Tea: East, West, Past, Future

Join us for a special seminar, where we will hear from anthropologists and cultural experts as they explore the history, power and potential of tea, from both Australian and cross-cultural perspectives.

Tea tastings will kindly be provided by David Lyons at the HRC 50th Birthday morning tea which follows this seminar. Please find details here.

Speakers:
Dr Jinghong Zhang, Southern University of Science and Technology and HRC 2024 Visiting Fellow
Jinghong Zhang is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Social Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China, and a Visiting Fellow at the ANU Humanities Research Centre. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the ANU. Her research has followed the flow of goods and people across regions and nations to explore cross-cultural understandings and practices of cultural authenticity, heritage, taste, multiple senses and sensations. Her first book, Puer Tea: Ancient Caravans and Urban Chic, published by the University of Washington Press, won the Best Book Award in English in the Social Sciences from 2013 to 2015, presented by the International Convention of Asia Scholars (ICAS). In line with the 2024 HRC annual research theme of “Time, Place, Everywhere”, her current project explores the changing cultural perceptions of time and place among Chinese Chaoshan migrants in Australia by looking at the development of their sensory experiences and social/cultural tastes during the migration process.

David Lyons, Founding Director, Australia Tea Cultural Society
With over 26 years in the Australian tea industry, David Lyons processes a unique and deep understanding of tea in Australia. His passion for and knowledge of tea history and culture, finds him accepted and befriended by academic circles associated with tea in several different counties. Lyons was the first Australian to be invited to become a member of the acclaimed China International Tea Cultural Institute in Hangzhou, China. Membership of which finds Lyons regularly invited to speak at tea and cultural events especially in China. Since 2017, Lyons has voluntarily given his time to the Australian Tea Cultural Society (AUSTCS) as a director and figurehead for this Australian not-for-profit, charitable organisation.

Chaired by Dr Trang X. Ta.