Suki Tea in Tokyo 6th Aug-13th Aug.

This trip was my wedding trip but as with everything I do tea is usually a part of it. It was going to be a combined work and pleasure trip as Masayoshi Manda who's father owns an antiques business invited me to fly from Tokyo to Fukuoka where his business is to discuss the SUKI TEA he imports, unfortunately Samantha and I, as well as 5 other guests who flew from far reaches of the globe to celebrate our wedding, declined as we had plans to large it up in Japans capital. and we did. . . Masa and family, I'll be over to Gallery Yumeori soon.
After a very long flight and a China Air muck up we we're delayed getting to Tokyo by one night, we did get a bonus night in a top hotel in Osaka where China Air dropped us off. The mini bars were on the airline so we celebrated our arrival in Japan in style and the next day were flown to our correct destination where Samantha and I along with two friends met up with another two friends, got refreshed and hit the city. Our hotel Excel was central Shibuya, the place with the mad crossroads and quite a built up shopping and nightlife district.

I've wanted to visit Japan, especially Tokyo since my dad bought me a Japanese mask poster when I was 10. I built myself up for a feast on the senses and the The first thing that struck me as different was the architecture then the street signs, plants, weather, light, smells, tastes, fashion, mannerism's but especially the food and drink. Not so much the price, it wasn't as pricey as I'd been led to believe. Expensive but if you've ever lived in London it's not so different.


We 24 houred it visiting temples, the odd bit of random shopping and getting married in the day. By night we hit the Hyatt for cocktails and then found some random small independent bars and chatted to Tokyo locals. Every other day the same in different regions of the city....and only one marriage day.

The tea ceremony was conducted by Suzi. Suki takes it off in this instance, not Suki. She has been preparing tea like this for over 26 years. First we had our sweets, a large parmaviolet, a chewy crystallised rock and a white bean cake. I'm not selling them here but they were delicious and a well needed sweet start for what was to come.
The Matcha was prepared by gently warming the bowl. There is a certain way to master the turn of the tea bowl, the length of time to sip your first sip etc. Etiquette in a way I've never experienced and this was an informal tea ceremony. Being the groom I was served first at all times, I liked that while it lasted. I think it was a guest of honour thing. I found out that it would not be unusual to have your boss at the head table of your wedding. I suppose as a respect thing. All together the ceremony took about 30 minutes and the tea, which was from Kyoto, was so refreshing. Now i've seen it done by the master I'll start training myself.

Tokyo teahouse Suzi makes Matcha for Oscar from Suki and his wedding posse. (incl wife). Photo on the blog.

Great Taste Award Gold stars for Suki Tea Apple Loves Mint, Lemongrass and Ginger and the new Peppermint Pyramid bag, available soon on soon to be launched new website.

Suki Tea is the the best tea I´ve ever tried & the first tea which I drink without sugar to enjoy this fantastix taste! Christoph Schneller

Sale: rare books at reduced prices.
www.smallestbookshop.com

http://ping.fm/Cop5z
Click here for your chance to win £500 worth of spend at the Belfast Spring continental market in the City Hall. 28th - 31st May.

Gerat Taste Awards are go! final judging in a couple of months. Fingers crossed for Suki Tea.

http://ping.fm/20evc

Last night i made a presentation for Belfast City Council on how I started my website. We are currently on the move to a Magento style platform that makes the operations behind the scenes much easier. The presentation went very well although a bit brief but the room responded well by asking lots of questions. Namely, what would you do better next time? We now have that opportunity and with the help of Jason, Andrew and keith the website guys. We hope that Suki Tea will be recognised as a one stop shop for all tea needs and a bit more.
Launch date............soon.

http://www.smallestbookshop.com/

Another interest of mine......

http://www.smallestbookshop.com/

Rare and unique books, specialist and sometimes a bit obscure.

Something I'm doing on my weekends with my Father, he's the real collector and seller of these fine articles and I'm merely the website guy who's putting them online for him. I suppose I'm learning his trade through this too.He's been selling books as long as I've been alive...... and a bit. I also get my hands on them, some of these are stunning. A lot are so niche that I don't even understand the title. The one I would love to keep is the Adams Illustrated Panorma of History. Adams, S.C. It's about 20ft long once opened. A proper Victorian bit of history. love it.

Discount code for any suki tea drinkers. . . .enter SUKI into the discount box and receive a very generous 15% off your first order.

WHATS YOUR SWAP?
Fairtrade Fortnight is 22nd Feb – 7Th March.

For this year's Fairtrade Fortnight Suki Tae are joining Fairtrade by asking the nation to join us in The Big Swap. For two whole weeks we'll be asking you to swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. This means that every time you go shopping, you can use your wallet to make a stand.

. . . Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. (Congratulations if you have already made the swap) This means that every time you go shopping, you can use your wallet to make a stand. Visit the Fairtrade website, your home of all things swap, a hub for all your swapping needs. It tells you how to get involved, what you can swap and most importantly, how to register them. Because we need lots of swaps made. One million and one in fact. Every swap will be proof that the people of the UK want producers in the developing world to get a fairer deal.

*Buy Fairtrade Organic Green Tea *

*Buy Fairtrade Darjeeling*

*Buy Fairtrade Organic Earl Grey*

*Buy Fairtrade Breakfast Tea**Buy Fairtrade Belfast Brew*

*FAIRTRADE WEBSITE*

SUKI TEA click here to see.

Flowering Tea and teapot sold separately. blossoming hand tied tea with a flower looks amazing and tastes delicious.

I have just returned from a very romantic weekend away with Samantha to Prague.

We had set to visit lots of tea houses as it was almost 5 years ago that Samantha and i along with Annie and a few others were there and that's what we did, well Annie and I did.

The romance bit was getting engaged, almost everyone knows now so I'm okay to put this down officially but that's not the point of this story.

As I had mentioned we had set to visit lots a tea houses but didn't manage as many as i would have liked, we did have other things on our minds.

This place was just down from our hotel, Hotel Neruda, great stay! which was right underneath the castle. (Great views of the city)

Samantha wearing one of our new Sharon Hay Teacup necklace.
Our room in Hotel Neruda. . . . . and a flying cup of tea.
It was that cold in Praha that I had icicles from my chin.
Prague Original Tea house.
They had a fantastic range of tea, it would have been as inspiration to see 5 years ago when we we're researching tea houses in Prague.

Ode to Banksy. 2009. Oscar Woolley

My image of Banksy drinking tea.

Banksy was recently quoted in the Bristol Evening post why he chose the Britol Museum to show his latest work he replied "I could have taken the show to a lot of places, but they do a very nice cup of tea in the museum." The museum sells SUKI TEA.

Earthy Goodness. www.earthy.co.uk

http://www.earthy.co.uk/

I was in Edinburgh for a couple of days the other week and managed to get chatting to Pete Jackson of Earthy. Situated on Ratcliff Terrace just off Minto St (aka, north street/Nicholson st/clerk st). It's a haven of goodness. MAP

Pete showed utter enthusiasm for what him and his business partners Chris, Dirk, and Patricia do, which is source great food from passionate produceers, growers and makers. An environment has been created which food lovers will. . .well, just love. I was with another self confessed food lover, we both had a bite to eat in the cafe area which we both agreed was well above standard. I have been to a few places now that have tried to achieve what Pete and Co have fully accomplished. Can you tell that I liked it! A must visit, and yes. . .they sell all Suki Teas Fairtrade range. Apparently Fairtrade Organic Earl Grey Blue Flower is the most popular choice there.

Belfast Festival embraces tea as theme.

Belfast 'Festival of Fools' entertained everyone last weekend with a some of the worlds best street performers. In between concert going and life drawing (of sorts...see www.drsketchybelfast.co.uk) I managed to get a few photo's of the entertainers.






This image was taken in a maze in front of Belfast City Hall. I have to admit, puts a new meaning on leaf tea eh.






This chap was one part of Banjo Circus. The world's smallest banjo circus. A great show combining acrobatics, lasso, juggling and of course banjo's. For his final act . . . if you can't make out what that guy has on his head it's a teacup. On the end of his stick was a teapot. He managed to fill his teapot with water (Suki Tea may have been a little too hot), pour a cup of mock tea and proceed to balance it on his head. Sounds daft. . . it was, but fantastically funny and actually very impressive.

Afternoon Tea

DESIGNER’S SUKI TEA PARTY

New Irish Designers on the Cat Walk

A Fashion Show-Tea Party exhibiting new, cutting-edge talent from the world of Irish Fashion Design is taking place in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin on May 20th at 7.30pm all proceeds donated to Crumlin’s Childrens Hospital.


Featuring the work of graduates from all of Ireland’s fashion schools, the tea party is a chance to see a cross-section of work, the emerging trends and styles from young designers already making their mark in Ireland’s boutique and fashion industry. All handmade and 100% Irish, fashion-lovers will enjoy original designs, couture, organic and bespoke garments. Between them, they are finalists from Student Fashion Competitions, boutique managers and suppliers, fashion buyers,Stylists and independent designers, whose work is already available in some of Dublin’s coolest Fashion outlets.


Sponsored by Suki Tea, the fashion tea party guests will experience complimentary Suki teas, and scrumptious tea cakes, in an elegant yet quirky tea party environment.
TV3’s Expose will be covering the event. Provincial and national media will also be present. Kip Carroll, well known and celebrated photographer, will also be covering the show.

Britney does tea.

Not the usual tea news but Britney Spears advertising tea is a must for the news. From Pepsi to tea. If we could afford someone to advertise SUKI TEA I think I would choose Bjork. Mainly because I love her quirky look. Who do you think fits the job? email me and let me know. oscar@suki-tea.com

GG Tea is apparently from Japan, though there seems to be a distinct lack of actual information regarding the product. But if it's good enough for Britney Spears, who plugged it in a commercial some time back, then it's good enough for me.Aint pop culture wunnerful. From teaguyspeaks.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Belfast-Flash-Mob/706520403
Join Flashmob for the next event.

This Saturday Samantha and I joined some friends, along with a whole crowd of people I only know through Facebook to Belfasts first FLASHMOB freeze. We congregated at the city hall at 1pm to be briefed and 25 mins later stood frozen for exactly one minute in the centre of Victoria Square. There we're approximately 30 people who showed up but we hope that next time there will be a lot more. Join the group if you want to know where the next one is.
Brilliant fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMj3PJDxuo

Update on what I've been up to. . .

This is one of my sketches from Friday nights brilliant night out. B movie themed scantilly clad women (and men) posing for a very interesting drawing class. The night ended with a DJ. managerie, Belfast. (see website www.suki-tea.com for full story coming soon)

http://www.drsketchybelfast.co.uk/page2.htm

Next Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School 3rd May.