One of the garden’s most popular events, the Pasadena Festival of Tea will be held again this year at the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden on March 31 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
With spring in full bloom in the garden, the festival will delight tea lovers and garden lovers alike. Local tea vendors will offer tastings and sales of a wide variety of teas and tea accessories. Tasting cups will be included with admission so visitors can sample Darjeeling and Assam teas, Korean herbal blends, Chinese Oolong and Puerh teas, Taiwan Oolong teas, herbal blends and flavored teas.
Tea specialists will give talks throughout the day and Dr. Bradford King, president of the Southern California Camellia Society, will give a slideshow about these delicate Asian flowers and their relationship to tea.
In the garden’s En Gallery there will be an exhibition of tea ceramics and prints by local artist, Julie Bagish, who trained in Japan and was inspired by Japanese art and tea culture.
Guests may participate in a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, enjoying the traditional tea and sweets in the Niko-an teahouse. Tea practitioner, Mikko Nakatomi, will share her knowledge of the customs behind the ancient rituals which remain an important part of Japanese culture today. (Reservation and additional charge required.)
Tickets can be purchased online for $12 or at the gate for $15. Children under the age of 12 don’t need to purchase tickets or make reservations. Reservation will close the day before the event at 5 p.m. For more information, visit JapaneseGardenPasadena.com.
