Article – Chanoyu (Japanese tea culture)

A bowl of tea should warm up the body and the heart of the guests during cold weather seasons, as stipulated by our founder, Sen-no-Rikyu. Sen-no-Rikyu, who developed the basic form of tea ceremony we now practice, has taught us the principles of tea: ・Lay the charcoal so that the water boils efficiently ・Provide a sense of warmth in the winter      Please refer to our workshop details: http://goo.gl/3I0QCC  

Tea is prepared with water boiled by a charcoal hearth ...

Freshly steamed rice Miso soup with seasonal ingredients The soup reflects the season by adjusting the amount of miso paste and the kind of ingredients used. Sashimi with fresh seasonal fish In addition, a stewed dish and the main dish (grilled dish) will be served. Please enjoy the tea ceremony that follows the meal. We would love to have you join us!    Please refer to our tour plan:  http://goo.gl/3I0QCC

Cha-kaiseki course starts with dishes that warm up your heart ...

Young green tea leaves picked freshly in the Spring are stored and matured during Summer to bring out its original flavor and aroma inherent in tea. They are ready to be shipped out of the aging process in November. The matcha tea ordered during this period will be delivered to you in the freshest state as the leaves are just out of storage and freshly ground by a stone mill. *Mat-Cha-Doh only sells high quality matcha produced from a tea plantation in Uji, Kyoto.    Two must buy products that are of high quality and of tea ceremony grade, yet […]

Matcha season starts in November. We are proud to bring ...

  Hosts go through many preparations to ready the tea ceremony room for the guests. An important step is to select a hanging scroll which adorns the “tokonoma” or an alcove of the tea ceremony room that is considered as the most honored space. Hanging scrolls are generally written by monks with experience or calligraphers using Zen words or classical Chinese poems. Hosts choose the appropriate writing to express their message for the guests. The messages are normally very simple but they can leave vast space for interpretation. Each guest is allowed to appreciate in his/her own way. A very […]

The main attraction in the tea ceremony is a hanging ...

Chrysanthemum represents the royal family in Japan. It is used as the design on the buttons for the members of parliament as well as on the cover of Japanese passports. It is considered as a noble flower and used at special events. Wagashi that resemble the seasonal flowers are often served at tea ceremony. This season, it is the chrysanthemum. Such fine techniques of making Wagashi have developed in parallel with the tea ceremony.   Mat-Cha-Doh offers classes in small sizes where you will have fun learning the techniques of Wagashi Making.  Please refer to our tour report:  https://goo.gl/c563RU  Detail […]

The main motif of fall/winter in Wagashi (Japanese sweets) Making ...

  This workshop offers an authentic Japanese kaiseki meal followed by tea ceremony, a representation of Japanese culture. In this workshop, guests are served “Cha-kaiseki” a formal Japanese coursed meal prior to the tea ceremony. By choosing the appropriate ingredients and the cooking method, hosts prepare the guests for the intense tea later. The main dish of the course is “Nimono-wan”, a simmered dish. A refined dish which illustrates the season in a beautiful bowl. The broth is subtly flavored to enhance the flavor of the main ingredients and warms your stomach. The most popular “Nimono-wan” of the season is […]

Tea Ceremony Experience; Enjoy the Fall in Japan which is ...