ways of tea program

Practice
Knowledge
Attention
Culture

Four dimensions of learning
the ways of tea

Nari’s path of contemporary tea learning

The Ways of Tea Program is Nari’s ongoing curriculum for exploring tea as a healthy beverage, a spiritual practice, and a way of being, while also grounding the journey in traditional tea studies and tea science. More than a drink, tea is a practice of attention, rhythm, and relation — and at the same time, a field of knowledge shaped by centuries of observation, cultivation, craft, and cultural expression.

Each module approaches tea through multiple lenses: cultural tradition, philosophy, production techniques, social and community roles, and its contribution to well-being and balance. Participants are guided to experience tea not only as heritage, but also as a contemporary living practice that can be woven into daily life.

Whether you are a tea lover or enthusiast, a professional seeking to expand your expertise, or an artist, designer, or facilitator intending to incorporate tea into your practice, the program is designed to meet diverse needs and provide the foundations to understand and master the way of tea.

01 gaiwan series

Form
gesture
flow
expression

mastering the gaiwan step by step
— Foundation & Master Class —

Exploring the art of the lidded bowl

The gaiwan – composed of three parts: lid, bowl, and holder – is known in Chinese tradition as the Three Talents Gaiwan (三才盖碗). Each element symbolizes one of the cosmic forces: Heaven (lid), Earth (holder), and Human (bowl). Together, they embody the harmony between nature and human life, a philosophy at the heart of classical Chinese thought.

Beyond symbolism, the gaiwan is also a highly versatile brewing vessel. With a single movement of lid and bowl, it allows both freedom and precision, enabling the tea to fully express its character.

Rooted in our learnings from master practitioners — from our tea teacher master Yu, to Tea Agriculture PhD Dr. Chen, to skilled farmers and producers across Taiwan and China — 

This series invites you to explore the gaiwan as both cultural icon and practice of attention, creativity, and sensory depth.

From foundational skills to advanced mastery, you will learn how small shifts in gesture, water, and timing can completely transform the tea in your cup.

Foundation Class:
Gaiwan Essentials

4 Oct. 2025 € 65
10:00 - 13:00

3h course, beginning with an introduction to the gaiwan’s history, symbolism, and design — from the classic round bowl to the distinctive “horse-hoof” form, and from porcelain to clay, exploring how shapes and materials influence flavor and aroma. Building on this, the session moves into practical training in the fundamentals: how to hold, tilt, and pour with ease. It also introduces the basics of water lines, pouring points, and height — simple adjustments that can already shift the tea’s character. These glimpses serve as an entry into the more advanced techniques developed in the Master Class.

Reserve ➝
  • History & Culture: The origins and evolution of the gaiwan, and how it differs from Western teaware in both function and symbolism.
  • Form & Material: How porcelain, clay, and glass affect aroma and taste; exploring shapes from the classic rounded base to the distinctive “horse-hoof” form.
  • Practical Foundations: How to hold, tilt, and pour with ease; how to manage water lines, pouring angles, and height to influence flavor.
  • Sneak peek for Advanced Practice: A first glimpse of zhuan cha (leaf swirling), showing how subtle movements already shift the tea’s character — leading naturally to the explorations of the Master Class.
  • Reflection: Guided tasting and group discussion on how the gaiwan can serve as both daily tool and mindful ritual.
  • 6 persons intimate group
  • Onsite teaching at Nari Tea LAB in Kallio, Helsinki
  • Theory combined with hands-on practices and comparative studies, followed by a reflection session 
  • There will be break in between 
  • Mengding Ganlu “Sweet Dew” Green Tea
  • Alishan High Mountain Red Tea
  • Yunnan Shu Pu’er

 

Beginners and curious tea lovers, as well as those already familiar with the gaiwan who wish to uncover overlooked details.

Master Class:
Playing with Gaiwan

18 Oct. 2025 € 90
14:00 - 18:00

In this 3+1h master class, the gaiwan becomes a vessel for exploration, a precise yet playful tool: every pouring point, angle, and swirl writes a different story in the cup.

You will learn to map the gaiwan like a clock — exploring pours at 6/12, 7/5, and 3/9 o’clock — and experience how each sets the leaves into horizontal spins, vertical spirals, or a steady, anchored infusion. Through guided experiments, the same tea reveals multiple faces as you compare outcomes side by side. We will also match techniques to tea types, building a practical compass for brewing oolong, black, and pu’er.

The session culminates in a live brewing challenge (1h): each participant receives a tea they have not practiced before and must apply their skills to draw out its most vivid expression. A playful, advanced, and highly sensory way to integrate everything learned.

Reserve ➝
  • Mapping the Gaiwan: Treating the rim as a clock — practicing pours at 6/12, 7/5, and 3/9 o’clock, and observing how each sets the leaves into horizontal spins, vertical spirals, or a steady, anchored infusion.
  • Flow & Pressure: How pouring height, angle, and lid control affect aroma release, mouthfeel, and clarity.
  • Experiential Practice: Side-by-side tastings of the same tea under different pouring methods, experiencing directly how technique reshapes flavor.
  • Tea-Specific Strategies: Matching pouring styles to tea types — oolong, black, pu’er — and developing a practical compass for adapting methods.
  • Final Challenge: Each participant brews an unfamiliar tea, applying their skills to draw out its most vivid expression – a playful, advanced, and highly sensory way to integrate everything learned.
  • 6 persons intimate group
  • Onsite teaching at Nari Tea LAB in Kallio, Helsinki
  • Theory combined with hands-on practices and comparative studies (3h), followed by a challenge session where we will apply learnings to a new tea (1h)
  • There will be break in between 
  • Mengding Ganlu “Sweet Dew” Green Tea
  • Wuyi Rock Oolong – Dan Gui
  • Alishan High Mountain Red Tea
  • Mystery Tea for Challenge

Those who wish to move from familiarity to mastery, from technique to artistry.

Take one class, or join the full series to progress from foundation to mastery.

* Participants who sign up for both classes receive a basic starter gaiwan (35€ value) to begin your own practice.

Future modules will continue to expand the Ways of Tea Program, offering new pathways to engage with tea — as craft, as culture, as philosophy, and as a way of life.