A friend brought me to my very first Japanese tea ceremony not long after I’d landed in Japan. Nobody warned me it would last five hours. That was the shock of it, really, just sitting still for that long, drinking two kinds of matcha, usucha, the everyday thin one, and koicha, thick and ceremonial, each whisked slowly and properly by someone who’d clearly spent a lifetime getting it right. I was hooked, and I’ve been studying it myself ever since.
That friend was Makiko. She’s a tea master now, in the Omotesenke tradition, and I still take lessons with her, her tea room in Japan to mine here in Ireland.
What people often say
People often tell me the same thing afterwards, that it’s relaxing, interesting, and beautiful, like watching art in motion.
Matcha Workshop — coming soon
Learn to make traditional matcha, and matcha lattes, hot and cold. A version for baristas is also planned, along with a dessert-making element. More details soon.
Soegama — for events and gatherings
The traditional practice of bringing ceremonial tea to a cultural, artistic, or corporate gathering. I’ve done this for a friend’s art exhibition and for a corporate event, both wonderful, memorable days. Enquire for details.
What people have said
“I loved the ceremony and the ability to try new experiences. The tea was exceptional, and it didn’t feel bitter in taste at all.” — Katrina“Thank you especially to Jackie for opening the exhibition with a very mindful tea ceremony, which really calmed me down. I needed that.” — Martina
Contact me to arrange a private or group session.Tea Ceremony · Matcha Workshop · Soegama
