Sunday Evening Matcha Meditation: A Hands-on Workshop

Discover the art of matcha in this live online workshop from Japan, led by a Japanese tea ceremony practitioner with 18 years’ experience in the Omote-senke tradition. Step by step, you’ll learn essential skills and how to savour subtle moments: the song of a bird, the curling steam from a tea bowl, the play of light in the tea room.

Who This Event is For

This interactive session is perfect for both complete beginners and those already enjoying matcha at home:

• Those who want to start enjoying matcha at home
• Those who have some matcha equipment but are unsure how to prepare it properly
• Anyone who longs to take a break from their busy lifestyle and recharge through mindful tea practice
• Those wanting to learn essential rules for handling tea utensils (e.g., why to soak the tea bowl and the tea whisk before use, why the bamboo tea spoon should never be wet)
• Those wondering what kind of matcha to buy (ceremonial grade vs others)
• Anyone interested in meditation and mindfulness connected with Zen spirit

What You Will Learn

1. Introduction: What is matcha and the Japanese tea ceremony?
2. Practical Demonstration: Step-by-step preparation of a bowl of matcha, including: How to whisk the tea; Minimum equipment needed to start; Correct proportions of tea and water; Ideal water temperature; Decent price range for ceremonial-grade matcha)
3. Care of Equipment: How to clean and store utensils and matcha
4. The Spirit of Tea: How tea connects with Zen meditation—learning to live in the moment, appreciate subtle beauty, and treasure each encounter (ichigo-ichie, ‘one time, one meeting’)
5. Q&A Session: Open space for your questions

What You Will Gain

• Practical skills to prepare delicious matcha at home
• Confidence in handling and caring for tea utensils
• Knowledge about selecting and storing high-quality tea
• A deeper understanding of the cultural and spiritual aspects of the Japanese tea ceremony
• A mindful practice that can enrich your daily life
• Suggestions for other types of Japanese tea, such as Sencha, Hōjicha, and Gyokuro

About Your Facilitator

Born and raised in Japan, Mana Iwata has practiced the Japanese tea ceremony for 18 years in the Omote-senke tradition. She also has extended international experience: she is an alumna of the University of Edinburgh, worked at Historic Environment Scotland, and has hosted tea ceremonies across Scotland at venues such as Melrose Abbey, Jedburgh Abbey, the Japanese Garden at Cowden, and a community centre in Galashiels.

Through the Japanese tea ceremony, or the way of tea, she aims to help people notice subtle beauty in daily life and cultivate a heart enriched by mindfulness.

About Tsuki-Musubi

The name of Mana's project, Tsuki-Musubi, is inspired by a Zen phrase: ‘Scooping water, the moon rests in my hands’. In Japanese, tsuki means moon, and musubi (old Japanese) means to scoop water with both hands. Together, they evoke the image of holding clear water in your palms, reflecting the moon’s gentle light. This scene represents cherishing fleeting, beautiful moments. Through the Japanese tea ceremony, she hopes to contribute to a world where people feel truly rich in heart. Instagram: tsukimusubi_official

Mana Iwata demonstrating otemae at a Japanese garden in Scotland (2024)