The Chance Encounter's Tea Experience is an intimate gather of 2-4 friends in a quiet nature setting. We also offer a more "intense" tea tasting experience where a group of 8-15 will be shown three unique Japanese green teas, and be able to peer in to the nuances and differences between them. Something like 97% of the tea exported from Japan is of one varietal, and many see it as homogeneous. This couldn't be further from the truth! Tea is like wine in that small details in the process and plant reveal themselves when processed and brewed well.
Contact chance-encouter@rix.si for information about our tasting events or to inquire about hosting one for your employees or social club.
The Teas
The qualities of shaded tea
Japan is somewhat unique compared to other tea growing regions in that they will use shade cloths to encourage fresh growth shortly before the harvest of their highest quality spring-harvest tea. Pulling these covers over the plants causes them to sprout fresh leaves, searching for light, and when the farmer comes back two or three weeks later it is only these most tender buds that are used for the product. Afterward, the tea plants are uncovered and the other leaves can also be harvested.
We will explore this dynamic, starting with a simple un-shaded yabukita cultivar tea, the sort of thing you might find in the fancy tea section of your grocery. Then we will explore three shaded teas, a shaded tea made from that same cultivar, one made from "native" plants grown from seed, and a cultivar specifically bred to be accentuated by this shading practice to produce "jade dew" gyokuro tea.
INPROGRESS Exploring Different Cultivars
INPROGRESS Seasonal Harvests and Shincha
The Process
30 minute overview
of the important points of Japanese tea while brewing each of the four teas once and passing cups around
the development of loose leaf vs. matcha
the intricacies tying it to Zen, glance off mindful tea ideas
2x30 minute brewing sessions
having tasted three or four teas, pick your favorite and group up around a tea pot
three infusions, each person should be able to brew at least once
talk about the tea, talk around the tea
after a half hour, you're encouraged to try a different tea and repeat the same process
Hosting Requirements
electrical hookup or gas stove for kettle
group tables, chairs for all guests
We will provide:
the tea
the water
the tea brewing equipment
paper cups for dispersing and drinking the tea
print-out materials