Supporting equity in tea education
Being Tea Scholarships
Are you here to apply for or to support a Being Tea scholarship?
You can also read on to learn more about our program!
Equity in Education
Our scholarships help fund tea education here at Being Tea for folks from under-served backgrounds. This gifting program supports both tea industry professionals and devoted tea amateurs, as well.
We focus our efforts on BIPOC+ and LGBTQ+ folks, as well as other marginalized communities, both in the United States and internationally.
Here’s how it works!
Being Tea offers scholarships for these programs:
Community Membership
Being Tea membership is a supported learning community and tea class program. Our flagship offering, with hundreds of classes available at a fraction of what they would cost individually.
Teacher Training
Partial scholarships help reduce the tuition for qualified candidates for our 8-month teacher training, a professional skills development program.
Tasting Box Club
This annual program offers a communal tasting experience, with educational tasting kits shipped to students at home, and explored through an interactive online session.
A look at funding needs for these programs
Gift contributions in any amount are welcome, and every one adds up!
Here’s how gifts made toward Being Tea scholarships are allocated to support our various education programs throughout the year…
$25 USD
Tea care package for a community member experiencing social, emotional, or financial hardship
$120 USD
One year of Being Tea class membership. (educational videos + live classes on Zoom)
$350 USD
One year of focused tea education and skills development in our Tasting Box Club program.
$500 USD
Partial tuition for Being Tea Teacher Training. (8-month professional development program)
$25 USD
Tea care package for a community member experiencing social, emotional, or financial hardship
$120 USD
One year of Being Tea class membership. (educational videos + live classes on Zoom)
$350 USD
One year of focused tea education and skills development in our Tasting Box Club program.
$500 USD
Partial tuition for Being Tea Teacher Training. (8-month professional development program)
Here’s the difference your contributions make!
In 2020,
Our very first year, we supported two Teacher Training scholarships.
In 2021,
We gifted one year memberships to five recipients, as well as one Teacher Training scholarship.
In 2022,
We were able to gift one year Being Tea class membership scholarships to five recipients.
In 2023,
We gifted membership scholarships to six recipients, and a Teacher Training scholarship.
In 2024,
We gifted membership scholarships to three recipients. **Being Tea also did fundraising for World Central Kitchen.
In 2025,
Record fundraising in 2024! Two Teacher Training scholarships, four Tasting Box Club scholarships, two memberships, plus over 20 packages!
Why scholarships have a powerful impact
Since founding Being Tea in 2016, I’ve carefully structured everything I offer here to be as financially accessible as possible…
This includes sliding scale options for our membership program, to affordable options for small business support, and a variety of tuition tiers for our teacher training program.
However, for any space concerned about inclusivity to go deeper, a fundamental shift is needed – beyond simply friendly pricing.
We need to recognize that more needs to be done to directly support those with limited financial mobility – and understanding why. To give, freely.
Specifically, this means racially marginalized folks, and others who face daily oppression, such as queer and disabled persons. Oppression leads to a lack of access to education, professional development, and guided mentorship. It also creates a lack of safety in those spaces.
One antidote to this is creating intentional space to give freely, uplift, and invest in a fair and equitable future.
Scholarships are a potent way to break down barriers for determining who gets the privilege of access to education and support.
Support Equity in Education
Make a Being Tea scholarship gift today!
You can support access to inclusive, holistic, high quality tea education and community through a one-time gift below. All gifts go into our current year pool for distribution. Thank you!
(Kindly note: Being Tea is very small business, not a non-profit organization. Gifts to our scholarships are not tax-deductible.)
Who can apply for Being Tea scholarships?
Scholarships are awarded to eligible applicants based on spaces available and how well the program fits the applicant’s stated learning needs and interests.
You do not need to be a working tea professional to qualify. You also do not need specialized equipment to join Being Tea – just reliable access to internet.
Eligible groups are as follows:
Group 1) Our scholarship program primarily serves BIPOC+ (Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color), and LGBTQ+ folks inside the United States.
Group 2) As funds and requests allow, we also grant Being Tea scholarships to folks from other marginalized backgrounds experiencing economic hardship.
Including but not limited to: disabled or chronically ill persons; immigrants; older adults on fixed income; international applicants, etc.
If either of these affinity groups describe you, please apply!
I do give priority consideration first to Black and Indigenous applicants, as well as queer POC+ folks. This is a protected, welcoming space for you.
Strong consideration is also given to eligible applicants who are applying their tea knowledge skills for community support purposes, including: Asian heritage cultural programs; youth groups; working with queer communities; and programs supporting elderly, disabled, and mental health spaces.
To apply for a Being Tea Scholarship
To be considered for a scholarship, request an application here.
Please allow me a few days to respond, as everything at Being Tea is handled by just me personally. 🙂
Applications are accepted throughout the year, however, not all programs may be open when you apply. This is due to different start dates. For example:
– Teacher Training scholarships are awarded in the early summer.
– Tasting Box Club scholarships are awarded in late autumn.
– Being Tea membership scholarships are awarded year-round.
You will be able to note your program of interest on the application form.
Who reminds you that you are enough?
When I was first getting started in tea in 2003, I was in a really vulnerable place as I navigated a rocky, unknown transition from my previous career path. I benefited from generous, kind people who saw me and made room for my potential. In this new home, I wasn’t judged for my age, my lack of academic qualifications, or the job title that I held. I just was – and got to be – tea. The ability for me to be what I wanted wasn’t questioned.
As I transitioned to working more with the wider industry, I felt suddenly exposed, without my nest. There were professional expectations, experiences, and financial backing that I just didn’t have yet. I was deeply self-conscious of this and spent years judging myself for not being “enough,” not being there yet.
It was only by the grace of finding places to volunteer my time professionally that I was able to keep growing and learning in tea, because I certainly couldn’t pay the cost of admission without help. I had friends who let me share hotel rooms and homes with them when I traveled for tea conferences, because I couldn’t afford that, either. I met new colleagues and friends who also did not judge me for my position in life.
I’ve thought a lot about those early years as I kept going in tea…
In 2016, I founded Being Tea as a means to offer continuing education and mentorship that’s accessible, affordable, and geared toward everyday life and enjoyment. Tea for personal enrichment. Tea that shows you that you are enough.
Thank you for supporting my work, as well as the well-being and education of fellow tea folks on the path!