By Rachel Berry

On Tuesday, April 30, the Confucius Institute at Miami University held a traditional Chinese tea introduction and tea ceremony for HawkWalk in the MacMillan Hall, Great Room 212 at 12:10pm. Miami University faculty and staff watched the art of tea ceremony, tasted tea from China, and tried authentic tea treats from Asian countries.

Students from the Confucius Institute’s classic tea club performed a ceremony in the front of the room for 30-40 guests. The Confucius Chinese instructor Wenting Yang introduced audience members to the history, categories and customs of Chinese tea. She also explained the social functions in Chinese society and the healing powers of Chinese tea.

HawkWalk is a program for Miami University faculty, staff and students dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle. These programs are offered weekly and center around a different topic each time. HawkWalk’s goal is to use the five senses to explore the campus, nature and aspects related to well-being.

Participants at Confucius’ program said they loved the presentation and the elegant tea ceremony. They enjoyed tasting the Chinese tea and learning about a new culture. They said they hope to drink more Chinese tea in the future.