Tea Times May, June & July 2014
We teach ongoing weekly classes in the Urasenke tradition of Chanoyu from beginner to advanced levels. Please visit our Chanoyu class and enjoy a first hand experience at being a guest. This is a great introduction for those interested in learning more about weekly tea study. Please Email to reserve your space: Most Monday's from 6:30 p.m. - Fee $20
Kimika, Larry and their students will host a tea celebrating tango no sekku, the Boys' Day Festival, at the NichibeikaiKansoan tearoom, 1759 Sutter St., S.F. The festival dates from the Heian period and is celebrated in Japan on May 5. It is also called shobu no sekku, the Iris Festival as well as the Children's Day Festival. This tea is open to anyone who enjoys Japanese culture and wants to experience a traditional tea gathering.
This traditional Japanese sweet making class will feature minazuki and ajisai kinton. Minazuki, the poetic name for June meaning "Rainless Month," is a sweet made from rice flour that is steamed. It is cut into triangles representing ice and topped with sweet azuki beans. Tradition is that eating this sweet on June 30 will protect one from evil and bring relief from the intense summer heat. Ajisai kinton is made from sweet bean paste that is pressed through a sieve into strands. The strands are gathered and the finished sweet has glistening jewels of agar agar added representing dew on the ajisai (hydrangea). The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.
This workshop will include a demonstration of the basic points in creating the nimonji oshikiri ash formation. The special summer form called toyama (distant mountain) will also be introduced. There will also be a discussion of the various styles of haigata used in the Urasenke tradition of tea. Participants are encouraged to bring their own brazier. The second half of the workshop will include guided practice in both the nimonji oshikiri and toyama ash formations.
This summer workshop will feature aosudofu (green pea "tofu"), cold somen noodles with prawns in a bainiku (pickled plum) sauce, yasai kinomeae (seasonal vegetable with prickly ash dressing) and shiso gohan (perilla rice). The class will be mostly demonstration, with some hands-on arranging, and participants will be able to sample the dishes that are prepared during the class. Easy to follow recipes will also be provided.
Hotarugari, firefly viewing, will be the theme of this summer tea gathering. Various utensils that reflect the season, and this wonder summer activity in Kyoto, will be used during the tea. 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.
This traditional Japanese sweet making class will feature kingyokukan and mizubotan. Kingyokukan is made with kanten (agar agar) and is cooled in a mold with a water pattern. Mizubotan has an outer covering of kudzu starch enrobing sweet bean paste that looks like a water peony. The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.
* 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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