SFA Gardens Lecture Series to Feature “Tea Magic: The Science Behind Flavor and Health of Tea.”

SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. on June 11 in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet Street, Nacogdoches. Dr. Yan Chen, will present “Tea Magic: the Science behind Flavor and Health of Tea.” Dr. Chen is a professor in Medicinal Plant Physiology at the LSU School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences since 2020. Prior to that, she worked at the LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station in Ornamental Horticulture for 15 years. Dr. Chen was born in Beijing China and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from China Agriculture University, and her PhD in horticulture as well as a Graduate Certificate in entomology from Kansas State University. Dr. Chen's research focuses on plant nutrient physiology, integrated pest management, and developing production guidelines for new specialty crops. One of her recent research programs involves developing tea, Camellia sinensis as a new specialty crop for Louisiana. Working with new and established tea farmers in the region and collaborating with scientists at a national scale, the research and extension efforts made by the “Tea Team” at the LSU Agricultural Center over the past five years have helped this new crop get established in Louisiana, Mississippi and East Texas. Learn about the health benefits of drinking tea and the unique approaches of U.S. tea growers in creating award-winning flavors with Dr. Chen. Tea samples from the 2026 spring flush will be available for attendees to enjoy at this event. The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, however donations to the lecture series fund are always appreciated. Parking is available at the PNPC, 2900 Raguet St., or Raguet Elementary School, 2708 Raguet St. For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.