Magazine

Ceremonial Grade Matcha — But Which Ceremony?
Ceremonial Grade Matcha — But Which Ceremony?
The other day, I overheard someone saying: “The matcha here is good because they use ceremonial grade.” And I remember thinking: Do people actually know what “ceremony” means in tea... Read more...
What Is a Shin Chasen?
What Is a Shin Chasen?
What makes a Shin Chasen different from an 80-prong chasen? Discover how prong shape, durability, and technique affect your matcha experience. Read more...
Make Nerikiri at Home
Make Nerikiri at Home
Serving Size: Makes 5-6 pieces. Ingredients White bean paste (Shiro-an) 300g Red bean paste (Koshi-an) 90g (15g x 6) Shiratamako or Glutinous Rice Flour 11g Water 8g Food Coloring (I... Read more...
Bringing Mindful Tea Ceremony Into Everyday Life
Bringing Mindful Tea Ceremony Into Everyday Life
Discover how the spirit of Japanese tea ceremony can be part of everyday life.  In this post, I share highlights from my Connichi Wiesbaden 2025 workshop and introduce a simple... Read more...
The Story Behind Matcha Biyori
The Story Behind Matcha Biyori
Discover the story behind Biyori Matcha—a brand born from Yen’s passion for the Japanese tea ceremony and her journey to find balance and mindfulness through matcha.  Read more...