Colchester Tea Party

This Spring Essex Cultural Diversity Project has been collaborating with Colchester and Ipswich Museums, gathering cultural perspectives to retell stories in a more inclusive way. We have been inviting community groups to join us for tea and cake in Hollytrees Museum, to share stories and knowledge of tea, travel, trade and traditions, and enjoy a tour of the museum and interesting tea-related objects not usually on display.

The project launched with a ‘tea and empathy’ sharing activity and exhibit, kick starting the conversation with the community as part of the International Women’s Day Exhibition at the Minories in Colchester.

Thank you to all the communities and participants who have taken part so far, including the Dosti Indian Seniors Group who gave a presentation about Indian tea, Lu Yu who shared a Chinese Tea Ceremony, and BWAE (Bangladeshi Women’s Association Essex) who hosted a tea party.

Some responses from participants:

“Engaging activities like this tea ceremony make deep and relevant connections”
“Lots of care and effort put into this event. Lu was amazing and being able to interact with all the senses was special and something I would do again”
“Got to know a lot about the Chinese tea drinking ceremony and different kinds of tea they have. It’s so different from my experience of tea (chai)”
“So interesting to gain an understanding of the cultural importance of tea … and such a treat to share in the tea tasting and cakes – delicious and beautifully presented”
“I learned a lot about tea and its significance to the community”
“Everyone at the Museum was so wonderful and welcoming and that was such a positive experience for me as a mother with my child, it has been difficult at times and I felt really respected and involved by everyone, I was much happier after my lovely experience at the Tea Party and Museum.”

This is a collaborative project by Essex Cultural Diversity Project and Colchester and Ipswich Museums, funded by Arts Council England. The project comes under the banner of Colchester and Ipswich Museums’ ‘Hidden Histories’ programme, which aims to source communities’ stories to help reinterpret collections and legacies, and inform new educational resources.