Japanese Tea Tasting - 20 & 27 July 2024
As part of the WAZA Japan 8-year birthday celebrations, we are hosting two Japanese tea tastings in July 2024.
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 green tea in Japan, how different Japanese teas are prepared, and to provide an introduction to some of the original concepts of tea ceremonies.
The event is structured as follows:
- Brief introduction to Japanese tea history, the significance of matcha and how steaming green tea leaves revolutionised tea making;
- Introduction to the key elements of a traditional tea ceremony (with examples and images);
- An informal demonstration of how tea is prepared for the senchado - the regular green tea ceremony;
- An informal demonstration of how matcha is prepared for the chado - the way of tea (matcha ceremony);
- A tasting of five teas, accompanied by Japanese sweets from Mochi Mochi;
- Some handy tips and principles of preparing green tea and matcha.
Participants will be able to see and smell various types of tea from Japan, with the tasting focused on a selection of teas with different flavour profiles.
Sencha and matcha are included, and a selection is then made of three other teas for tasting. These could include houjicha (roasted green tea), genmaicha (tea with rice), cherry leaf tea, gyokuro (shade cloth grown green tea), mugicha (barley tea) and Japanese black tea (semi-fermented).
Please note: The WAZA tasting is not a formal "tea ceremony" as would be presented in Japan over a couple of hours. We make it practical and as informative as possible, with participant interaction contributing to making it an educational and relaxed event.
- DATES: 20 July & 27 July 2024 (both are Saturdays)
- TIME: 11:00 - 13:00
- VENUE: Tjing Tjing Momiji, 165 Longmarket Street, Cape Town CBD
- COST: R600 per person
- WHAT IS INCLUDED: Tea talk and tasting of five teas, sweets by Mochi Mochi, notes on tea preparation, sample box of three Japanese teas to take home, discount code for 15% off any teas from WAZA on the day
- ACCESS: No wheelchair access
Right of Admission Reserved.