Tea Times  Jan., Feb. & March 2005

We conduct ongoing weekly classes in the Urasenke tradition of Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony, from beginner to advanced levels. Classes are open to anyone who desires to learn more about this peaceful Japanese art. Events and classes are held in San Francisco.Please Email us to make arrangements to visit a class and have a bowl of tea.

This traditional wagashi, Japanese sweet making, class will feature uguisumochi and yomogi karukan. Uguisumochi is made with a type of sweet rice paste called gyuhi and has roasted soy bean flour on the outside. The sweet takes the shape of the spring nightingale bird. Yomogi karukan is a steamed cake like sweet made with rice flour and the yomogi (mugwort) herb.

This class will include both demonstration and hands-on practice. Tea and sweets will be served after the class.

This traditional wagashi, Japanese sweet making, class will feature sakuramochi and hanamidango. Sakuramochi is a traditional sweet served during the spring Doll Festival and the cherry blossom viewing season. We will prepare the Kansai (Kyoto) style sweet using cooked sweet rice grains that are wrapped around sweet bean paste. It is finished by wrapping the sweet in a fragrant salted cherry leaf. Hanamidango are small multicolor balls of konashi (kneaded bean paste) placed on a skewer to represent the flowering cherry blossoms.

This class will include both demonstration and hands-on practice. The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. Easy to follow recipes will also be provided. No prior experience is necessary.

 Hinamatsuri, the Doll Festival, is commonly referred to as the Girl's Day Festival. It was traditionally observed on the 3rd day of the 3rd month according to the lunar calendar and is celebrated on March 3, in modern times. Having early origins in Japan, this festival is also called momo no sekku or the Peach Blossom Festival.

The festival originally took place when the warmth of spring brought with it a little rest time for rural farmers in Japan. Early dolls were simply made of grass or straw in a human likeness. Human ills were transferred to the dolls and they were discarded in the local river as a way of bringing purity. During the Edo period (1603-1868) the dolls became gorgeous art objects in the likeness of the Emperor and Empress, and their court, and were displayed on multi-tiered stands like we see today.

Traditional seasonal sweets, tea and a tenshin style kaiseki meal will be served. This event is open to anyone wishing to enjoy Japanese culture through Chanoyu, the tea ceremony. No prior experience is necessary.

Mizuyagoto, the various techniques of handling and caring for tea utensils, will be the focus of this workshop. Participants will learn how to display and store scrolls, handle and clean lacquer ware as well as the proper handling of other ceramic and lacquer utensils. This workshop will be of interest to those who want to preserve their Asian collection. Sweets and tea will be served.

This annual memorial tea will honor Sen Rikyu (1522-1591), the founder of the three Sen schools of Chanoyu including Urasenke. Wabicha, the style of tea that reflects a simple and quiet taste, is the contribution that Rikyu is most remembered for.

Various utensils that reflect his unique style and taste will be featured at this tea. Guests will offer flowers in Rikyu's memory. Incense will also be offered and all of the guests will be able to share in the enjoyment of the incense ceremony. Traditional sweets and koicha, thick tea, will be served.

* 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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