Japanese Tea Ceremony and Sweet Treats Making Session

The Japanese tea ceremony is a cultural tradition deeply rooted in history. It has its origins in Kyoto, which is unsurprising, seeing as how Kyoto is also one of Japan’s main producers of matcha, green tea powder. With around a thousand years of tradition, the tea ceremony is a spiritual and sophisticated ritual that comes with its own set of practices and etiquette. To begin, the host, Terumi, will explain to you the rules that are involved in an authentic tea ceremony, and introduce some interesting facts and histories about the preparation and serving of the matcha tea. To complement the tea, sweet treats are usually served. The class will thus begin with a hands-on session of sweet treats making, where you will learn how to make traditional nerikiri, one of the main sweet treats served in tea ceremonies. Nerikiri is a doughy confectionary made of mochiko (rice flour) and white kidney bean paste, usually molded into intricate floral designs, to reflect the current season. Some of these flowers include Japan’s national flower, the nation’s most popular seasonal motif, the sakura, as well as May’s seasonal flower, the iris. After making your sweet treats, it is time to enjoy your bowl of tea! You will first be served a warm bowl of matcha to enjoy, before being given the chance to prepare and make your own bowl of matcha. Using the tea utensils provided, follow the steps that you’ve learned to truly immerse yourself in the authenticity of the Japanese tea ceremony. If you are interested in Japanese history and culture, wish to learn more about tea appreciation, or just enjoy tea in general, come join us for an informative and fun session to learn about traditional Japanese tea ceremony!