by
Wabi-Sabi Tea in Kandos 2013
My project involved a merging of Japanese and English tea ceremonies, in a purpose-built tea house situated in the idyllic grounds of The Presbytery in Kandos. The location was divinely inspired, being a Nunnery, with a small chapel within and facing on to the Escarpment with all it’s natural beauty. In Japan the tea houses are often within temple grounds, and it seemed fitting that I should be located in the Australian equivalent.
I served a mixture of Lan-choo tea mixed with Kinkara Billy tea, a fitting blend to be savoured at both morning and afternoon tea times. This was complimented by The Dame Joan Sutherland special, a treat she purportedly liked, consisting of an iced vovo topped with whipped cream. In Japanese tea ceremonies, the sweet is eaten first, followed by the tea rituals, whereas in the English tradition, the milk and/or sugar is placed within the cup and stirred (quietly).
I was merging the 2 concepts and very relaxed about both, the Australian way, only keeping up tradition with insisting that participants remove their shoes, to sit on the authentic tatami mats.
I had numerous visitors and we shared tea from the same bowl, giving them the chance to relax, refresh and indulge in light conversation. I felt I was both giving people a gift and I was being returned one, in the shape of their extraordinary presence and insight. Someone once said that the most precious gift to give was your time, which we all shared.
[caption id="attachment_1521" align="aligncenter" width="545"]
Sarah Goffman and pj.[/caption]
On the road on the way to the Presbytery you pass an old closed down café, Aunt Betty’s TEA & COFFEE. I liked thinking that I was channeling her spirit, occupying Kandos with a nice hot tea.
My project involved a merging of Japanese and English tea ceremonies, in a purpose-built tea house situated in the idyllic grounds of The Presbytery in Kandos. The location was divinely inspired, being a Nunnery, with a small chapel within and facing on to the Escarpment with all it’s natural beauty. In Japan the tea houses are often within temple grounds, and it seemed fitting that I should be located in the Australian equivalent.
I served a mixture of Lan-choo tea mixed with Kinkara Billy tea, a fitting blend to be savoured at both morning and afternoon tea times. This was complimented by The Dame Joan Sutherland special, a treat she purportedly liked, consisting of an iced vovo topped with whipped cream. In Japanese tea ceremonies, the sweet is eaten first, followed by the tea rituals, whereas in the English tradition, the milk and/or sugar is placed within the cup and stirred (quietly).
I was merging the 2 concepts and very relaxed about both, the Australian way, only keeping up tradition with insisting that participants remove their shoes, to sit on the authentic tatami mats.
I had numerous visitors and we shared tea from the same bowl, giving them the chance to relax, refresh and indulge in light conversation. I felt I was both giving people a gift and I was being returned one, in the shape of their extraordinary presence and insight. Someone once said that the most precious gift to give was your time, which we all shared.
[caption id="attachment_1521" align="aligncenter" width="545"] Sarah Goffman and pj.[/caption]
On the road on the way to the Presbytery you pass an old closed down café, Aunt Betty’s TEA & COFFEE. I liked thinking that I was channeling her spirit, occupying Kandos with a nice hot tea.