Charles McLaughlin and Nick Carlisi, two local tea aficionados, will hold a discussion and complimentary tea tasting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 17 at the East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon, Metairie.

This event is free of charge and is open to the public. There is no registration.

McLaughlin and Carlisi have tasted tea from all over the world, studied various preparation and presentation techniques, and have become ambassadors so they can educate people about the rich histories, traditions, production methods, flavors, and aromas of specialty loose leaf teas.

During the presentation, they will discuss the following.
• How tea is made – an overview of the stages of tea production.
• The various types of tea, including white, green, black, oolong, and dark.
• Various preparation methods, including brewing guidelines.

McLaughlin and Carlisi have been friends since childhood and crated a startup company, Tandem Tea Company, to spread the love and appreciation of tea culture by sourcing artisan teas from around the world. They say they are committed to providing an open exchange of information both online and at events.

For more information regarding this presentation, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.