Valerija Zujeva 03/07/2019 Valerija Zujeva 03/07/2019

ROSE TEA TASTING at ROSE FESTIVAL

I held Rose Tea Tasting at the Rose Festival in Surrey.

Last Saturday I was invited to hold Rose Tea Tasting for Malvern Luxury Buildings in collaboration with Squires Garden Centre in Surrey. The tasting was part of a larger Rose Festival event that was all about the queen of the garden herself - ROSE.

It was the hottest day of this year and the garden with all the roses there looked and felt amazingly beautiful. The smell was divine, and the garden buildings where the tea tasting took place were perfect for the occasion.

I chose three teas - simple rose buds from Pakistan, White Darjeeling Tea infused with Rose Petals and Rose and Cardamom Tea (with green rooibos, apples and a touch of Mint). They were all a huge success, and also all had a cooling effect on the body. Rose and white tea are cooling by nature, green rooibos, mint and apples too. The only ingredient that was a little bit warming was Cardamom - but it was a well received exceptions as most people attending the tasting loved its taste.

Even though in my work I focus mainly on Chadao Tea Ceremonies and Meditation - I really enjoyed holding this particular event. Spending morning in the sun surrounded by roses, but mostly by the people - curious minds who joined the tasting. Most of them didn’t know the event is happening, and stumbled across it while strolling through the rows of roses looking for the one they want to buy home. Joining the tasting spontaneously and discovering the whole new world of loose leaf teas and actually loving every single minute of it.

I am always amazed by how everyone responds to Tea and the beauty it brings into our life, sometimes unexpectedly. How a simple cup of tea with or without rose can change the course of our day and induces more brightness in our eyes, energy in our bodies and peace in our minds.

Malvern Gardens also wrote an amazing BLOG POST on how to make your own rose tea and how to cook with rose too!

Valerija Zujeva 13/06/2019 Valerija Zujeva 13/06/2019

DRINK TEA AND BE ORGASMIC - ARTICLE IN VINTAGE LIFE

The story of how one journalist and blogger got really interested in me having an experience of Drinking Tea and having orgasmic sensations in my body, which resulted in this article published in Vintage Life Magazine - with the same name.

One part of my journey was and still is Tantra - after all, Kashmir Shivaism is a relative of Japanese Zen and Chinese Chaan. Kashmir Shivaism is all about senses, experience, living life totally, savouring each moment fully, experiencing each moment with each cell of your body. That’s what Tantra is about too.

And to me Tea Ceremony is so inherently tantric. It engages all our senses, takes us from our Minds to our Hearts, to our Body, and if we are able to do that, it forces us to have a direct experience of life, of Being. What happens is making love to life through Tea. It’s a beautiful experience, if we are able to really be in our body, and feel tea rather than think about it through all our concepts and ideas and beliefs.

At some point in my life I did a few sessions with Tantra Journey organisation in London, which views tantric bodywork as a way of emotional trauma release. My really good friend Julija was working there and she offered a few complimentary sessions to me with her teacher Mal. I agreed, and I have to say, those sessions were really powerful, a catharsis of some sort. Lots was coming up to the surface, emotions, feelings, movement, tears, uncontrollable laughter, screams. After a 6 hour session (!!!!) I felt like I just finished a one week psychotherapy retreat - it felt so powerful. I realised a lot about my own blocks, conditioning - well, at least I started seeing it - before that it was a blind spot to me.

It was a powerful process and I definitely recommend this, especially if there was some sexual or emotional or physical abuse in your history.

But what happened after that is that my whole body was vibrating - and when I was drinking tea during my morning sittings with Her - it was vibrating even more, the sensations that come close to describing it were truly orgasmic. “Making Love with Life through Tea” was experienced as reality.

I shared it in the PR meeting that this school has organised, and one of the journalists got really interested in in this. And the result of this interest is this article in Vintage Life Magazine (Issue 84, November 2017), where we discuss Tea, presence and feeling orgasmic with Tea - of course.

If you would like to experience this tantric healing, I highly recommend Julija here https://tantrichealingtherapy.com/therapist/julia-vaya-mai - she is an amazing tantric healing therapist with many years of experience, and she always holds courses and workshops.

Here is the article:

Valerija Zujeva 11/06/2019 Valerija Zujeva 11/06/2019

GAZELLI WELLBEING COLLABORATION FOR NEW MOON TEA CEREMONY

From Gazelli Wellbeing blog: Discover how Lera, the founder of T-Lovers found out that tea was her calling. Learn how Lera looks after her own wellbeing and what’s involved in a Tea Ceremony and Circle.

We have collaborated with Gazelli Wellbeing in South Kensington to hold New Moon Tea Ceremony and Sharing Circle with the theme of ROSE for the New Moon in Cancer.

To give you a feel for what the Tea Ceremony is about and to introduce me to their customers, they asked me a few questions, which resulted in a beautiful interview - the one that gives a glimpse into my life and journey into Tea.

We’re delighted to be welcoming Lera from T-Lovers to Gazelli House on 2 July for a New Moon Tea Ceremony and Circle – a ceremony that invites you to slow down and connect with yourself, others and nature at the start of the new lunar cycle, a time that’s associated with setting new intentions and visions.

Lera struggled for find purpose in her City job in investment banking, which despite offering security left her feeling unhappy and unfulfilled. She knew she needed to discover her passion and tried embroidery, fashion, jewellery-making, kickboxing, bodywork, astrology, trapeze and corporeal mime. But it was after meeting a ‘magic woman’ that Lera found her true calling. We were intrigued to find out more…

Tell us more about the moment you were told that tea was your calling?

After searching for thirty-three years for my perfect vocation, I found a blog about this woman, and decided she was my last chance. I really surrendered. I thought, whatever she tells me, I will do it. If she tells me that the financial industry is what I’m going to be best at, I’ll go back to the office. But thankfully she didn’t. She told me many things, among which was tea – and as soon as she said tea, I had a strong resonant feeling in my heart, which I knew I needed to delve deeper into. And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since.

What does living a slow life mean to you?

Living slow to me means really taking my time to enjoy and savour what I’m doing. Taking time to appreciate things, to feel them – not on autopilot, but mindfully, with awareness. It also means being in tune with our needs at any point in time – feeling when we need to sleep, when we need to take a pause and when we need to work. It means making space in our days to fulfil our needs, and making them our priority.

Tell us more about the tea ceremony you are going to be hosting at Gazelli House.

It will be a New Moon Tea Ceremony and Circle. The new moon marks the beginning of the new lunar cycle and with that comes new intentions and new visions. For the Tea Ceremony, we’ll sit in silence together – so we can be still and really listen to our own inner wisdom. This is the only wisdom that is true for us, but we can only hear it when we take our attention within and really listen. We’ll then share whatever comes from the heart. The tea will be a blend of tea and rose – rose is an incredible heart medicine. Everything in the Tea Ceremony is designed for us to connect with our senses, our body, to go within and trust our own inner teachings.

TO READ FULL INTERVIEW PLEASE GO TO https://www.gazelli.com/blog/2019/6/4/meet-the-experts-lera-of-t-lovers

Valerija Zujeva 05/06/2019 Valerija Zujeva 05/06/2019

Tea Ceremony Talk and Demonstration at CHALICE WELL TRUST in Glastonbury

I am so honoured and humbled to be invited to be part of the amazing annual festival in Glastonbury to give a talk on Tea Ceremony and give a demonstration of the Tea Ceremony too.

This festival is organised by Chalice Well Trust. “Chalice Well is among the best known and most loved holy wells in Britain. Many legends are attributed to its chalybeate waters, which flow ceaselessly at a steady rate and temperature that never varies. Not least among these is that they represent the blood of Christ miraculously springing forth from the ground when Joseph of Arimathea buried or washed the cup used at the Last Supper. For others the waters are acknowledged as the essence of life, the gift from Mother Earth to sustain its living forms and so a continuous spring like Chalice Well is a direct expression of an unbounded life force.”

This year’s Festival is called “Many Paths, One Source” and is centred around Buddhism - and the numerous traditions that are part of it - Zen, Theravada, Vajrayana etc.

And of course, Tea Ceremony was always present in early buddhist traditions - after all Wu De, a man I call my tea teacher and founder of the Global Tea Hut community, wrote a book with the name “Tea and Zen One Flavour” - showing just that. That Tea and Zen are one and the same.

Tea has been a silent transmitter of wisdom and truth, from master to students, something that couldn’t be transmitted in a linguistic manner.

This and many other things we will explore in this Tea Ceremony talk and Demonstration on 9 June 2019.

Here is a link to the programme of events there - check them out, it’s amazing! https://chalicewellmanypathsonesourcefestival.org/event/tea-ceremony-talk-and-demonstration/

lera zujeva 15/07/2016 lera zujeva 15/07/2016

T-Lovers at ShangCha- Private Networking and Premium Tea Tasting Event

Last week I was invited by a a Chinese Business Group to talk at a private Chinese networking event about Tea ad Spirituality, and also to do a Tea Meditation for those who are interested. The event went really great, better than I expected. I was so nervous about the speech I was supposed to do, preparing it of course the last minute. Then trying to remember the structure and points. Being very nervous and going there by bike with my son Sasha in the back seat. But as I said, it went really well, I caught myself that I am enjoying the speech so much (it can be seen from my facial expression on the photos)! I loved talking about Global Tea Hut community, about Wu De (you can see him on one of the projector pictures!), about Living tea, about Tea and Zen, about the trip to Yunnan - and showing the photos from that trip. I could see from people's faces and attentive eyes that they were touched by GTH's mission and message, and that most of them wanted to participate in a tea ceremony.

And I was quite high for a few days after it, and even managed to do a Sunrise Tea Ceremony the next morning at 4am. We are holding another Silent Sunrise Tea Ceremony this coming Sunday at 4.30am at the same place as before in Stave Hill in Russian Docks in London. You can join us in person or online. All information is HERE.

lera zujeva 11/07/2016 lera zujeva 11/07/2016

The Importance of Participating in Tea

My morning tea meditation with the bowl of purple red tea. Somehow recently this is the tea I drink most in my morning tea sessions. It brings me into presence straight away and opens my heart. When I give this tea to other people I always ask them to drink it totally and dedicate a few moments just for drinking it. For if you drink casually in between talking and watching tv, or even thinking and planning what food you need to get to cook you dinner tonight, it's effect will not be felt, or will be, but not as strongly.

My friend and a yoga teacher Liuda Yogini who I have a pleasure to live with for two months, sometimes joins me for these morning sessions. And every time she asks me: "What tea is this? It makes me so present, so alive! The healing effect of it can be felt so strongly too!"

It is because if we are present with tea, tea brings us its gift of presence and peace. My tea teacher Wu De from Global Tea Hut community always says that "tea requires participation", in other words if we don't make space for it, there will be no space in us to receive the gifts of The Leaf, the numerous gifts it has to offer. And I am forever grateful for this daily practice, for what Global Tea Hut does. Because after each morning tea session my being shines through and gets in the flow.

A little piece from Wu De's Book "Tea Medicine":

"If you open your heart to Tea and seek love from Her, she will teach you. If you treat Her as an object of sensual pleasure, then your return on investment will be just that: sensual pleasure. Like with all things in life, the more you invest, the more your return will be. Have you made your Tea Space sacred? Have you treated your Tea time with reverence? Adopt an attitude of respect for Tea as a Medicine, for teaware as an instrument, and for your guests who came to share this magical experience , and you will quickly notice how much change this plant medicine brings in your life"

lera zujeva 10/07/2016 lera zujeva 10/07/2016

Our first Silent Tea Ceremony at Sunrise in London

Was it difficult to wake up for today's sunrise tea ceremony? Yes, it was. So many excuses ran through my head about why not get up and why not do it. But I overcame resistance and it was so worth it! I woke up at 3.30am, and then my helper and friend came with his bike, so we could cycle together to the location. I was a little bit questioning myself, why on earth am I doing it, when I can stay in bed for a few extra hours.. But the first minutes on the bicycle dissolved these questions and grumpy thoughts completely. It was so refreshing and magical to cycle through the empty streets in the lighting of the sun yet to come! The ride was quick and easy. It seems like everything is so close in London, when you are cycling!

The energy of the time when nature wakes up together with the sun is truly special (it was at about 4.52am today). The birds wake up and sing their songs most intensely during that hour, there are no planes in the sky, and all you hear is birds and wind rustling through the tree leaves. And the sky. Such an enormous vast constantly changing sky! You cannot help but feel part of this beautiful incredible moving universe!

Now I feel so much in my body, so present, even though a little bit tired. So blessed to have this start of the day. There were two of us today, hopefully more can join us next Sunday! These sessions are going to be regular (I hope), with the break for a few weeks at the end of July, as I am going away. If you are interested, simply write to me, and I will let you know if they are happening or not that coming Sunday!

Or you could check our site here, or Facebook page for events.

Here are a couple of photos from that session.

lera zujeva 14/03/2016 lera zujeva 14/03/2016

Full Moon Women Tea Gathering

On Tuesday, 22 March 2016, 8pm, we will have our first Full Moon Women Tea Gathering. Not only it's the full moon, which signifies completion and is an ideal time for letting go of things that you no longer need. It is also going to be a Full Lunar Eclipse too, in the sign of Libra. A Powerful Combination, the one that brings with it the potential for great illumination.

On such night there is a strong connection with night sky and the ability to prophecy. This Lunar eclipse brings an aura of peace and tranquility, and carries a very potent balancing energy.

At every full moon, the whole world is illuminated by the essence of the Great Feminine. This is an great time to come together as sisters in authentic heart, to celebrate our gratitude and abundance, and to share the blessings of the sacred herbs and flowers of the Earth.

So let us share a taste of enchanted tea in ceremony, come open your heart, and let the Moon inspire you... We will be boiling water in a clay kettle on live fire, having all five elements in place. We will chant mantras. We will set intentions, and then we will let them go into the universe, relaxing into knowing that it is all we need to do. Set the intention and soften into non action, knowing it will be done.

We will be brewing Puerh Tea. Firstly, large leaves from ancient puerh trees right in the teapot on fire. And then a 2002 Puerh Tea from 1,200 year old trees. It will create a powerful connection to the sky, to the nature, to the earth, and most importantly to ourselves, and into the flow of life.

Please note, that because this is a private residence places are limited.

It is donation based, minimum suggested donation £20, and there is an RSVP/wait list in place, so you are encouraged to receive your space by making a suggested contribution. The seating is done on the floor and we have plenty of cushions. Comfortable clothing is recommended. After tea we will share some healthy snacks. And you will take a Tea bag with tea samples and gifts with you home!

I am looking forward to sharing a bowl of tea with you all!

If you would like to join please send me an e-mail on withtlovers@gmail.com

lera zujeva 12/02/2016 lera zujeva 12/02/2016

Sun Moon Lake Red Tea and Uluntu Flowers

Red living tea from Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan (which I got from Living Tea UK) is the perfect elevating start of the day! And with these beautiful flowers from @uluntubermondsey , which I get every time I do a tea meditation there this really is connecting me to myself and to nature... Both are wild. Wild Tea and wild flowers. Be wild. Be nature. Be you. Every Tuesday - Tea Meditations in my home at 8pm in London. Every Thursday - Tea Ceremony and Meditation at 1pm Uluntu Bermondsey (63 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TL)

Today I wanted to tell you a little bit more about Uluntu Space, where Thursday's Tea Meditations take place. Everyone always comments that it is amazing to have a Tea Ceremony, a Tea meditation not to so many beautiful and unusual flowers, because in this way it is much easier to connect to yourself and nature. Each time I use flowers from the shop for our Chaxi - the setting of the tea table. It works almost like a magic, transforming the whole energy of the tea space.

And every time after the Tea Meditation the guys tell me: choose some flowers to take home with you! And I stand there each time, not being able to choose from this variety, from these works of art, so simple and so complicated at the same time. I am always late to pick up my son from school as I it simply takes me a long time to choose! But as a result these flowers are in my home for the whole week before the next meditation! :)

Uluntu is translated as Community in one of the South African languages, and this is how this space feels! You come in, and you feel like you came to a friend's house, the guys meet you and greet you, and you will be able to have some tea there soon (from March) - a good quality tea, that gives you a state of joy, happiness and inspiration. This is going to be a collaboration of T-Lovers tea and Uluntu Bermondsey. So please follow us for more news on this!

Every Thursday there are Thursday Social events with music (Stan is also a DJ with the record collection of 5,000 vinyls in the basement), wine and socialising. Last night I went there to check it out at around 10pm for 15 minutes, there was no party, but people were sitting around the table sipping wine, talking, coming and leaving, and it did really feel like a living room of your best friends. I came for 15 minutes and barely left after 2.5 hours! And I was drinking water, not wine! :)))

Before I left Den gave me an Eucaliptus branch to take home. So my house looks as beautiful as ever with the magic touch of Uluntu Flowers. I am in LOVE. And this place is going to be perfect for tea. Amazing, living, quality tea. The opening os a tea house is planned for the 6 March. It's Sunday, and I hope I will see many of you who have been to my Tea Tours and Meditations!!!!

Uluntu Bermondsey is at 63 Tower Bridge Road, SE1 4TL.

lera zujeva 18/11/2015 lera zujeva 18/11/2015

Tea Meditation at London Bridge and blessed cranes from Japan

Our Tea Meditation tomorrow will be very special and amazing. It takes place in a beautiful yoga studio called Globe House Yoga just 5 minutes away from London Bridge station, which is a very convenient location.

Also tomorrow we will have with us Holly Helt, my friend from Japan, an owner of a Japanese tea house and tea shop in Japan, a very spiritual woman. The shop is called ChikiTea and if you ever have been on my tours you would have heard about her and her wonderful teas from me. The teas that open our hearts, connect us to the universe and create the flow of inspiration in such a powerful way that you just feel like saying "I LOVE YOU" to friends and strangers alike!

And she brought with her a few origami cranes that she made with her own hands, and then they were all blessed in the Shrine of Prosperity in Japan by a monk, so these cranes bring Good Luck and Fortune, and each participant tomorrow will get one of those as a present! :))) There are still a few places if you would like to join us!

By the way, our Tea Meditation take place weekly:

every Tuesday evening at 8pm at my place
every Thursday lunchtime from 1-2.30pm at Globe House Yoga in London Bridge

I hope to see you very soon!

lera zujeva 26/10/2015 lera zujeva 26/10/2015

Yesterday I did a private tea tour in London for three amazing girls, one of which booked it as a birthday present to herself. They also wanted to end it with the chinese tea ceremony. Usually we do tea tours in the morning and finish at a cafe, where we have tea and a dressert. But girls could only do it in the afternoon. Which was still ok (I thought), as a cafe closes at 5 or so. However, when I came in the morning to drop off my bag with all the teaware for a tea ceremony, I found out that they close at 4pm, exactly the time, when we were supposed to arrive! After some discussion, they said that it's ok to come and sill have it, but there will be a mess, and lots of deliveries taking place. Of course it was not ideal, as in my mind, when people ask for a tea ceremony, they expect something cosy, magical, quiet and nice. And I wasn't sure if this kind of atmosphere could happen with doors slamming and deliveries taking place. But then I realised that whatever is - is. And because I really cannot do anything about it at that moment, then the tea ceremony will be perfect as it is, whatever and however it is. And so I relaxed and trusted Life that whatever will be it will be the best and the most perfect tea ceremony for that particular situation.

And the strange thing - it was. By Mind's judgement it was not ideal by all means - when we arrived at a patisserie / cafe/ bakery, all the chairs were already stack together, huge trays with desserts were moved from one side to another, lots of people walking, a photo session taking place of the owner with his desserts, and lots of discussions and talks. BUT! The girls LOVED it! They said it was the most amazing experience to be in a bakery after the closing hours, and see the life in the backstage, so to say. Every time they had a sip of tea, they then turned around to discover another huge tray full of new desserts - sometimes there were 100 brownies, the next time it was an abundance of salted caramel cakes, yet another full of strawberry ganache. Every time they had a delightful sigh, and amazement about all this abundance and beauty - almost the heaven of desserts! The owner gave us mince pies as a present, and the whole atmosphere was magical. Patisserie as a back scene, a tea ceremony with the powerful tea, friendly people, and smells of freshly baked cakes and desserts.

It all came out better than anyone expected. And that's what happens when we just relax and let life live through you, as it is - because everything is perfect already.

Thank you Comptoir Gourmand for this magical amazing experience and always supporting all our tea endeavours with your wonderful hospitality! Our Tea Tour and Tea Ceremony was amazing!

lera zujeva 31/07/2015 lera zujeva 31/07/2015

London Tea Events in August ’15

August is here, the final month of this summer, and I really hope your love for tea will make you explore all the tea events happening now. I am away for almost all August, so there will be no tea tours and walks for most of it, but there are lots of other ones to choose from! 1. Saturday, 1 August, at 14.30 – Tea Tasting Tour in Shoreditch, £20

We will visit four unique places and taste amazing teas, and I will talk you through each tea that we will have, and we will have a cake in the last place too. It is an amazing way to discover a different side of Shoreditch, the most trendy area of London! All teas and a piece of home baked cake in the last place are included in the price.

2. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

3. Sunday, 2 August, at 16.00 in SE London (It will probably take place in a cosy green yard close to London Bridge station) - Tea Meditation with me, £donation, send me an e-mail to reserve your space at withTlovers@gmail.com

Tea meditation is a Mindfulness meditation. It is performed in noble silence with me gently and quietly guiding through it in the beginning. There will be an opportunity to talk before and after meditation, and small snacks will be provided afterwards. We rarely have time to just be with whatever is there, in the present moment. To just sit down, and be totally in the process of drinking tea. And when we do that, magic happens.

4. Tuesday, 4 August, at 19.00 in SE London - Evening Tea Meditation with me, £10

5. Wednesday, 5 August, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

6. Wednesday, 5 August, at 19.00 in Docklands – Tea Brewing Masterclass with Tea Studio, £20

Learn (and taste) why its so important to brew tea correctly and the key points to doing this. During the masterclass you’ll taste both badly (to show the difference) and expertly brewed teas as well as learning traditional and modern methods for brewing specialist teas. All of course with plenty of discussion and advice so you can make your tea brewing experience better every time.

7. Friday, 7 August , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

I wrote a blog post about my previous visit and impressions last time I went, which explains very well what this demonstration is about: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/

8. Saturday, 8 August, at 14.00 in Docklands – Tea and Street Art Tour with Tea Studio, £24

Contemplate Art & Tea. Meet Claire, Street Art Expert, at East India DLR station and progress to Trinity Buoy Wharf where she will talk you through such pieces as the Time & Tide Bell, The Ascenda 1977 and Longplayer as well as several other street artists. Plus TEA, of course!

9. 13-16 August, 10-7pm in Clerkenwell - Namasia Tea Ceremony at the Art Exhibition, £8

Feature of Event:

-University of the Arts of London is well known of their creativity in Art filed. -This exhibition will cooperate with Taiwanese tea ceremony hosted by Namasia Tea House -12 Artists to exhibit their visions of fine arts.

10. Thursday, 13 August, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in South Kensington. £25

I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended!

I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!

11. Sunday, 16 August, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

I have never been to one of these before, and it seems to be organised by the Chinese descendants from Hong Kong, who are passionate about maintaining and promoting chinese culture in the West. Looks really good! I spoke once with Selina, who organises it, and she seemed really lovely.

12. Tuesday, 18 August, at 17.00 in Mayfair - Gingerbread and Tea - Food and Drink Themed History of Mayfair, £10

Mayfair has always been the place to visit for afternoon tea. Hear how this tradition came about together with the surprising histories of some of the world's most famous hotels. You will also hear about the Georgians and their passion for ice cream, the binge eating composer and the famous gingerbread seller Tiddy Doll. It’s not all about history though as Joanna will show you some of the hidden cafes and shops of the area including where to have a cream tea for under £9, a rooftop café in a designer clothes shop and one of the best wine shops in London. This walk is approximately 2 hours in length and will finish close to Green Park tube. No food or drink stops or tastings are included in this walk.

13. Tuesday, 18 August, at 19.00 in Docklands - Baking with Tea with Tea Studio, £24

Tea is more than just a drink. Did you know you can bake with it as well? Well how does Matcha marshmallows in white chocolate or smokey Lapsang Souchong Caramel on icecream sound? All of this you will learn at this workshop!

14. Thursday, 20 August, at 19.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20

Over the two hours, they will cover the diversity of the 6 tea families, tasting exemplar teas within each category. Kyle will explain how each of the teas are made and what sets each tea family apart. Lots of useful information!

15. Sunday, 23 August, at 2-4pm in Brixton - Summer Chinese Tea & Qi Ceremony with Al Falfa, £15

In an informal and relaxed setting we will share some rare loose-leaf white, green and oolong teas and learn the 'gong-fu' approach to making and drinking tea. There will be space for discussion and opportunity to learn all you want about the many benefits and pleasures of fine tea. Additionally, we will practice qigong techniques to engage and awaken the senses. These techniques use a mixture of self-massage, breath-work and mindfulness and are practiced sitting down. On top of their many health benefits, these exercises aim to bring heightened clarity to our senses, which greatly enhances the experience of drinking tea.

lera zujeva 30/06/2015 lera zujeva 30/06/2015

London Tea Events in July ’15

Another month is coming, the most summery month of the year, and another post on Tea Events in London is here! There are loads to choose from (20 tea related events so far in July), and this list will updates as and when the new events are created! Tea tours and walks, tea meditations and ceremonies, tea brewing masterclasses and many many more! 1. Wednesday, 1 July, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

2. Wednesday, 1 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20

3. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

4. Saturday, 4 July, at 16.00 in Warren Street - Coffee, Tea and Kisses with Kyle, FREE

Join Kyle from Tea Studio in a exploration of speciality teas. Learn about origins of teas and how they are made. We will explore a different tea every 15-20 minutes, pop in any time. The event takes place at London's only relationships cafe and an inclusive space to build all kinds of relationships, and to explore all aspects of them

6. Tuesday, 7 July at 17.30 in Buddha Bar - Japanese Tea Ceremony: Three-Course Meal & Two Cocktails, £45

Join Buddha Bar team as they explore the 15th century Samurai roots of the Japanese Tea Ceremony for the first time EVER in London. See how to wear a Kimono. Take in exclusive Japanese Tea Calligraphy. Find out why Green Tea is the new coffee. Sample Matcha, Sencha, Gyokuro amongst many more types of Tea. Indulge, as they spoil you with the exclusive new Buddha Special Menu

6. Fridays, 10 & 24 June and , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

9. Sunday, 12 July, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £20 – NEARLY SOLD OUT!

Discover tea and dim sum in combination! With hundreds of aromas of Chinese tea to be exploring, Sam and Alex (Sinophiles/foodies/tea obsessives) would like to introduce the diversity of this delightful beverage by hosting their very own tea (not supper) club in the delights of our Streatham abode. Where London does brunch, Southern China does Dim Sum; a good selection of Chinese tea and small light dishes. PaoCha therefore, invites you their very own Chinese style brunch of copious amounts of tea ranging from TieGuanYin Oolong, to Pu’er, to Fuding’s best White tea, and a good filling of Chinese inspired food!

10. Sundays, 12 & 26 July, from 11-6pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the canal in Islington, £10.

This event brings together a passion for tea, poetry and beautiful origami all together as a beautiful package. It includes a personalised poem on an origami model by their professional poet together with a home baked cake and lovely afternoon tea will spoil your senses. Enjoy the landscape of hundreds of flying origami birds, floating boats and swans, and lovely flowers. Friendly and relaxed atmosphere with bird songs in the background. Add aroma to your origami with a scented paper…

11. Thursday, 14 July, at 14.00 in SE London - Tea Meditation with me, FREE

12. Thursday, 14 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Tea Brewing Masterclass with Tea Studio, £20

Learn (and taste) why its so important to brew tea correctly and the key points to doing this. During the masterclass you'll taste both badly (to show the difference) and expertly brewed teas as well as learning traditional and modern methods for brewing specialist teas. All of course with plenty of discussion and advice so you can make your tea brewing experience better every time.

13. Wednesday, 15 July, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in Notiing Hill. £25

I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!

14. Sunday, 19 June, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

16. Saturday, 25 July, at 11.00 in Docklands - Journey of the Humble Leaf with Tea Studio, £20

18. Thursday, 30 July, at 19.00 in Docklands - Matcha Masterclass with Vivid Drinks, £24 - CANCELLED

During the event you will be guided through matcha samplings and learn all about the various matcha grades. Experts from Tea Studio and Vivid Drinks will give you an understanding of Matcha and its origions. Uncovering its history and how matcha is made. I will be there making some photos, so hopefully see you there!

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London Tea Events in June '15

I decided to do a monthly post on Tea Events instead of a weekly one. The reason for this is that a lot of people need to plan in advance and sometimes, when a weekly post on tea events comes out, everyone has already planned something for that week. Of course, some events are created at short notice, however these events will be added to this list as and when they come up. So this post is not going to be static, rather, it will be alive and in a constant flow of change. Almost, like LIFE itself! :))) And if you can't find something for your heart as you read it now, come back to it in a week or two, there might be some new events added to it at a later date. 1. Every Saturday, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: discussing different teas at each session, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas Timothy has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

2. Saturday, 6 June, at 11am - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in Docklands. £20

3. Sunday, 7 June, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £15 – NEARLY SOLD OUT!

4. Sunday, 7 June, at 4pm (and every Sunday) – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, DONATION, in RUSSIAN

This tea ceremony takes place every Sunday! Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. Each Sunday different teas will be tasted. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

5. EVERY Sunday, from 11-6pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the canal either in Victoria Park or Hackney Wick, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

SUNDAY 7th June 11am-6pm Pop in Victoria Park SUNDAY 14th June 11am-6pm Pop In Hackney Wick SUNDAY 21st June Father's Day 11am-6pm Hackney Wick SUNDAY 28th June 11am-6pm Hackney Wick

6. Fridays, 12 & 26 June and , at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

10. Wednesday, 17 June, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Tea Studio in South Kensington. £20

11. Sunday, 21 June, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

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Paradjanov and Tea

I went to Paradjanov event on Saturday, organised by Georgian British Chamber of Commerce, and I got these two cards from there. Today, looking at them, and at Sergei Paradjanov, I really felt like drinking Sheng puer tea from 2001. Because it makes me feel the same. Happy. Creative. Childlike. Innocent. Mad. Open hearted. Which I am sure Paradjanov was all of that. And when I look at these cards and drink sheng puer tea, I really feel like going outside into the streets of London and jump all my way in my neighbourhood or some area full of people, and scream with joy. I haven't done that today, but I am sure, in my next puer and photo sessions I will do that and I will report this here! :)))

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Tea Events until the end of May'15

1. Saturday, 16 and 23 May, at 10am – Postcard Teas School: Shades of Green (16 May) and Blues (23 May), £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL! Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

2. Sunday, 17 May, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

I have never been to one of these before, and it seems to be organised by the Chinese descendants from Hong Kong, who are passionate about maintaining and promoting chinese culture in the West. Looks lovely! I spoke once with Selina, who organises it, and she seemed really lovely.

3. Sunday, 17 May, at 4pm (and every Sunday) – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

This tea ceremony takes place every Sunday! Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Silver Needle white tea, Huo Shan Huang Ya Premium extra yellow tea, Lao Tie Guan Yin oolong tea and Tie Luo Han oolong tea. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

4. Monday, 18 May, at 3pm - A Tea Odyssey at Asia House in Central London, £8 I will be there increasing my education in the world of Darjeeling teas!!!!!!

Tea fanatics abound, and its fans are fierce in their interest and loyalty to this very special variety of brewed beverage. Jeff Koehler tells the intriguing and spectacular story of Darjeeling, the world’s most celebrated tea. This is a tale of how Darjeeling developed its prodigious tea industry under Imperial British rule and eventually came to produce some of the highest-quality leaves in the world. It is a fascinating portrait of the region from the days of the Raj to that of the ‘voodoo farmers’ of the present day, who get world-record prices for their fine teas, all set against the backdrop of the looming Himalayas and drenching monsoons. Jeff Koehler, writer and cook, will launch his new book Darjeeling: A History of the World’s Greatest Tea at this event, which is supported by Ahmad Tea, whose distinguished teas will be enjoyed throughout.

5. Friday, 22 May, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

6. Thursday, 28 May at 19.00 in Notting Hill – Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington’s Tea Emporium. £20

I went there in November and even now, at the memory of all those delicious combinations of amazing cheeses and teas, I almost faint from taste bud pleasure… Highly recommended, and tickets are selling out fast usually for this event! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!

7. Saturday, 30 May at 2-4pm in Brixton - Summer Chinese Tea Ceremony + Qigong Session with Alex. £15

I would like to tell you a little bit about the host of this event, Alex. I have not met him in person yet (I am sure I will soon), but I met his girlfriend at Vipassana meditation retreat, and a friend and colleague of his. And what I heard about him is amazing. A young man, a traveller, an adventurer, a talented musician in a band called Gentle Mystics, a meditator and a qi gong practitioner - he is a free spirit, who has such an amazing energy that, no doubt, will be shared with your through tea.

What amazes me is that being relatively young and being also a part of the music industry, he doesn't drink alcohol or take drugs, but is fully dedicated to tea, meditation and qi gong/tai chi. I wish I was like this at his age…. So yes, a recommended event in Brixton that I am sure will be deep and transformative in many ways. It's limited to 6 people only, so booking in advance is highly recommended!

Hope to see you very soon on one of those wonderful events!!!!!!

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Tea Events in London 4-10 May

Ten TEA events this week are taking place! Each day of the week something is happening, so if you are a true tea lover you will definitely find something to suit your taste and availability! Is it May that makes all these events to start happening? In any way, it's amazing to see tea culture thriving and having so many amazing and wonderful events on offer! 1. Monday, 4 May, at 8pm – Mad Hatter's Tea Party at Tea House Theatre in Vauxhall, £25

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the publication of Lewis Caroll's iconic novel the Tea House Theatre invites grown-ups to join the Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the White Rabbit and a host of other characters for a dinner riddled with games, gambles and recitations.

The menu has been taken straight from the book and we promise you an exciting, entertaining evening from which no one will leave empty handed. And I am sure there will be a lot of TEA flowing too!

2. Tuesday, 5 May, at 7pm – Tea and Food Pairing, Shaftesbury Avenue, £25 - SOLD OUT! Next one on 2 June, so book early to avoid disappointment!

Start the evening with a tea infused Mocktail in the intimate Mee bar before tea guru Kyle guides you through 5 exciting tea and food pairings. Pairing exciting dishes from the menue with Noodle House teas and specially selected teas from Whittington's Tea Emporium's vast range, you will discover how tea enhances the flavour of dishes. With each pairing Kyle shows images and video clips of where the teas come from and how they are made. Lean about the masters who hand make these teas and just why Jasmine Pearls are so special! Then finish off the evening with a unique Tea Cocktail (or Mocktail if you prefer).

3. Wednesday, 6 May, at 20.00 in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath. £18

My favourite tea fairy Kat Bambul is conducting yet another magical journey into tea and gongs. Not to be missed!

That’s what she writes about the tea ceremony herself: “Gong Fu Tea Ceremony is a beautiful and meditative ritual of preparing and drinking tea, taking it’s roots from Dao and Zen Buddhist traditions where tea is considered as a spiritual drink. We drink loose leaf tea from the old, naturally growing trees in the wild, rich in substances affecting our consciousness and the body. High quality tea induces a deep meditative state, philosophical and creative mindset, a feeling of contentment, freedom and openness to the mystical. During the ceremony we appreciate the beauty of here & now, indulge all our senses and contemplate on tea, it’s setting, ourselves and our connection with nature. We connect with the spirit of the tea, and let ourselves flow in a timeless zone between heaven and earth.”

4. Friday, 8 May, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

5. Saturday, 9 May, at 10am – Black and Pu-erh– Teas from India, China and other areas, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

6. Sunday, 10 May, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the Regents Canal, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

7. Sunday, 10 May, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £15 - NEARLY SOLD OUT!

8. Sunday, 10 May, at 4pm – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Silver Needle white tea, Baimudan white tea, Lao Tie Guan Yin oolong tea and Tie Luo Han oolong tea. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

Big hug!

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Tea Events in London 27 April- 3 May

Not so many tea events this week, but I am sure you will be in LOVE with the ones that are happening! 1. Thursday, 30 April, at 1pm - Tea Meditation with T-Lovers, South East London (Zone 1/2), FREE

For this meditation, which is a Mindfulness Meditation, we will be brewing tea in the Chinese tradition, and usually I am using special teas with special energy. It will probably be Puerh tea from wild growing trees that are 1,200 years old. Or a special tea called Enlightenment. In any way these kind of teas will make it easier to connect to ourselves and feel our own energy connecting with the energy tea and creating a special experience for us. Small snacks will be provided. I am so looking forward to sharing teas with you!

2. Saturday, 2 May, at 10am – Introduction to Tea – Teas from India, Sri Lanka, Japan, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

3. Sunday, 3 May, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the Regents Canal, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

Big hug!

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Tea Events this week in London 20-26 April

This week, again, is rich with tea events. It seems that sunshine awakens all the senses and people just want to explore and delve into the word aromas and subtle or strong tastes. I am in LOVE with this fact! 1. Wednesday, 22 April, at 18.30 - The Power of Oolong at ChinaLife in Camden, FREE

During this tea appreciation evening, guests will have the opportunity to hear about the health benefits of drinking oolong tea from tea master Don Mei. Participants will get the chance to sample a variety of oolongs to train the palette, from soft and floral to creamy, rich and roasted, in discovering a new appreciation of the humble tea leaf.

2. Saturday, 25 April, at 10am – The Blues – Oolong teas from Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

3. Sunday, 26 April, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, somewhere on the Regents Canal, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Please check for location on their website: http://www.thefloatingshowroom.com/upcoming-events

4. Sunday, 26 April, at 4pm – Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Taipng Houkui, GABA oolong tea, Lapsang Souchong and Shu Puer teas. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

Big hug!

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Tea Events this week in London 13-19 April

This week is abundant with tea events!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of new people, companies and tea lovers are doing tea related events, and you know what? It makes me really happy! I take it as a sign that tea culture is finally picking up and becoming popular. That proper tea is seen as a great way to spend time and tea is becoming a drink that people tend to choose as an alternative to coffee. My heart is expanding with joy! So here is a list of tea events this week for you! I am sure these is a tea event to suit any taste and any availability!

1. Saturday, 18 April, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - 3rd Saturday – Shades of Green – Green teas from Japan, Korea, and China, £20, ADAVNCED BOOKING is ESSENTIAL!

Every Saturday between 10-11am, they will host a relaxed one-hour tasting of teas from areas he has visited complete with illustrated tasting notes.

2. Saturday, 18 April, at 4pm - Chinese Tea Ceremony in Hyde Park, £15, in RUSSIAN

Tasting four great teas and learning lots about them in the beautiful surroundings of Kensington Gardens in Hyde Park. The following teas will be tasted: Shou Mei white tea, GABA oolong tea, GABA red tea and Ginseng oolong tea. Your guide into the world of tea here is the Daoist master with decades of practice and experience!!!!

3. Sunday, 19 April, 11-5pm - A POP UP ORIGAMI POETRY CAFE with Tea, on Regents Canal not far from King's Cross, £10.

£10 per person includes a poem on an origami model, a cake and a tea. Just pop in to Kings Cross, Granary Square, along Regent's Canal N1C 4AA

4. Sunday, 19 April, 3-5pm - Chinese Tea Tasting Workshop in Waterloo, £20, in English

LOVE you all!!!!!!