Workshop 3 | Tea & Seasonality

In recent years, Japanese green tea and matcha have gained immense popularity as not only healthy and refreshing beverages but also as aids for mindfulness and a balanced life. However, there is so much more to discover about Japanese tea within and beyond these well-known varieties.

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is excited to continue presenting the Sip & Savor: Japanese Tea Culture Exploration series in 2024. Each unique workshop will guide guests through tastings and sensory evaluations to learn and discern the differences between various Japanese teas. With deepened knowledge and experience about brewing techniques and thoughtful pairings, guests will discover new depths of Japanese tea and how to incorporate it into their daily lives. Each workshop will also employ a unique theme or lens through which to further explore and understand Japanese tea and culture, providing insight into topics such as tea and regionality, tea and Zen, and emerging trends in Japanese tea.

During the first half of each workshop, guests will learn about, taste and experience both chashitsu, or formal Japanese tea culture, as well as chanoma, a more casual and daily tea culture enjoyed with family and friends, with casual pairings. During the latter half of each workshop, guests will learn how to brew their own perfect cup of tea utilizing various specialized tea implements.

Much of Japanese cuisine and cultural life is tightly connected to the seasons; the traditions of tea are no different. In this third workshop, “Tea & Seasonality,” guests will uncover the seasonal rhythms of Japanese tea, and how its growth, processing, preparation, and enjoyment all connect to the cadence of the natural year. As a fitting way to ring in the New Year, join in for some warming flavors suited for winter.

Guests will receive a take-home packet of tea that was featured in class to brew and share with friends.

About the Instructor

Tsubasa Sano of Engawa Kissa
Tsubasa Sano, the instructor for this series, holds the prestigious accreditation of Japanese Tea Instructor — a benchmark achieved by less than 30% of applicants and widely recognized for its exacting standards for deep academic knowledge as well as applied skills related to Japanese tea.

As “Engawa Kissa,” Tsubasa pops up around LA as a traveling café that offers Japanese tea and a variety of blended teas.

Read more.

Per Tsubasa, “Tea is an important element in my life that teaches us a sense of belonging, exciting encounters, the beauty of human nature, existence, and expressions, and communication. I travel and offer mainly Japanese tea in different parts of the city to deliver what tea has taught me.”

Using her background in editing and product planning, Tsubasa also works in tea catering, product development, editorial, tea parties, promotion, and tea import.

Photo Credits: Courtesy of Engawa Kissa