Author Archives: Aaron

Colorado Chaji

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Mike gave us the chance to hold a complete chaji at his place for him and a few of his students during our stay. We took the opportunity to share some of the tea life we encountered over the past year.

The waiting room, our somewhat subtle way of bringing the (tea) revolution into the theme. (the scroll is called “Giza Pyramid”)

Sorry, for although we had a full kaiseki there are no pictures to share, we were a little too busy. Ula and Aaron shared the host tasks, Ula prepared the Sumi and thin tea and Aaron served the kaiseki and thick tea. Mike was the first guest with Lindsey and Tom as second and third.

Ula prepares the charcoal

Ula lays the charcoal

We were fortunate to have Mike make the beautiful and tasty main sweets himself while we cooked the food, we named it “Colorado Nishiki” or Colorado brocade

The unity is completed as we use our favorite vase from Jordan along with American, Polish and Japanese items.

sharing the sweets before thin tea

guests enjoying thin tea

wonderful dimly lit room

The last bowl of tea before the guests quietly leave

We took the Polish kaigu (set of blue ceramic utensils for the daisu) for Mike and brought back many great memories and experiences (as well as a beautiful futaoki Mike made) that will stay with us always. Another great day of tea and togetherness.

 

Colorado Practice

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We had the great pleasure to meet and practice with old friends and new.

We met in four different tea spaces and had the chance to run through an entire chaji practice with Ulrich Haas-sensei while he visited from Germany.

Acting as host, Roy fills the tsukubai.

Kaiseki

Mike calls the guests back for tea by ringing a gong.

The guests listen to the gong and re-enter the tea room for the second half of the tea gathering.

The guests entering the room for the thick and thin tea.

 

More practice

Mike in Roy’s tea room

Tom’s tea room

Lots of practice

Never can get too much of a good thing.

 

Visit to Colorado

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During the Summer break Ula and Aaron visited friends and family in Colorado. The tea activities were many and are highlighted over the next few posts.

A presentation for a group in Estes Park

 

Drinking matcha was new to nearly the entire group.

The guests all seemed open to the new experience, especially commenting on the overall atmosphere even more than the tea itself.

On the right you see the vase from A. Saqf (www.saqf.com) making its first Colorado appearance.

We also used the calligraphy “Ikka Goyou ni Hiraku”, one flower opens into five petals.

Tea pavilion and tea presentation in Wrocław

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Azumaya in Japanese Garden, Wrocław

As we were visiting Wrocław organizing a tea presentation in cooperation with the Japanese Embassy for “Meeting with Japan”, we finally found some time to visit the Japanese Garden. The teahouse there does not seem to be frequently visited by tea guests but certainly makes you want to drink a bowl of heart warming matcha.

A picture from our tea presentation in Wrocław.

Many thanks to the Japanese Embassy for their constant support and willingness to always work together to give more and more people occasion to share a bowl of tea.