Journal du Thé – Contemporary Tea Culture, Chapter 4

Journal du Thé (JdT) invites the reader to explore contemporary tea culture. Created and edited by Johanna Tagada and Tilmann S. Wendelstein in 2018, Journal du Thé wonders what is it that makes tea into this force which lets us slow down and grants serene moments to our lives. It is said, that what makes a teapot a teapot is the empty space inside. Likewise this publication sets out to explore space – in this case the space surrounding a cup of tea. With a curious and playful eye, Journal du Thé investigates the palette
of cultures and feelings contained within tea practices and their power to overcome borders. For us, tea is a symbol of togetherness.

In this issue:

Chapter 4 explores the presence of plants other than Camellia Sinensis in tea cultures across borders while exploring the practice and history of Chabana.

Chapter 4 features, among others, the cross-cultural pottery of Ladi Kwali, Hackney Herbal in London, the story of an eighty years old Ikebana master and teacher, Masala Cha, as a cup of heartwarming heritage, the journey of Sooji Im and her leafy Korean tea Oasis, Charlotte Perriand’s tea house, a tea diary in Thailand, a short history of tea with rice in Japan, the secrets of a tea scroll, a conversation between Makio McDonald and Peter McDonald, the playful tea vessels of Angus Suttie and, of course, another instalment of Izumi Shiokawa’s manga.

With contributions by Dr Jareh Das, Terunobu Fujimori, Kohei Yamamoto, Kazuto Kobayashi, Yashima Ide, Giesskannenmuseum, Minaki Kaneswa, Jatinder Singh Durhailay, Anne Schwable, Tekuno, Jyoti Naoki Eri, Joanna L. Cresswell, Tate Image, Clementine Loustric, Chitra Collection, Sach Dhanjal, Henriette Noermark, Ayaka Otsuka, Anna Dorothea Ker, Momoko Nakamura, Waki Hamatsu, Postcard Teas, Peter McDonald, The Estate of Ladi Kwali/York Museums Trust, Rosalind Fox Solomon, Elena Tutatchikova, Elein Fleiss, Oxford Ceramics, Maria Geyman, Izumi Shiokawa, Chino City Museum of Art, Tilmann S. Wendelstein and Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck.