lera zujeva 24/06/2015 lera zujeva 24/06/2015

Green tea and apricots

What can be better than having green tea and apricots for breakfast? And in this way letting a little bit of sunshine into your morning? This is more or less what I do, while it is still an apricot season. Both green tea and apricots contain enormous amount of anti-oxidants, and are a perfect way to stay healthy, slim and young.

Apricots are low in calories ( different sources say 17-40 per fruit, probably depending on a size of the apricot), rich in fiber, vitamin A, C and beta-carotine. No wonder Hunza tribe in Pakistan, who eat apricots in all the dishes (even apricot soup!), fresh and dried, fruit and kernels - are one of the longest living people on our planet!

Apricots are in season now. And green tea is ALWAYS in season. At least for me! :))

lera zujeva 23/06/2015 lera zujeva 23/06/2015

Matcha tea and Matcha chocolate

Quite often I have matcha tea in the afternoon. It goes perfectly well with sweets (so it feeds my sweet cravings) and it also replenishes my energy levels and makes me alert and focused. And if I have a matcha sweet with my matcha tea, it's a double pleasure for me. I first saw this particular french Matcha chocolate in Fortnum & Masons and it was almost £7 there. "Too expensive!!!!" - I thought to myself, yet, I really liked the feel and design of the chocolate and wanted to taste it too! After all, it was made with match tea, and I had to try it! So I found the same one in Japan Centre for almost half the price, and of course, I bought it. It's a perfect colour combination - both tea and chocolate so green and vibrant. And the taste is amazing too. Matcha and chocolate is the match made in heaven!

lera zujeva 19/06/2015 lera zujeva 19/06/2015

"Good Morning" Tea

This a Kabusecha green tea, which I call my "Good Morning" tea! With it my morning becomes good and more than that - it becomes great! I drink about 1 litre of it every morning (3 infusions in a 350ml tea pot) and straight away feel motivated, inspired, driven, enthusiastic and generally very very happy! Indeed, this tea is the perfect " Good Morning" Tea! Kabusecha is a Japanese green tea that is made of tea plants, that were shaded for approximately two weeks before the harvest. It's almost like a Gyokoro (which is shaded for 1 month) but less expensive! This shading process makes the leaves greener (they produce more chlorophyll), and packed with antioxidants, caffeine and amino acid called L-Theanine. This combination is bound to make you alert, focused, energised and happy! And all of it without the jittery effect that coffee usually has on us. Amazing little green treasure!

lera zujeva 04/06/2015 lera zujeva 04/06/2015

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

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!

3. Sunday, 7 June, 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!

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.

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

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.

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/

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

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.

lera zujeva 29/05/2015 lera zujeva 29/05/2015

Buddha Teas

Recently, I received a couple of boxes of tea from Buddha Teas. Being my Instagram followers and liking my photos immensely, they decided to give me a small present - their beautiful teas. And I decided to write a blog post about them. Before I start, I wanted to say, that I am an avid lover of LOOSE LEAF teas. Loose leaf high quality teas is what I drink every day, all day, without any exception. When I say tea I also mean Camellia Sinensis rather than herbal teas. So if my choice for TEA is strictly loose leaf, for herbal tisanes I am ok with teabags for convenience and comfort.

The first thing I noticed about Buddha teas is their packaging... Mmmmmm.... It looked really good, and it felt really good to touch it too. The box was sturdy and robust, and conveyed the message of quality. The actual tea bag fit neatly and precisely in its paper wrapping. It looked like the dimensions were measured up to a millimetre, and I loved that too somehow! Sorry, I got carried away with processing the photo of it, so it does look like an enlightening and perfect tea bag. :))) Well, it is in some way, as each tea bag contains a message on the label to enlighten your spirit. Mine was saying: "Laugh at your mistakes". Thank you! It's definitely a good reminder!

Their teabags are also made from Unbleached materials, which is also a good feature - at least if you drink this tea, it will not be a chemical soup in a cup, but a more natural brew. Although I still feel and firmly believe that tea leaves need to stretch and express their beauty to us through their little dance in the water. And to be able to dance they need one thing. FREEDOM! Freedom to move, and turn and twist, and swirl, and do all kind of dance movements they need to do to share their essence! But again, this is in my humble opinion, other people can think differently, and that is what I love about it. We are all unique and feel life around us in a different way. And it's better to drink tea in a teabag, than not to drink it at all!

Well, I had two boxes of tea - Camomile and Earl Grey. Can you guess, which one I drank with most pleasure? It was Camomile tea. I liked its golden colour of infusion, its aroma, taste, its silkiness. So I was inspired to make a lot of photos of it. Not so with Earl Grey. In my Tea Tours, especially the South Bank tour, I talk about Earl Grey tea. It has to be made with Citrus Bergamot Oil, which only grows in Southern provinces if Italy, a little bit in France and a little bit in Turkey. And with the tea that contains this citrus bergamot oil, when opening a tea bag, or a box of tea, we are met with the unmistakingly familiar aroma of citrus. It's difficult to confuse it with anything else. It's there. However, because citrus bergamot is used mainly in medicine and cosmetics, not much of it goes to tea. So a lot of producers add chemical flavourings or a bergamot herb (which is not a citrus bergamot, there is a difference). Buddha teas add a real oil of bergamot, that is what it says on the packaging. But I really didn't catch that orangy citrus aroma or taste I usually get from Earl Greys that use citrus bergamot oil. So I really can't comment on this more. And anyway, as I said in the beginning of this post, for me, Camellia Sinensis leaf must be brewed in total and complete freedom for me to like it. That's why I had my total LOVE for Camomile tea, which is a herbal tisane, and was quite indifferent, and even cold, to Earl Grey. Again, it's my personal preference, my particularity, that I stand by in my life.

Regardless of the taste and my own personal preferences, I liked the quality of customer service, the passion of people behind Buddha Teas and small messages to brighten up the day contained with each tea bag. And packaging! When I see these two boxes of Earl Grey and Camomile teas next to each other, I am reminded of the Yin and Yang. And it makes me smile.

lera zujeva 28/05/2015 lera zujeva 28/05/2015

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! :)))

lera zujeva 15/05/2015 lera zujeva 15/05/2015

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!!!!!!

lera zujeva 03/05/2015 lera zujeva 03/05/2015

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!

lera zujeva 26/04/2015 lera zujeva 26/04/2015

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!

lera zujeva 23/04/2015 lera zujeva 23/04/2015

Matcha Love

Matcha = LoveIt's pure happiness in a bowl, and so refreshing!

I had a very strong matcha bowl today, probably too strong, as afterwards I couldn't understand whether I am about to faint or to become enlightened. All the colours were sharp and bright, I was aware and conscious, although a little but weak in my legs. So my LOVE and HEART for matcha is enormous, but it's better not to drink it on an empty stomach!

This beautiful art is by my artist friend Natasha Bu, who gave it to me for my birthday. It reflects perfectly what matcha is for me. LOVE!

lera zujeva 20/04/2015 lera zujeva 20/04/2015

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!

lera zujeva 12/04/2015 lera zujeva 12/04/2015

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!!!!!!

lera zujeva 06/04/2015 lera zujeva 06/04/2015

Tea Events this week in London 6 – 12 April

This week there are a few events again, some of them are recurring, and some are new, and I am sure you will find something according to your taste and soul desire! 1. Tuesday, 7 April, 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 to avoid disappointment!

2. Friday, 10 April, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum – Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

3. Saturday, 11 April, 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.

http://www.postcardteas.com/site/school/

4. Sunday, 12 April, at 12pm - Chinese Tea and Dim Sum Brunch Club with PaoCha in Streatham, London, £25

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!

Photo is from Paocha

lera zujeva 30/03/2015 lera zujeva 30/03/2015

Tea Events this week in London 30 March - 5 April

There are quite a few good ones this week, so don’t miss your chance and join them if you can! 1. Tuesday, 31 March at 18.30 in Greenwich – 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… Only 3 places left, so if you would like to join them this month, do not hesitate any longer! I also reviewed this event previously in one of my posts, please check it out!

2. Tuesday, 31 March, at 19.30 in Central London, just off Regent street – Tea Masterclass with Lalani!

It costs £25, but you take home with you the whole jar of Lalani’s Assam Tea, which they sell for £10. Amazing Value!

3. Wednesday, 1 April, 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!

4. Saturday, 4 April, at 10am – Postcard Teas School - 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.

Enjoy!!!!!

PS. Photo is taken from Lalani's web-site

lera zujeva 16/03/2015 lera zujeva 16/03/2015

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.

lera zujeva 08/03/2015 lera zujeva 08/03/2015

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.

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!

lera zujeva 01/03/2015 lera zujeva 01/03/2015

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.

http://www.postcardteas.com/site/school/

lera zujeva 23/02/2015 lera zujeva 23/02/2015

Tea Events this week 23 Feb - 1 March 15

This week there are just a couple events related to tea. It seems it has quietened down in the last week of February. But T-Lovers and Whittington's Tea Emporium remain active! :) 1. Tuesday, 24 February at 6.30pm - Tea and Cheese Tasting with Whittington's Tea Emporium in Greenwich, £20

2. And if you are in Birmingham this Saturday, the usual Tea Club, run by an amazing soul Nick at the Buddhist Centre, takes place at 11am, donation basis. Nick is moving to London soon, so this tea club is not going to happen very often from now on, so this is a good opportunity to take part in the tea meditation with Nick while it's still there. :)

Hope to see you there!!!

lera zujeva 25/01/2015 lera zujeva 25/01/2015

Tea Events This Week in LondonЧайные Мероприятия на Этой Неделе в Лондоне

Tea Events for this week! There are quite a few good ones this week, so don't miss your chance and join them if you can!

1. Tuesday, 27 January at 18.30 in Greenwich - 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... Only two places left, so if you would like to join them this month, do not hesitate any longer!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-cheese-tasting-january-tickets-13457117601?aff=es2&rank=1

2. Thursday, 29 January, at 19.30 in Central London, just off Regent street - Matcha Masterclass with Lalani! It costs £35, but you take home with you the whole jar of Lalani's Matcha Gold Dust, which they sell for £29. Amazing Value!

I will be there making photographs for my blog post, and it would be really great see you there too!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matcha-masterclass-tickets-15252552796?aff=eac2

3. Friday, 25 January, at 14.00 and 15.00 at British Museum - Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Institute. FREE.

Event details are here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=255

4. Sunday, 1 February, at 19.00 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, 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."

http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220034050/

5. Sunday, 1 February, ALL DAY in Birmingham - Day Retreat: Meditation & the Way of Tea. DONATION BASIS

If by any chance you are in Birmingham this weekend, there is an amazing all day tea and meditation event, which is worth coming to especially, even if you are not living there!!!

Come for a nice, relaxing day drinking Tea in relaxing Tea Ceremonies, meditating and sharing lunch together . . . Please book with Birmingham Buddhist Centre on 0121 449 5279. The day is on a donation basis.

http://www.meetup.com/LivingTea-Mindful-Tea-Drinking-Ancient-Tree-Organic-Tea/events/220003782/Чайные Мероприятия в Лондоне на этой неделе для вас!

На этой неделе происходят несколько прекрасных чайных мероприятий, поэтому если вы любите чай, этот пост будет вам очень интересен!

1. Вторник, 27 Января в 18.30 в Гринвиче - Чайной Сырная Дегустация с Whittington's Tea Emporium. £20

Я сходила на это мероприятие в Ноябре, и хочу сказать, что при воспоминании о взрыве вкусовых ощущений на моем языке я до сих почти падаю в обморок. И я не шучу. Это просто настоящий улет во всех смыслах! У них осталось всего два места на вторник!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tea-cheese-tasting-january-tickets-13457117601?aff=es2&rank=1

2. Четверг, 29 Января, в 19.30 в Центральном Лондоне, офф Риджентс Стрит - Мастеркласс по Матче с Lalani! Он стоит £35, но после него вы с собой заберете домой баночку матчи от Лалани, которую они продают за £29. По моему, это просто даром!

Я буду там делать фотографии для своего блога (и тоже познавать нюансы того, как правильно готовить матчу), поэтому будет просто супер круто, если кто нибудь из моих друзей туда тоже придет!

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matcha-masterclass-tickets-15252552796?aff=eac2

3. Пятница, 25 Января, в 14.00 и 15.00 в British Museum - Демонстрация Японской Чайной Церемонии Urasenke Институтом. БЕСПЛАТНО.

Примерно два года назад я написала блог пост о своем опыте на этой демонстрации, который объяснит, о чем она: http://t-lovers.com/2013/04/04/japanese-tea-ceremonies-at-british-museum/?lang=ru

Детали мероприятия ЗДЕСЬ: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=255

4. Воскресенье, 1 Февраля, в 19.00 в Covent Garden - Чайная Церемония и Гонги. £18 Моя любимейшая чайная фея Kat Bambul проведет вас в очередное волшебное путешествие в страну чая и незабываемых звуков гонга. И это путешествие просто нельзя пропустить!

Вот что она сама пишет о чайной церемонии в описании своего мероприятия: "Gong Fu Чайная церемония это прекрасный и медитативный ритуал приготовления и употребления чая, который берет свои корни из традиций Дао, Дзен и Буддизма, где чай считают духовным напитком. Мы будем пить чай с древних деревьев, которым позволяют расти естественным образом в соответствии с дикой природой, которые богаты веществами, воздействующими на наше сознание и наше тело. Чай высокого качества приводит нас в медитативное состояние, где мы пребываем в философском и творческом настрое, состоянии поной удовлетворенности, свободы и открыты мистическому. Во время церемонии мы ценим красоту состояния здесь и сейчас, наслаждаемся всеми нашими чувствами и ощущаем чай, все, что окружает церемонию, нас самих и нашу связь с природой. Мы соединяемся с чайным духом, и позволяем себе течь в безвременном пространстве между небом и землей"

http://www.meetup.com/London-Gong-Chamber-Tea-Sanctuary/events/220034050/

5. Воскресенье, 1 Февраля, ВЕСЬ ДЕНЬ в Бирмингеме - Однодневный Ретрит: Медитация & Путь Чая. Оплата по принципу DONATION.

На самом деле, это то мероприятие, которое стоит посетить, даже если вы не живете в Бирмингеме. Оно стоит того, чтобы специально туда приехать. Ник, который будет проводить этот медитационно чайный ретрит уникальная личность. Рядом с ним наступает полный Дзен. И я вам обещаю, вы вернетесь домой с ощущением, как будто вы пробыли неделю в небольшом монастыре на склоне холмов в Японии.

Регистрация по телефону 0121 449 5279.

http://www.meetup.com/LivingTea-Mindful-Tea-Drinking-Ancient-Tree-Organic-Tea/events/220003782/

Надеюсь, вам удастся попасть на какие нибудь из этих волшебных и познавательных мероприятий, и насладится чаем во всей его красе!

lera zujeva 22/01/2015 lera zujeva 22/01/2015

Matcha, dark chocolate and a Georgian manМатча, шоколад и грузинский мужчина с красками

This picture is of a georgian man with paints, made by a georgian man from a mental institution in Tbilisi. The patients in that mental institution were going through art therapy, which proved being very successful. In the end, they brought all their work to London, and sold them at an auction and all the proceeds went to support continuing of art therapy in that mental institution in Tbilisi. I got this picture from that auction, and for today's mood I just love how white, and black and green matcha colours play together.

ту картинка нарисована грузинским человеком, который проходил арт терапию в ментальном доме в Тбилиси. И потом все картины, нарисованные душевнобольными людьми, проходящими эту арт терапию, были привезены в Лондон, и проданы через аукцион, и все собранные средства пошли на то, чтобы арт терапия в таких заведенях продолжалась! И вот я купила эту картинку там. Как и штаны, спортивные, на которых была такая крутая вышивка!! Это человек, который просто помешан на вышывании в Тбилиси, и в ментальном доме он вышивает все, что видит: и штаны, и халаты врачей, и тапочки. Из спортивных штанов они превратились в нечто удивительное и волшебное, настоящее произведение искусства! Вот такие таланты иногда проявяются у людей...

Ну а здесь мне просто понравилось это прекрасное сочетание белого, черного и зелени матчи. Правда, она выделяется светлым пятном?