine, Post Oak Private School, AARP/Asia Society Texas, Visit Houston, and local community garden clubs. Connie is also an herbalist with her own apothecary. She works with local farmers (AfriHarvest, Plant It Forward Farms, Blackwood Farms) to source herbs and make custom blends, and is a partner with Tunga Botanicals in Sugar Creek, Texas. She encourages the public to adopt herbs for preventative health and teaches them how to use plants without increasing waste. About Cultural Bridges with AARP: Through a partnership with AARP, Asia Society Texas provides entry points for communities to learn about Asian cultures, traditions, and talents. Its programming educates and entertains with thought-provoking experiences from a variety of countries, cultures, points of view, and art forms, aiming to keep audiences curious and reflecting on diverse cultures and shared humanity. These virtual and in-person events connect to AARP's local priorities of health and cultural understanding. Classes are open to Asia Society Texas audiences and AARP members. The Cultural Bridges series and education programs are presented by AARP. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, American First National Bank, The Asian American Foundation, The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Freeman Foundation, Hugesen Polymers, Gordon Quan, and Sarofim Foundation. Additional support is provided by Cathay Bank Foundation, ConocoPhillips, George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation, Susan Vaughan Foundation, and the Friends of Asia Society. About Wellness at Asia Society Texas: The Wellness Series is a set of programs, classes, and events that promote healthy lifestyles and holistic wellbeing, covering topics such as art, philosophy, mindfulness, healthy eating, and exercise. It furthers AST's mission of fostering understanding of our interconnected world through the goal of optimal physical and mental health. About Asia Society Texas: Asia Society Texas advances cultural exchange by celebrating the diversity of Asia and Asian American experiences, inspiring empathy, and fostering understanding of our interconnected world. It spans arts, business, culture, education, and policy, and trusts in art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.