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Tasting the History of Matcha
Experience the history of Matcha through your taste buds. Before Matcha there was Mo Cha, a ground tea drink from China. Japanese monks brought this powdered tea to Japan via the Monk Eisai. As tea cultivation spread through Japan, the practice of cultivating and producing Tencha (unground Matcha) developed.
Students will learn about the history of Matcha while stone-milling and tasting Mo Cha themselves along side of modern Matcha.
What you’ll Learn:
What Makes Mo Cha and Matcha different.
The history of how tea first came to Japan from China, and how it changed.
Learn how Japanese tea ceremony began, and who the major players were, and how the art was codified.
Mill your own Mo Cha with an authentic Japanese stone mill, and whisk (and taste) it yourself.
From Mo cha to Matcha
Many people believe that Matcha originated in China. This is not accurate. Instead, the grinding of tea into powder did originate in China.
During our class we’ll grind Chinese Gua Pian, via Tea Drunk so we can experience Mo Cha, the historic precursor to Matcha.
Mill Your Own Mo Cha
As part of our class, you’ll get the chance to grind your own Mo Cha using an authentic Japanese hand-turned stone mill.
We’ll then brew, and taste, your Mo Cha along side contemporary Matcha.
About Ooika Labs (覆い香の研究会)
Matcha is often marketed as exotic and mysterious, which can feel overly romantic and pretentious for beginners. Ooika labs (覆い香の研究会) was created to make Matcha approachable, entertaining and hands-on, By understanding craft Matcha, we come to appreciate and preserve it.
Location
The Make Matcha at Home class will be held at Ooika at 300 Witherspoon, in Princeton NJ. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early and check-in with our Barista on duty.
Meet Your Instructor
Make Matcha at Home is guided by Ooika’s founder, Marc. Featured in Times Magazine, Vogue, Reuters News, Edible Jersey, The Daily Princetonian and more. His interest in Matcha began in 2017 while living in Kyoto, Japan.
Today Marc maintains deep and direct relationships with some of Japan’s most prized Matcha producers and their families. With a particular focus on Japans’ most rare heritage Matcha, Marc is committed to sharing the beauty and preciousness of fine Matcha.
