June marked another edition of our Japanese Tea Master Course. Over the years, the program has become increasingly popular, and this year we received nearly three times as many applications as there were available places. While we regret that we cannot welcome everyone, we are delighted to see the growing interest in Japanese tea around the world.
This time, we whad a wonderful group of 12 students from 10 countries across 3 continents. Interestingly, there were more women than men in the group (do women simply like tea more?). We also welcomed our very first Japanese student to the Master Course – a sign that Japanese people are also eager to deepen their understanding of their own tea culture. All together, each student brought a unique background and perspective, and despite the intensive schedule, the group quickly formed a close bond. Spending two weeks immersed in Japanese tea together felt almost like traveling in a spaceship.
As always, the program was properly intensive. Classroom sessions filled with brewing, tasting, and hands-on experiments were complemented by field trips that deepened studenss’ understanding of Japanese tea further. Students met several tea farmers and even made three different types of tea together: green tea, oolong tea, and black tea. Among the new experiences was a visit to Fukujuen, one of Kyoto’s oldest and most prominent tea producers and retailers. Students also had the opportunity to learn from tea ceremony practitioners, pottery artists, confectionery makers, and other distinguished professionals connected to Japanese tea.
As one Master Course comes to a close, we are already looking forward to welcoming the next group this September.