Tea Times                                                   Aug., Sept. & Oct. 2012             

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. Please Email us to reserve your space for any Monday or Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. - Fee $20 :

DATE - Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012
TIME - 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FEE - $30

This traditional wagashi Japanese sweet making class will feature koimo and ukishima. Koimo is in the shape of a taro potato and is made from konashi, a bean paste steamed with flour and kneaded, and wrapped around a bean paste center. Ukishima (floating island) is a 2 layered steamed sweet made with two types of flour, eggs and koshian, smooth sweet bean paste. This class will include both demonstration and some hands-on practice. The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.

DATE - Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012
TIME - 12 noon - 2:30 p.m.
FEE - $35 ($30 members)
This early autumn kaiseki workshop will feature 4 courses including: edamame gohan (green soybean rice), poached chilled scallops with celery, ebi shinjo (fish dumpling with prawns) and yasai no karashi misoae (fresh vegetables with a mustard miso dressing). Dashi soup stock will also be made using konbu (kelp) and katsuobushi (shaved dried bonito). The class will be mostly demonstration, with some hands-on arranging, and participants will be able to sample the dishes that are prepared. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.

Please call the Japanese Cultural Community Center in SF (415-567-5505) for more information and to make reservations. You can also view the class announcements and download a flyer on their web site: 8/27 Kaiseki class

Chabana, the art of flower arranging for Chanoyu, will be the focus of this hands-on workshop. Chabana has deep roots in the more stylized Ikebana arrangements. This simpler style was used in the tearoom by early tea masters when they invited guests for tea.

This workshop will include a discussion of the principles of chabana as well as an overview of the various styles of vases and baskets that can be used. Participants will enjoy guided practice in making arrangements. Sweets and tea will be served at the end of the workshop.

DATE - Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012
TIME - 12 noon to 4 p.m.
FEE - $150

This Moon Viewing themed shogo chaji, or noon tea gathering, is the ultimate chance to experience the full Japanese tea ceremony. The tea will include the full kaiseki meal, the charcoal ceremony, traditional wagashi sweets and both koicha (thick tea) and usucha (thin tea). Utensils reflecting the theme and season will be used.  This will be a great chance for both the experienced tea practitioner, and the novice alike, to enjoy this special tea gathering. Guests will sit on the floor in a traditional tatami room during this tea. No prior experience is necessary.

DATE - Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012
TIME - 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
FEE - $30

This traditional wagashi Japanese sweet making class will feature murasame and soba joyo. Murasame is a layered sweet that has yokan sandwiched between 2 layers of sweet bean paste that has been pressed through a sieve. Soba joyo is a thin steamed pancake with buckwheat flour wrapped around bean paste. This class will include both demonstration and some hands-on practice.  The freshly made sweets and tea will be served at the end of the class. Easy to follow recipes will be provided.

Thurs., Aug. 9, 2012 (7p.m. - 9p.m.)
Thurs., Sept. 13, 2012 (7p.m. - 9p.m.)
Thurs., Oct. 25, 2012 (7p.m. - 9p.m.)
FEE - $25

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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