CHANOYU

Tea Master Allan Halyk hosted a chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) on Saturday at Chado - The Way of Tea. Allan began with an explanation of his background and study of tea (including studying under a tea sensei in Melbourne to gain his tea mastership, under the Urasenke tea school (originating from Sen no Rikyu in the 15th Century). Allan then performed chanoyu (usucha - thin tea) for one of the dozen guests present.

The matcha served was absolutely wonderful - brilliant jade colour, thick layer of foam and an intense, grassy, yet perfectly balanced sweetness. Japanese snacks were also served, including sushi and mochi (red-bean-filled rice cake with black sesame seed coating).

Watching Allan perform chanoyu was among other things, incredibly relaxing. His composure, eloquence and serenity made it a most enjoyable occasion.

Chinese Green Tea New Harvest Tea Tasting Event

Last Saturday, Varuni from Chado Teahouse (Hobart) hosted a Chinese New Harvest Green Tea Tasting Event. Using gongfu (gaiwan) tea service, a dozen of us were treated to an afternoon of sampling some of the finest new-harvest teas available. After beginning with an introductory tea of Reserve Grade Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle), we were served the following:
1. Anji Bai Cha (An Ji County, Zhejiang)
2. Dong Ting Pi Lo Chun (Dong ting, Jiangsu)
3. Valley Peak Da Fang (Huang Shan, Anhui)
4. Huang Shan Mao Feng (Huang Shan, Anhui)
5. Tai Ping Hou Kui (Taiping, Hubei)
6. En Shi Jade Dew (En Shi City, Hubei)
7. Green Bamboo Leaf (E Mei Shan, Sichuan)
8. Mount Meng Sweet Dew (Meng Shan, Sichuan)
9. Xu Fu Dragon Tooth (Yi Bin City, Sichuan)
10. West Lake Imperial Dragonwell (West Lake, Zhejiang)
11. Wuyi Shan Green (Wuyi Shan, Fujian)
12. Organic White Monkey (Taimu Shan, Fujian)
13. Purple Bamboo Shoot (Chang Xing, Zhejiang)

It was at once a relaxing and informative time - a group of people with various degrees of tea experience all sharing their enjoyment of some quite amazing teas- a splendid way to spend three hours!

CHADO: The Way of Tea

Finally! A wonderful teahouse has opened up in Hobart called "Chado: The Way of Tea". The owner, Varuni Kulasekera, is both immensely knowledgable on all things tea and wonderfully hospitable to boot. She and her husband (ex-Violent Femmes bassist and now shakuhachi player, Brian Ritchie) have made a sea-change from New York to Hobart Town. The teahouse stocks a wide selection of fantastic teas, with the dozens I've sampled thus far have been of exceptional quality. It also sells a great range of tea accessories, including numerous teapot styles, Japanese tea ceremony items (chasen, chawan, chashaku etc), gaiwan, gongfu service equipment, tea cannisters and much more. It is such a wonderful place to spend a good hour or so, enjoying multiple infusions of exceptional tea and chatting with Varuni or one of the staff on all things tea. They also prepare some tasty treats to accompany the tea, including onigiri (the bonito variety is my personal favourite)!

If you're ever in Hobart, get yourself along and enjoy a tea or two. The number of friends I've thus far dragged along have all been highly impressed with the service, the food and the tea.

Signing off to make myself one now... a Superior Tieguanyin methinks...