Michigan is in no shortage of breathtakingly scenic places to visit. As an ex-Californian myself, I was surprised at all natural beauty around me at all times when I first moved to Michigan. It is a state known for its beautiful lakes and waterways along with plentiful state and national parks which are unique and gorgeous in and of themselves. Michigan also has many beautiful cityscapes and downtown areas, dunes and wine country to the north, and it even has its own tea plantation, just to name a few amazingly beautiful sites to see here in our beautiful state. There’s always somewhere to explore in Michigan!
Speaking of beauty and things to see, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan is something any visitor or local should have on their list of places to explore. For individuals who enjoy gardening, flora, cacti and various other plant types, visiting here will get your botany juices flowing! There’s something for the artists here too. Throughout the exterior of the park are various sculptures and inside the main building are art exhibits. My first time there, I spent the entire day there and ended up getting somewhat lost and had to be ushered out by security because it was after hours. Whoops!
This year on July 18th, also known to some as my birthday, I returned to the gardens and low and behold, they have a traditional Japanese Tea House. To get into the Japanese Tea House you need a separate ticket and tea house is only open during the warmer seasons of the year. If interested, I’d suggest checking the event calendar and getting a ticket when they are available.
So, back to the story! It’s my 37th birthday and I’m standing in front of the tea house my partner and I are waiting for our time to go in. An employee working at the gardens then come out of the tea house to tell us about what to expect and details about the Tea Masters that would be serving us tea and demonstrating the Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. Minutes pass and then a Tea Master appears to greet us at the gates leading up to the tea house. She exits the gates, bows and greets us which becomes our queue to follow her lead inside. Now I must mention that the gates in front of the tea house hand low which forces the entrant to bow before entering or else you’ll get clobbered on the head and if you’re really tall then expect to bow. You’ve been warned…so don’t forget this detail and very important piece of etiquette.
After shuffling through the entryway of the gates while bowing low, my body position returns to standing upright and boom! I am surrounded by beauty. Japanese Maples, trees, waterfalls, a lake to my right and a cobblestone path beneath my feet. I’m in awe and release a gasp. Taking the next few steps up to the doors to the tea house mindfully, I find this moments walking the path a moment to pause and relax. It’s a moment to let go of what was so you can enter the tea house and be in the moment. Shoes come off and another bow at the door and then we are inside the tea house. Lead to our seats, we are greeted by a staff member who will be acting as a narrator while two highly trained Tea Masters demonstrate the traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony.
The Presenter and Tea Masters introduces themselves and then the demonstration begins. One Tea Master acts as the honored guest. She bows as she enters the tea house, bows again, and examines the decor around her seating area and then gets comfortable sitting in a kneeling position. Once the guest is settled, the host enters and bows. The host then starts to bring in all the instruments to make the matcha tea. There’s many steps in the Japanese Tea Ceremony, but in short, the host cleans/purifies all the instruments in front of the guest as an act of good faith and honor for the guest. The guest examines the work done by the host and is allowed to ask questions about the handmade tea ware and matcha. Once the purification is complete the host warms the matcha bowl and that water is discarded. The guest receives a mildly sweet treat to enhance and wake the palate. This treat allows the tea drinker to taste all the subtle notes in the matcha. The host then begins making the matcha. Matcha goes in bowl with some water and is whisked together to make a paste. Then more water goes and wished more vigorously in order to create a foam. The host bows, thanks the guest for their attendance and turns the bowl twice before handing off the matcha to the guest. The then turns the bowl and sips and slurps the tea to show the host that they are enjoying the preparation and flavor. Once the guest finishes the tea, pleasantries, laughter and conversation ensue. The ceremony really combines respect, togetherness and tradition in the most beautiful way. Lastly, the host removes all the tea ware and cleans it and then the guest departs after saying goodbye and bowing.
After the ceremony was complete. They handed everyone bowl filled with matcha tea for all the spectators to try. Each bowl came from an artisan from Japan and was hand crafted. The matcha itself was from Japan and it was sweet and robust in flavor. Literally, the best matcha I have ever had. They also served us a small treat before we drank our matcha.
It was such a great experience seeing this tradition in action. The teamsters were very knowledgeable and watching them work was an art. Would highly recommend this experience to all my tea friends and tea drinkers alike.