A few months ago, my Aviator Dreamliner friend Mari invited me to a traditional tea ceremony, in Berlin.
I knew it before, had heard about it at least, but actually never tried it the proper way.
I found it funny to do it the first time in Berlin, to celebrate the new season.

Besides the actual ceremony, I think the best part was to to be welcomed as family, in this Japanese Berlin community, who met to perform their tradition, and share it with their european family and friends. Weither it’s here in Berlin, or back in Japan, I highly respect and love the Japanese sense of hospitality. I met truly generous and open people.

After the Temae, we had a great time eating japanese food, and exchanging expatriate stories.
A truly good moment.

Berlin Japanese Tea Ceremony (Temae)
Berlin Japanese Tea Ceremony (Temae)
Berlin Japanese Tea Ceremony (Temae)
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Berlin Japanese Tea Ceremony (Temae)
Berlin Japanese Tea Ceremony
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For more information, initiations or lessons,
(or to find Japanese tea if you know your sh*t,)
I suggest you to pay a visit to Macha Macha (Facebook page), a cute and real japanese place in Berlin.

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About Temae

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” The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha (抹茶), powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called chanoyu (茶の湯?) or sadō, chadō (茶道?). The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called (o) temae ([お]手前; [お]点前?).”
More on Wikipedia

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Thanks to Mari, for always satisfying my endless appetite for Japan, anywhere <3