Tea Times Dec. 2011, Jan. & Feb. 2012
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., 12, Jan. 23 & Feb 13 at 7p.m. Fee $20. Please Email us to make a reservation or for more information about these special classes.
This traditional wagashi, Japanese sweet making, class will feature hishihanabiramochi. Hishihanabiramochi is a special New Year's sweet with a soft outer gyuhi mochi skin folded over candied burdock and miso flavored sweet bean paste. We will also be making uchimono rakugan, a pressed dry sweet using roasted sweet rice flour and sugar. The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. This class will include both demonstration and hands-on practice. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.
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 rabbit. 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.
This Chanoyu experience will bring tea practitioners together to share in the enjoyment of tea through kagetsu. This morning exchange will feature hira kagetsu and koicha tsuki kagetsu in an 8 mat room. The afternoon will feature hira kagetsu and sanyu no shiki. Sanyu no shiki was designed by Ennosai, the 13 Urasenke head tea master. Participants will decorate flowers, enjoy the incense ceremony and perform hira kagetsu. A bento box lunch will be provided. Reservations are necessary. Please email teatimes@chanoyu.com.
This slide lecture titled "Kaiseki - Four Seasons, Four Dishes" will explore the history of Japanese kaiseki cuisine. We will explore vegetarian shojin ryori, oryoki ryori served in the Zen temple during practice sessions and kaiseki ryori served during a formal tea ceremony. Seasonal elements will be explored highlighting the 4 seasons. There will be a discussion of the preparation of kaiseki style miso soup with a miso tasting at the conclusion of the lecture.
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.
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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