Gong Fu Cha Gathering by MyTeaPal @ Skleněná louka
Join us for an exclusive tea event hosted by Vincent Liu, the founder of MyTeaPal. ℹ️ Although he will be hosting this event for free, the space provider Literární čajovna Skleněná louka will charge 100 czk per person as the entry fee, which can be paid directly at the venue.
After sourcing tea in China for the past three years, Vincent has recently completed a USA tea tour, hosting over 20 tea gatherings across five states. Now, he’s embarking on another tea tour to Europe, spending about three weeks traveling from Budapest to Berlin.
Through a series of special gatherings, he aims share his extensive knowledge and love for Chinese specialty tea and Gong Fu Cha. These events are all about community building, tea education, and sharing the joy of tea.
About the space
Literární čajovna Skleněná louka (Glass Meadow) has a unique history as one of Brno's cultural landmarks. It has been operating for around 28 years under the guidance of Alena Kleinová, who has kept its charm and authenticity alive throughout the decades. The venue is known for its upstairs tearoom, Literární čajovna Skleněná louka, which serves as a cozy space for tea lovers, featuring various tea tastings, literary events, and workshops.
Downstairs, the atmosphere shifts dramatically to a more alternative vibe, with a basement bar known for its eclectic decor and casual, underground feel. The combination of these two contrasting spaces reflects Brno's diverse cultural scene, offering both a relaxed tea experience and a countercultural social environment. This blend of art, tea culture, and a laid-back bar scene makes Skleněná louka a versatile and beloved spot for both locals and visitors.
What to Expect:
Premium Tea Tasting: Experience a selection of high-quality, unique teas sourced by Vincent himself. Learn about the origins, processing methods, and brewing techniques of each tea.
Community Connection: Meet and connect with fellow tea enthusiasts, share your tea experiences, and make new friends within the tea community.
Gong Fu Cha Demonstration: Witness the traditional Chinese tea preparation method known as Gong Fu Cha (making tea with skills), which meticulously and artfully brings out the best flavors from the tea.
About the Host:
Vincent Liu has been seriously studying tea for over eight years. In 2017, he founded a tea club at Duke University and went on to create a college tea association with five other institutions. Leveraging his background in Computer Science, he coded the MyTeaPal App in 2020, providing tea enthusiasts with a comprehensive platform to track and catalog teas, time infusions, write tasting notes, and connect with fellow tea enthusiasts. The app has garnered over 20,000 registered users across 100 countries, making it a global hub for tea lovers.
In 2022, MyTeaPal integrated a monthly themed tea subscription box service into its app, offering a diverse selection of premium specialty teas sourced directly from China. Over the past two years, the tea club has attracted more than 400 members from over 50 countries. All of the 140+ teas featured in the club were sourced by Vincent himself, who has extensively traveled to nearly all the major Chinese tea-producing regions over the past three years.
Vincent is deeply committed to tea communities; he is an admin of the Gong Fu Cha Facebook group, which has around 40,000 members and is the largest online group discussing the culture of Gong Fu Cha and Chinese tea. He also created his own communities on Facebook and Discord and enjoys connecting with people through tea.