A Chinese tea cup may look small, but it holds a great deal more than tea and water. As you listen to Mr Ip you might believe you are sipping the distillation of thousands of years of Chinese culture. He'll tell you not only about tea, but also the intricate rituals involved in drinking it.

Tea appreciation encompasses not only an understanding of the important qualities of this revered leaf, but also the contemplative thoughts that tea drinking has inspired throughout Chinese history.

Mr Ip has a fine arts degree and a fascination for Chinese culture that extends beyond art. He founded a teahouse 10 years ago and named it Lock Cha which translate as pleasure of, or love for tea. Mr Ip helped the late Dr KS Lo put together a collection of rare teapots that became the core display at the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware located next to Mr Ip's tea shop in Hong Kong Park.

Through this class, Mr Ip will introduce you to the many varieties of tea, its proper preparation and tea-drinking etiquette. You will see for yourself why the ancient saying holds true: "Life is like tea. The longer it steeps, the richer it becomes."