Tea Times                         Dec. 2009, Jan. & Feb. 2010            

We teach ongoing weekly classes in the Urasenke tradition of Chanoyu from beginner to advanced levels. If you would like to experience Chanoyu first hand, and have a lesson on being a guest, we have scheduled 3 dates. Please email or telephone for either Monday, Dec. 14, Jan. 25 or Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Fee $20. Please Email us to make a reservation or for more information about these special classes.

DATE - Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009
TIME - 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FEE - $30

This traditional wagashi, Japanese sweet making, class will feature oribemanju and murasame. Oribemanju is a steamed sweet with a wheat flour outer skin covering sweet red bean paste. It will have colors reminiscent of the colors in Oribe ceramic ware. Murasame is a layered sweet that has yokan sandwiched between 2 layers of sweet bean paste that has been pressed through a sieve. (note -The picture is of a standard mushimanju .)
This class will include both demonstration and hands-on practice. Tea and sweets will be served after the class.


CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY TEA

This special Christmas Holiday tea will be a great chance to experience the simple usucha, thin tea gathering. Utensils of the season will be used and traditional sweets and thin tea will be served. No prior experience is needed.

DATE - Monday, Dec. 28, 2009
SEATINGS - 5:30 p.m. (open) & 8 p.m. (full)
FEE - $30

Joyagama, our final tea gathering of 2009 , is a time to share tea with friends and enjoy the memories of the past year. It is also a time to bid farewell to the year of the ox. Utensils reflecting the feeling of the season will be used during this tea.

Joyagama is traditionally held on December 31, in Japan. Toshikoshi, year passing festivities, include the eating of toshikoshi soba, long thin buckwheat noodles, for longevity and good health. Traditional sweets, tea and toshikoshi soba will be served.

This tea is open to anyone who wants to experience Japanese culture through Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony.

KAISEKI COOKING CLASS
DATE - Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010
TIME - 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FEE - $35 ($30 members)

WAGASHI CLASS
(sweet making)
DATE - Saturday, Feb. 13, 2010
TIME - 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
FEE - $30 ($25 members)

BAIKASAI TENSHIN TEA

As the fragrance and beauty of the plum blossoms fill the warming spring air, we would like to invite you to share in this special celebration. Baikasai, plum-viewing festival, is celebrated throughout Japan. A grand festival is held each year at the Kitano Shrine in Kyoto on February 25, where plum blossoms fill the shrine precincts. The plum festival will be explored through the selection of seasonal utensil motifs and appropriate foods.

Participants will enjoy seasonal sweets, tea and a tenshin style kaiseki meal. No prior experience is necessary.

Thurs., Jan. 21, 2010 (7p.m. -9p.m.)
Thurs., Feb. 18, 2010 (7p.m. -9p.m.)
FEE - $25

These special workshops will introduce first time participants to the Zen choreography in making a bowl of tea. Participants will have guided practice in all of the steps necessary to prepare a tasty bowl of matcha, powdered green tea, with an open mind and pure heart.

This workshop will be a good introduction for those who wish to further pursue their study of Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony.

* Please Email teatimes@chanoyu.com, for more information or to make reservations. Advance payment by mail will confirm your email reservations. As space is limited, cancellations must be made not later than 5-days before each event to receive a refund. Thank you.

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