Eliot Church Hosts 'Tea and Treat' Event to Promote Sustainable Living

On November 5, 2025, the Eliot Church of Newton became a hub for sustainability enthusiasts during the 'Tea and Treat' event.

 

Organized by the church's Creation Care Team, the evening featured a traditional Chinese tea tasting and a plant-based potluck, aiming to integrate sustainable practices into daily life.

 

Leading the event were Alexander Lee and Iris Tang, who guided attendees through the rich history and cultural significance of Chinese tea traditions.

 

Lee, a Chestnut Hill native and co-founder of the SHOL Newton Creation Care Team, emphasized the environmental impact of beverage choices.

 

He highlighted that large-scale coffee production contributes significantly to deforestation and carbon emissions.

 

In contrast, tea production has a considerably lower environmental footprint.

 

“Producing a pound of roasted coffee emits about 11 pounds of carbon emissions,” Lee noted.

 

“The carbon dioxide produced from coffee is almost three times higher than that of tea, even though people typically drink only about a quarter as much coffee as tea.”

 

He also advocated for energy-efficient practices in tea preparation, such as using induction cooking to conserve energy.

 

“Be careful with how you boil the water for the tea,” Lee advised.

 

“Practice induction cooking to conserve energy and heat efficiently.”

 

The tea tasting replicated the ambiance of a traditional Chinese teahouse.

 

Attendees sat around long tables, engaging in lively conversations while sampling five varieties of Chinese tea.

 

Each brew was accompanied by stories detailing its origin, aroma, and unique characteristics.

 

“Pu’er tea has a very strong smoky, more bitter taste,” Tang explained.

 

“But they taste slightly different, depending on which mountain they were grown on.”

 

Participants also learned about traditional tea packaging methods, including the use of large paper wraps to encase multiple handfuls of tea.

 

“I’ve never seen anything like this, never seen tea packaged like this,” remarked Brita Lundberg, an attendee and member of the Eliot Church Creation Care Team.

 

Lundberg shared that incorporating tea into her daily routine has led to personal health benefits.

 

“It’s hibiscus tea, which I believe has quite a bit of vitamin C in it, and so I find that it has the same effect as coffee, but it doesn’t have the same physiological effect in terms of keeping you awake at night,” she said.

 

“I actually sleep much better at night.”

 

She also noted the simplicity of preparing tea compared to her usual coffee routine.

 

“It’s much easier to prepare my afternoon tea than my morning coffee,” Lundberg said.

 

“I’m a little picky about my coffee. I grind the beans fresh every day.”

 

The event underscored the Eliot Church's commitment to environmental stewardship.

 

By hosting gatherings like 'Tea and Treat,' the church aims to inspire the community to adopt sustainable habits in their daily lives.

 

“I have hopes that through events like this, people will become more educated and may change their habits,” Lundberg expressed.

 

For more information on upcoming events and the church's environmental initiatives, visit the Eliot Church of Newton's official website.