It's All About Tea — chanoyu

The Tetsubin, Japan's traditional cast iron kettle, is a cornerstone of the Japanese tea making ritual. 

The Tetsubin is an undeniable part of Japan's tea culture. With roots stretching back through centuries, this essential kettle has transcended its humble beginnings to become a celebrated piece of functional art. In this blogpost, we'll go through the history and origins of the Tetsubin. We'll explore the craftsmanship behind its creation, which has largely remained unchanged for centuries. We will also offer insights into how best to use and care for your Tetsubin, ensuring that it remains a treasured – and functional – part of your tea ritual. Embark with us as we explore the legacy of the Tetsubin and its significance in the art of making tea. (Read More)

Tea is the beverage we choose when we want to unwind and feel rejuvenated. Coffee may be the energy drink that gets us going in the morning and powers us when working through the night. Tea is more than just a calming brew, whether black, green, white, herbal, hot, or icy cold. It could be a ritual, a social or cultural event, or even a spiritual practice.

Tea customs across different countries give us a unique insight into the cultural landscape of their peoples. They highlight the dominating social values and their evolution over time. Let’s embark on a colorful journey across the continents, discovering the tea ritual and sharing a cup of tea with the world! (Read more)

For many of us, the world is in turmoil. It is easy to get overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, and loss of stability. At times, it can seem as though we are no longer in control of our own lives. The mere thought of all the pressures can be hard to bear. In times like these, the simple act of drinking tea mindfully can be a remedy at hand.

Tea has been used in China as a tool for mental focus for roughly 2,000 years of documented history, embraced by Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist practices alike, each for different philosophical reasons.

Let's explore how the practice of drinking tea for focusing evolved from ancient times to the present in China's most important philosophical movements. We will also learn ways to take advantage of those practices to quiet the bustling thoughts, achieve mindfulness, and shift to a better state of calm and gratitude. (Read more)

When you want to make your matcha in the traditional Japanese style, it's essential to invest in a proper Japanese tea set. A basic tea set will include a chawan (matcha bowl), chasen (matcha whisk), and chashaku (matcha scoop). If you want a complete Japanese tea set, however, you should also get a furui (tea sift), and a kusenaoshi (chasen holder). By the way, this is only if you want to enjoy matcha at home, casually. If you're going to make matcha as per the ways of Chado, you need much more equipment. So, if you want to make a proper bowl of frothy green matcha, if nothing else, you should always have quality matcha tea powder and a chasen. So how do we take care of the matcha whisk to ensure its longevity for years of umami-rich tea bowls to come? (Read more)

In our recent blog post, we talked about the history of the Japanese tea sage — Sen no Rikyu. Without a doubt, he had a significant effect on The Way of Tea in Japan, and his legacy continues to this day. Ultimately, there are three separate schools of Chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) that follow his teachings to this day, though they differ slightly. These schools are referred to as "San Senke" — Three Sen Families. (Read more)