A few weeks ago, I had written about an art exhibit that Nonna Hall was hosting in her new pottery/ceramics studio and gallery shop called Hall Space in Eldred. Now she is holding another special event that is very unusual that I need to bring to everyone’s attention. Over the next several weeks Nonna will be hosting a series of events dealing with various traditional tea ceremonies from around the world starting with an Uzbekistan Tea Ceremony on May 17 followed by a Japanese Matcha themed ceremony on July 17 and a Turkish themed ceremony on September 13 will close out the series. The series will explore the cultural importance that tea ceremonies play in a nation’s culture and the traditions they uphold for future generations. The Tea Ceremony course will feature Tea Master Charles Wilkin of the 2Queens Coffee and Tea Company who has curated a line of wonderful natural teas for his company for several years and is extremely knowledgeable.

From my limited knowledge of worldwide tea ceremonies, I have always held the thought that they centered around showing guests honor and respect. This always resonated strongly with me because although I know of no specific Irish tea ceremony traditions per se, I do remember as a young child growing up in Boston with my family that we “visited” with folks we knew quite often-just stopping by to see how they were “getting on” as Grandma Helen would say. My mother, grandmother and I would always be welcomed with something to eat and drink as the elders chatted away about this and that. It was a lovely tradition that seems to have faded away these days and replaced with impersonal cafes and bars.

Nonna Hall who was born in Uzbekistan explained to me about the Tea Ceremony and that she has plans to transform a part of her gallery space into an Uzbek tearoom (a chaikhana) where tea ceremonies take place as a traditional time for conversations, sharing stories and enjoying the company of others – not unlike the “getting on” visits my mother, grandmother and I used to make to our neighbor’s kitchens so many years ago.

Nonna told me that she will be using her antique ceramic tea set for the ceremony. Before the ceremony begins, Nonna will be teaching a private pottery class for the tea attendees and help them each make a ceramic tea bowl in the form of an Uzbek piala (a small handles-less cup/bowl) Then the tea tasting ceremony will take place with Charles Wilkin providing information and the tasting of several teas with traditional snacks and highlighting the cultural implications of the tea ceremony. According to famed author Kakuzo Okakura in his work, “The Book of Tea, tea is a religion of the art of life.”  The tea tasting and bowl making class will take place at Hall Space By Nonneta located at 550 Route 55 in Eldred on Saturday, May 17 from 12-2:30pm. Reservations are required and tickets are $150 and space is very limited. For more information visit hallspaceny.com or call 845-421-7240.