Lunar New Year Tea Tasting Ceremony February 9
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Lunar New Year Tea Tasting Ceremony February 9 〰️
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Your contributions help us connect people with horticulture at the Volunteer Park Conservatory, enhance the visitor experience, preserve the historic structures, and sustain the plant collections for future generations.
What can you do?
Purchase gifts in the Palm House Gift Shop
Bring friends and family for a visit
Upcoming Activities
Join us for our Spring Intro to Orchid Care and Repotting with local Orchid expert Mike Cory
$20 per ticket
The 36th Annual Sogetsu Society’s Exhibition and Demonstration
*Free with the price of admission
Join us as we celebrate the Year of the Horse with our annual tea tasting ceremony on February 9th!
Phoenix Dancong, also known as Dancong Oolong, one of the most distinctive styles among 4-type Chinese Oolong teas. Phoenix Dancong is renowned for its layered, three-dimensional fragrance.
凤凰单丛，又称“单丛茶”，是中国乌龙茶中极具个性的一支。凤凰单丛的香气极为立体丰富，被誉为“茶中香水”。
Five Style Profiles Featured in This Tea Testing 本次茶会的五种风格-凤凰单丛茶
Natural Floral Aroma 自然花香型
Natural Fruit & Honey Aroma 天然果蜜香型
Spicy Aroma 辛香型
Nutty Aroma 坚果香型
Mixed Fruit Cold-Brew Tea Blend 水果冷萃调饮型：
The following is the detailed information of Five Teas for 2/9/ Tea Testing;
2026/2/9 ：
Phoenix Dancong, also known as Dancong Oolong, originates from Phoenix Mountain in Chaozhou, Guangdong Province. It is one of the most distinctive styles among Chinese 4-type Oolong teas. Its most remarkable characteristic is that each individual tea tree produces a unique aroma profile. Historically, the tea was harvested, processed, stored, and sold by individual trees, which gave rise to the name “Phoenix Dancong.”
Phoenix Dancong is renowned for its layered, three-dimensional fragrance. Thanks to its unique terroir, diverse tea tree cultivars, and refined processing techniques, it naturally expresses vivid floral, fruity, honeyed, and spicy aromas, earning it the reputation of being the “perfume of teas.”
Five Style Profiles Featured in This Tea Gathering
Natural Floral Aroma
One of the most classic and captivating expressions of Dancong tea. The fragrance resembles flowers blooming in nature—elegant and uncontrived.
Natural fragrance from: Orchid, Gardenia, night-blooming jasmine, Osmanthus, Jasmine.
Characteristics: high-pitched aroma, refined elegance, and rich layering.
Natural Fruit & Honey Aroma
A natural harmony of special tea cultivars and roasting techniques, delivering ripe fruit and honey-like sweetness.
Common notes: honey peach, lychee honey, and other ripe fruit aromas.
Characteristics: pronounced sweetness, smooth and silky mouthfeel, lingering sweetness with a distinctive honey finish.
Spicy Aroma
“Spicy” here does not mean hot or pungent, but rather a warm, gently spiced fragrance.
Common notes: cinnamon, ginger, woody spice.
Characteristics: warm, powerful aroma with strong structure and a long-lasting aftertaste.
Nutty Aroma
Features roasted nut-like aromas with a subtle medicinal nuance.
Common notes: almond, dried apricot.
Characteristics: calm and grounded aroma, full-bodied taste, and excellent infusion endurance.
Mixed Fruit Cold-Brew Tea Blend
Based on cold-brewed Phoenix Dancong, combining the tea’s natural floral and fruity notes with fresh fruits such as peach, strawberry, and pomegranate.
Main expression: a harmonious interplay where tea aromas and fresh fruit flavors complement, contrast, and merge into a richer, more complex profile.
Characteristics: lush and inviting aroma, refreshing taste, and broad appeal.
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Enjoy free Conservatory admission from 10 am to 4 pm. This occurs each month on the first Thursday.
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Come enjoy a private event where you will learn about the culture and traditions of Chinese tea ceremonies and the celebration of the year of the Horse! We will have 5 different Oolong teas brought from China to taste and learn about all while enjoying the conservatory!
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Introduction to Orchids and their care.
The orchid family (Orchidacea) is one of the largest and most diverse plant families. It possibly
represents 10% of the flowering plant species. There are between 20,000 and 35,000 species
(about 800 genera) and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. There are 41 native
terrestrial orchid species in Washington State. Orchids are characterized by having highly
specialized flower adaptations usually for pollination by insects.
This class will cover the physical characteristics of orchids, care and feeding of the plants. Each
student is encourages to bring up to 3 of their plants for evaluation and possible repotting. The
lecture and demonstration portion of the class will be one hour followed by the evaluation and
repotting demonstrations for an hour.
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March 28th 11am to 4pm
March 29th 11am to 3pm
Ikebana Demonstration 1:30 to 2:30pm
Programming: Education + Cultural Arts Events
A glimpse into the lower greenhouse. Photo credit: Paige Smith.
Expanding understanding of our natural world through science and horticulture education and offering experiential cultural arts events is at the heart of everything we do. Enjoy our guided tours and information on our rare plant collection, unique workshops, and music-dance-visual arts events that connect community in our “living botany museum.” Check out our offerings and find a variety of enriching and inclusive events and activities that celebrate science, arts & culture, history, architecture, music, and more.
Advocating for Preservation
For more than 40 years, the Friends of the Conservatory has led the effort to preserve the Volunteer Park Conservatory raising more than $3million for restorations and improvements. We partner with Seattle Parks & Recreation in maintaining our Conservatory, welcoming community into our spaces, and engaging in public advocacy campaigns to improve this living landmark. Learn more about our Historic Preservation in the Get Involved section.
A Community of Volunteers
FOC Volunteer Keith (seated) and FOC Board Member John at the May Plant Sale. Photo credit: Christopher Miller.
The Conservatory needs people like you! Every year, community members donate over 3,500 hours to the Friends of the Conservatory. Share your ‘super powers,’ meet folks, and learn new skills while you contribute to education, arts programming, and conservation. There are many opportunities available - event support, social media, Plant Sales, Gift Shop sales, outreach, graphic art and lots more. We’re growing everyday with your active participation at the Volunteer Park Conservatory!