Date & Time: Saturday, September 27th | 14:30 - 16:30
Location: Eastern Leaves Tearoom, via Macedonio Melloni 32, 20129 Milan
Speakers: Lorenzo and Vivian, Founders of Eastern Leaves
Experience Included: An interactive workshop including a guided Agarwood smelling session and a thematic tea tasting.
Language: English and Italian

Close your eyes. Inhale the scent that was more valuable than gold. This seminar is a journey along the ancient incense routes that preceded the tea trade, where the fragrance of sacred woods dictated the flow of empires and inspired poets.

Long before European ships dominated the seas, the Maritime Silk Road was a network of luxury, where the scent of sacred Agarwood dictated trade routes and inspired empires. In this unique workshop, you will not just learn about this history—you will touch, smell, and taste it.

Lorenzo and Vivian, founders of Eastern Leaves, will guide you through an immersive experience. You will become an apprentice trader, learning to identify and appreciate the prized Agarwood (沉香) from different regions of Asia. Then, we will explore how this history of scent is intertwined with the trade of tea, from respectful cultural exchange to bulk commodity.

We will trace the geography of desire for Agarwood (沉香), the 'Wood of the Gods', from its sources across Asia to the heart of the Chinese imperial court. This history of scent is a history of power, diplomacy, and cultural exchange long before European ships arrived.

Then, discover how this world of subtle scents and respectful barter was transformed by the arrival of European powers, whose thirst for a different kind of tea—bulk green tea like Songluo—turned treasures into commodities and set the stage for a new, confrontational chapter in global trade.

This is a critical look at the transition from cultural exchange to commercial extraction, told through scent and taste.

The Multi-Sensory Experience:

1. The Geography of Scent: You will be guided through a curated smelling of Agarwood samples from different Asian regions (e.g. Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia). Wearing gloves, you'll touch and smell the very material that drove centuries of trade, understanding how terroir influences aroma and value.
   
   
2. The Tea Tasting Journey: Your palate will then trace this history in liquid form:
• Shu Pu'erh + Agarwood: Experience the ultimate fusion—the earthy depth of Pu'erh elegantly scented with rare Agarwood, embodying the meeting of two ancient trade luxuries.
• Songluo Tea (Green Tea): Taste the transition. This was the tea mass-produced for foreign export, its story famously captured by the wreck of the Swedish ship Götheborg.
• Yibang Tea 2025 (Qing Dynasty Emperor's Style): Conclude with the tea that defied commodification. A tea of supreme terroir and skill, reserved for the Imperial palate—a testament to the refinement that was kept close.
  

Who Should Attend?
Tea connoisseurs, history enthusiasts, perfumery lovers, and critical thinkers.
This seminar is for those who want to engage all their senses to understand a deeper, more nuanced history of trade and culture.

About the seminars, participation options, and discounts:
This event is part of a symposium held in Milan (27-28/9/2025) and the Netherlands (11-12/10/2025), to celebrate the Ancient Tea Horse Road (茶马古道), now recognized as a pivotal tea trading hub between ancient China and border countries. Its role in making Chinese tea beloved and coveted throughout the East was a great source of inspiration for Vivian Zhang's new project: The Chinese Tea Culture Foundation.
The theme of all the events revolves around this single cornerstone, and each speaker will bring their own experience and perspective to explore the various facets of this historic route. 

You can decide to join one or more events:
- by joining two or three events, you'll enjoy a 5% discount on the total amount
- by joining all 4 events, you can enjoy a 10% discount
- our Xiaoye and Daye alumni can enjoy an additional 10% discount by adding the code ALUMNI at checkout

All events are held live, and seats are limited: join us soon to avoid missing your chance!