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!
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
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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/
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
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.
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
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.
16. Saturday, 25 July, at 11.00 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!
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!
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.
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/
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!!!!!!
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.
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/
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.
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…
£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!
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!
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!
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.
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…
£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!
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.
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...
£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
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!
LOVE you all!!!!!!
Tea Events this week in London 16-22 March
There are lots of tea events in London this week, to suit any taste or language - from tea and cheese pairing, meditative tea ceremony with gongs to tea tasting tours and walks. Have a look! 1. Wednesday, 18 March, at 7pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting in Notting Hill (La Cave Fromage) led skilfully and passionately by Kyle, in ENGLISH, £20
I reviewed this event previously in one of my posts and now this is another opportunity for me to say how amazing this event is. Explosion of tastes and aromas will blow your mind, literally. Highly recommended!!!
2. Wednesday, 18 March, at 8pm - in Covent Garden – Tea Ceremony and Gong Bath, in ENGLISH, £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, Zen and 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.”
3. Saturday, 21 March, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - 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.
Tea Events this week in London 9-15 March
This week there are three amazing tea events for your choice!!! 1. Friday, 13 March, 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/
Event details are here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2050&title=The%20Way%20of%20Tea&eventType=Demonstration
2. Saturday, 14 March, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - 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.
http://www.postcardteas.com/site/school/
3. Sunday, 15 March, at 2pm at We Make London Cafe, in Chalk Farm - Introduction to the Fine Tea World with Momo Cha Tea Company! It costs £30, but T-Lovers followers can still get the Early Bird discount and get the place for £24 (Just enter discount code: EARLYBIRDMARCH). Amazing Value!
I haven't been to any of Momo Cha's events, and haven't yet tried their teas. I am planning to attend their Tea Tasting on the 26 March though and write a blog post about it. But, from their website their teas seem to be really good (all green Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese) and we talked with Mojca on e-mail. I really liked our conversation and I am sure their event is going to be a real gem for all tea lovers!
This is what they write about their event:
"We'll guide you on an experiential journey through the fine teas of Japan, Taiwan and Korea. We will be brewing, tasting, appraising different types of tea, speak about tea history and learn about tea benefits.
Along with tea, we will be enjoying delicious handmade gluten-free snacks.
Each participant will also receive a lovely gift to take home.
You can book your tickets here: http://www.momochafineteas.com/tea-events/tea-tasting-class-15th-march-2015
I hope you enjoy your tea activities this week!
Tea Events this week 2-8 March 15
Do you love TEA? Again, this week has a lot to offer! 1. Tuesday, 3 Mar, at 7pm – Tea and Food Pairing at Noodle House in Piccadilly, £25 Explore which teas go best with the dishes as Kyle skilfully takes you through five combinations.Book your tickets here: http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-food-pairing-at-the-noodle-house-march-tickets-14919424400?aff=erelexporg
2. Wednesday, 4 Mar, at 8pm - Tea Ceremony and a Gong Bath afterwards in the heart of Covent Garden at Buddha on the Bicycle, £18
http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220508754/
Again, Kat Bambul is going to be an amazing host, guiding you into a meditative state with the amazing teas and then through a gong journey.
3. Saturday, 7 March, at 10am - Postcard Teas School - 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.
Can drinking tea turn you into a whore?Чай может превратить нас в женщин легкого поведения?
In the 18th century some people thought that tea can deprive you of beauty and health, and lead to debauchery and neglection of duties. And the suggestion was to replace it with ... “good and wholesome Beer.” Obviously :)
Full article can be read here: Can drinking tea turn you into a whore?.
Именно так считали некоторые люди в 18ом веке - что чай забирает красоту и здоровье, и приводит и дебоширству и пренебрежению обязанностями. И что самое интересное, советовалось заменить чай …. "старым добрым пивом". Кто бы сомневался! :)
Всю статью полностью (на английском) можно прочитать здесь: Can drinking tea turn you into a whore?.
Traditional Tang Dynasty List of Reasons to drink TEA
- Tea is beneficial to health, as the "Qi" clears all blockages and cures ailments
- Tea helps refresh one after a night of drinking alcohol
- Tea, mixed with other things like nuts or even milk can provide nourishment
- Tea can cool one off in the heat of the summer
- Tea helps one slough off all fatigue and drowsiness, promoting an awakened mindset
- Tea purifies the spirit, removed anxiety and nervousness and brings ease and comfort, conductive to meditation
- Tea aids in the digestion of food
- Tea removes all toxins from the body, flushing out the blood and urinary system
- Tea is conductive to longevity, promoting longer, healthier life
- Tea invigorates the body and inspires mind to creativity
So What is Russian Tea Ceremony???Так что такое Русская Чайная Церемония???
T-Lovers went to the "Russian Tea Ceremony" event last weekend, organised by two amazing and creative ladies from Russia, founders of Museum of Disappeared Taste, who actually recreated forgotten recipes of Kolomna Pastila (sweets made purely from apples). Interesting facts T-Lovers learnt about traditional Russian Tea Ceremony:
- when offered sweets with tea, it was a bad manner to accept them straight away. You were supposed to say "no" twice, and only take them when offered for the third time
- very strong tea was brewed in a teapot, and then mixed with boiling water in a cup
- Russian loved boiling hot water, which was impossible to drink really, so to be able to drink it straight away they poured tea into saucers and drank it from there
- sugar was really expensive in those days and of different quality - very hard - so with economical reasons in mind sugar was held in a mouth all the time, and tea was sipped through it
- tea was really expensive, so before drinking it, russians would count the amount of tea leaves in their cups, and the one who had the most was very happy!
- they used to serve "Tea with bluebells for mood enhancement" - it was literally tea with flowers of bluebells floating in it. Nobody knows if it was the effect of brewed bluebells or actually just the view of them floating - but everyone was smiling and laughing when they finished drinking it
- "tea drunk to the shawl" - a Russian expression used for people, who, after 2 litres of really hot tea had shawls completely wet on their backs from sweat. It did really happen!
Basically, drinking tea Russian style means doing it any time of day and night, with whatever you feel like drinking it - with cream or milk, honey or sugar, chocolate or lemon, apples or cakes, biscuits or jam, and if you don't have all of the above, simply with bread and butter.
Here are some photos from the event - it was very dark there, so the quality is not the best, but gives an idea.
The table at the start of the ceremony:
People who came to see it, lots of families with children:
Beautiful cups - original vintage from Russia:
To be honest, other photos are not good at all... So I will leave it at that! :)))На выходных мне довелось побывать на Русской Чайной Церемонии в Лондоне, которую организовали две замечательные женщины из России, основательницы Коломенской Пастилы и Музея Исчезнувшего Вкуса в Коломне..
На самом деле пошла я туда вовсе не из-за чая. А из-за этих женщин. Летом я прочитала в каком-то журнале про них статью, и меня поразило, насколько люди могут буквально из ничего создать волшебство. Причем делая именно то, что приносит им радость, а не из-за денег - и в конечном итоге то, что проносит им радость, начинает приносить и доход. А сколько идей у них, сколько любви, сколько энергии и огня они вкладывают в это дело! От статьи веяло вдохновением, и когда я узнала, что в Лондоне они проведут Русскую Чайную Церемонию с пастилой, я решила обязательно туда сходить. Чай был как бонус. Но цель моя была с ними пообщаться и зарядиться той мощной энергией делания, которой они обладают.
Я напишу отдельный пост про них, и про их дело, а пока о том, что же я узнала на этом мерoприятии:
- В далекие времена в России было неприлично принимать угощение сразу - надо было два раза вежливо отказаться, и только на третий раз согласиться.
- Чай очень крепко заваривается в чайничке, и потом разбавляется кипятком в чашке (ну это нам русским, известный факт)
- русские любили живой кипяток, то есть пили чай безумно горячим, и так как его пить было невозможно - переливали в блюдечки и так и пили
- сахар в те времена был очень дорогой и совсем другого качества - очень очень твердый, и в целях экономии пили чай вприкуску. Сахар зажимался во рту и чай цедили через него. Таким образом, с одним кусочком сахара можно было выпить до двух литров горячего чаю!
- чтобы подозвать чайного официанта принести кипятку стучали ложечками по чашкам
- в меню часто присутствовал "Чай для настроения с колокольчиком" - то есть отрывали рядом стоящие цветы колокольчика и бросали в кипяток. И то ли такое веселящее действие оказывает заваренный колокольчик, то ли сам вид плавающего колокольчика в чашке поднимал настроение - но все начинали улыбаться :)))
- "Упиться до платка" - шикарное старинное выражение, означающее - упиться горячего чаю так, что на спине весь платок был мокрый от пота :))
А вообще, пить чай по-русски (я где-то прочитала) - это пить его в любое время дня и ночи и со всем, что душе угодно: сливками и молоком, медом и сахаром, шоколадом и лимоном, яблоками и леденцами, пирожными и печеньем, вареньем и джемом, а если нет всего этого - просто с хлебом с маслом! :))
Вот ещё пара фотографий с этого мероприятия, если честно, там было темно, я была со своим сыном, которого постоянно надо было извлекать из разных потайных уголков, где он безобразничал, и фотографии получились ну очень плохого качества. Но здесь выложу три из них:
Сервировка стола в самом начале - в конце был бардак!
Ну и люди, которые туда пришли - много семей с детьми:
Bинтажные чашечки - если не ослышалась - Новокузнецкого завода:
To be honest, other photos are not good at all... So I will leave it at that! :)))
Long Jing Tea - a legend of the Dragon Well
There are many legends about Long Jing green tea. According to one of them, Long Jing, which literally translates as Dragon Well, got its name from the Long Jing village well. The well contained relatively dense water due to high mineralisation. After the rain, lighter rainwater that stayed on the surface of the well water, created some optical effects, resembling the movements of the mythical Chinese Dragon.
Villagers believed that the well had great powers, and came to it to ask for rain..
Numerology aspect of Chinese Character Cha 茶Нумерология в Чайном Иероглифе 茶 - где логика?
Chinese character for tea - cha 茶 has been used in its current form since Tang Dynasty (618-907). Before that, the character tu 荼 was used, and the whole mutation of the character can be seen as a move to a more respectful view of Tea: the part of the old character «禾» (which meant "grain, grass") was replaced with the new part «木» - which means "tree").
There is an interesting numerology aspect to it too. The upper part of the character is 廿 - "grass", and has number 20 associated with it. The middle part is 人 - "a man" and it is associated with number 8. The lower part is 木 - "tree" and is associated with number 10. The sum of middle and upper parts come to 28, while the middle and lower ones can be seen as making up number 80. Together these two parts equal 108, which is a number symbolising longevity in China. So however obscure these calculations are (my mathematical mind is not sure of the logic here, and why the second numbers viewed as 80, instead of summing them up to 18, as it was done with the first couple, but nevertheless) - TEA BRINGS LONGEVITY! : )
На рунете нашла несколько интересных статей по поводу чайного иероглифа. Например, что современный иероглиф "чай" 茶 стал употребляться в такой форме со времен династии Тан (818-907гг). А до этого употребляли иероглиф Ту 荼 (хотя произносили его по разному). И что возможно причиной такой трансформации могло послужить более уважительное отношение к чаю, так как часть старого иероглифа «禾», который означал "трава, злак", был заменен на более достойную частицу «木» - что означает "дерево".
Но мне понравилась нумерологическая интерпретация иероглифа. Цитирую: «Чай» состоит из трех уровней, трех «этажей». На верхнем этаже располагается ключ иероглифа «трава», он похож на иероглиф «廿», который обозначает число 20. В центре находится иероглиф «человек», «人», который похож на иероглиф «восемь», «八», а внизу, на нижнем этаже расположен иероглиф «дерево», «木», который напоминает иероглиф «десять», «十». Верхний и средний иероглифы вместе составляют число 20+8=28, средний и нижний составляют число 80, а 80+28=108. Число 108 является числом долголетия и, вообще, священным числом. Поэтому говорят «Чай продлевает жизнь пожилых людей», «茶寿老人».
И вот мой логический математический ум не дает мне покоя. Я понимаю что в первом случае сложили, а в другом как бы соединили числа. Но почему такой разный подход? Почему тогда тоже не сложить нижнюю пару? Тогда бы получилось 18, а не 80. Ну и число долголетия не получилось бы. Сама идея мне понравилась, но несоответствие подхода к самой нумерологической интерпретации не дает мне покоя...... :)
This rock looks like....А это выглядит как.......
In WuYishan's national park we took a bamboo boat to go through the Wu Yi rocks. Amazing, beautiful scenery. But it's not the scenery that amazed me most. As always I am amazed by a diffent kind of things. And this time it was the Chinese ability to look at objects (rocks in this example) and imagine that it looks like something else. They do it with everything! Juyan told us that this has something to do with Chinese characters - they encourage the use of imagination. I made a few photos of some rocks, not all (there was one looking like a Sidney Opera House!). Can you see what Chinese people see there? All sentences started with "This looks like...."
This rock looks like a turtle - I can see it, can you?
And this looks like a frog with the open mouth!
This rock looks like a baby's laughing face. To me it looks more like a laughing Buddha's face. Can you see it here?
And this looks like an elephant with some hair on his head
Can you see Titanic here??
A giant snake's head.
The famous Three Sisters. They can be seen on any postcard of WuYishan. The face of this place so to speak. The Chinese guide explained: "The eldest one is the most beautiful - she has the most hair on her head. The youngest one is the one who has many boyfriends - she has a big belly - always pregnant (where is a logic in that??????).
"And the middle one?" - I asked, when he became silent "Middle one? She is in the middle. Nothing special" - he replied. And he was serious.
And here is our small but very cosy group on a boat
Уишань - это родина утесных чаев - Улунов. Ну и немного Красных чаев. Но в основном - темных Улунов. Чайные плантации находятся в зоне, которая считается государственным заповедником. Раньше чайные фермеры жили прямо рядом со своими плантациями, но где-то 10-20 лет назад государство решило, что нужно сохранить девственную природу именно такой - девственной и чистой, и переселила фермеров в город, предоставив им там дома.
Когда мы приехали в Уишань, мы взяли бамбуковые лодки и проплыли через весь заповедник и чайные плантации на них. Вот так примерно они выглядят:
Красота там действительно нереальная, и на лодке это проплыть и увидеть всё своими глазами - обязательно получишь огромное наслаждение. Но больше всего меня поразили не горы. Нет. Как всегда меня поражают вещи другого плана. Меня поразило, что китайцы всё время включают свою фантазию, и сравнивают то, что видят с тем, что знают, и что им это напоминает. И начинаются их предложения с "А это выглядит как...."
Джюань сказала, что это как-то связано с китайской письменностью - иероглифами. И мне это очень понравилось. Поэтому всю дорогу я слушала, как та скала выглядит как слон, а другая - как Сиднейская опера, и тд. Я не сделала фотографий всех скал, но приведу тут несколько примеров. И вы сами решите, похоже ли это на то, что китайцам там выглядит или нет! :)
Эта скала выглядит как... черепаха (мне похоже, а вам?)
А эта скала выглядит как.... квакающая лягушка!
А это смеющееся лицо пухлого ребенка. Хотя мне кажется это больше напоминает лицо смеющегося Будды!
А эта - как слон с ушами и волосами на голове!
А это Титаник. Вы видете его там?
Голова огромной змеи? Да?
Знаменитый Уишаньский утес - Три Сестры. Он обычно присутствует на всех туристических открытках этого места. Три сестры - старшая, средняя и младшая. По словам китайца, Старшая - самая красивая - у нее больше всего волос на голове - видите? А у младшей огромное количество бойфрендов - она с большим животом - всё время беременная (где здесь логика? наверное, мужская китайская...). А дальше китаец замолчал. "А средняя?" - спросила я. "А чего средняя? Она посередине - ничего особенного" - серьезно ответил китаец.
Ну и напоследок, фотография всей нашей мини группы на лодке:
Why do they call them "Mother" Bush? It's Father bushes after all!Мама-куст? Или всё-таки папа?
In WuYishan there is the oldest "mother bush" of WuYi rock tea - or to be more precise four bushes, who gave start to all current tea bushes in this area. It is Da Hong Pao tea bushes. i was a bit disappointed as I expected to see the trees! Yet they are bushes, and not that big. I was straining my eyes to see them, and for your convenience I put some arrows on the picture - 4 big bushes on the right, and 2 smaller ones on the left.
Why do they call them "mother" bushes? They are "father" bushes to be more precise! All six are male - i.e. they don't give flowers or seeds, and the only way to reproduce for them is to cut a little part, and put it in the soil.
To be honest, another source of information told me that these are not the real father bushes. They don't look old at all - especially for the age they are given - 400 years. And that they are there for tourist attraction only... So the myth and tourist Mecca is created - for tourists to flow in. The real trees are in another place, we saw them, and they do look like trees, not like these bushes.
В государственном заповеднике в Уишане, на утесе, растут самые старые кусты - родители всех чайных кустов улунов. Эти шесть кустов Дахунпао были посажены 350-400 лет назад. От них-то и пошли остальные поколения чайных кустов - причем чем дальше от родительских, тем менее ченный чай. Сразу хочу оговориться - я не читала эту информацию ни на интернете, ни в книжках, пишу здесь то, что мне рассказали, и понимаю, что китайцы могли где-то приукрасить, где-то недосказать - вообщем, любые поправки к этой информации только приветствуются! :)
На английском кусты называются - mother bush - то есть материнский куст. Но на самом деле это далеко не материнский куст! А отеческий! Все шесть кустов - мужского пола! На них не растут цветы, и не производятся семена. Это мужчины-долгожители! И их размножили почкованием.
Мы подошли к огороженному месту, где они растут, и я попыталась прочувствовать всю торжественность момента, настроилась на грандиозное зрелище старинных больших деревьев, и... не совсем его получила. Почему-то в моем представлении эти чайные представители должны были быть старыми огромными деревьями, а оказалось, что это средне-высокие кусты, которые чтобы увидеть - надо даже немного напрячь зрение! Вот вы их здесь видите? Я вот даже стрелочки поставила для облегчения задачи - четыре куста возле левой стрелы, и два - возле правой.
Согласитесь, что не очень легко рассмотреть великие кусты! :)
Последний раз с них собирали урожай в 2005 году, и со всех шести собрали 60 грам. 40 грамм сразу раздали в разные музеи, а оставшиеся 20 грамм продали на аукционе за баснословную сумму в 208,000 Юаней - что примерно равно £20,000. За 20 грамм!!!!! Наверное самый дорогой чай на свете! Но если кто знает историю про более дорогой чай - я надеюсь вы здесь поделитесь! :) Пока их оставили в покое, но я не уверена, будут ли с них собирать урожай вообще.
Ну а я выпила мисочку чая в чайной прямо напротив этого знаменитого утеса. Смотрю на них мечтательно. Или пытаюсь их там рассмотреть. Или просто просветлела от знаменитого присутствия. Не знаю... :)
Yixing Clay is made from this Yixing RockИсинская глина сделана из таких камней!
Did you know that the famous Yixing clay is made from this rock? It is obtained in this exact form from the ground, then grinded into powder, mixed with water - and the amazing clay appears, out of which the magical teapots are created!
А вы знали, что Исинская глина для знаменитых Исинских чайников добывается ввиде таких вот камней, потом измельчается в муку и смешивается с водой. Ну это я описала примерный процесс. Наверняка там есть свои нюансы, но в целом происходит именно так! Волшебство, не иначе!
Tea Masters of USSRЧайные Мастера 1917ого...
Это меня безумно насмешило! Чайные мастера СССР 1917ого года… :))
This made me laugh so much!
Tea Masters of Soviet Union, 1917