R 480

Japanese Tea Tasting | 14 February 2026

The WAZA Japanese Tea Tasting is an informal introduction to elements of two types of tea ceremony:

chado – matcha tea ceremony;
senchado – sencha tea ceremony.

The focus is on how green tea is grown in Japan, how different Japanese teas are prepared, and how they compare in taste. The tasting session includes a summary presentation on what makes the development of green tea in Japan unique.

The event is structured as follows:

Brief introduction to Japanese tea history, including how steaming green tea leaves revolutionised tea making, and what the popularity of matcha means for green tea;
Introduction to the key elements of a traditional tea ceremony (with examples and images);
An informal demonstration of how tea is prepared for senchado – the regular green tea ceremony;
An informal demonstration of how matcha is prepared for chado – the way of tea (matcha ceremony);
A tasting of five teas, accompanied by Japanese sweets from Mochi Mochi;
Sharing handy tips and principles for preparing green tea and matcha.

Participants will be able to see, touch and smell various types of tea from Japan, with the tasting focused on a selection of teas with different flavour profiles. The selection is seasonal and is chosen from sencha (steamed), matcha (milled), hōjicha (roasted), bancha (sun-dried), gyokuro (shade-cloth covered), wakocha (semi-fermented), and genmaicha (tea with rice).

Venue: WAZA Japan Store, 201 Bree St, Cape Town
Date: Saturday, 14 February 2026 @11:00
Duration: 90 minutes
Host: Botha Kruger

Please note: the WAZA tea tasting is not a formal “tea ceremony” where participants are seated on the floor in silence, as would typically be presented in Japan over a couple of hours. We emphasise learning and tasting, so the session is practical and informative, with participant interaction contributing to a relaxed and engaging event.

-------------------------------

Host profile

Botha Kruger is the founder and managing director of WAZA. He also works as a strategy consultant and has been travelling to Japan for more than 22 years. Botha personally oversees and manages most aspects of the WAZA business and has personally explored tea farms and production areas across Japan. His interest in Japan spans its history, culture, society, arts and craftsmanship. Botha became interested in tea as WAZA started expanding its range of Japanese teas, and this led him to study and learn more about tea production, preparation and its associated practices and ceremonies.