A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Tea: Tea Talk with Per Oscar Brekell

If you are interested in this event, please also attend Per Oscar Brekell’s small group curated tea tasting on March 19.

Japanese tea is one of Japan’s most well known culinary and cultural exports with a history and culture that stretch back centuries. Japanese tea comes in multiple varieties from many different regions, each with unique tastes, characteristics and brewing methods—and outside of Japan, interest in Japanese tea only continues to grow.

To help you on your Japanese tea journey, Japan Society is honored to welcome Per Oscar Brekell. One of the few non-Japanese to become a certified tea expert in Japan, this highly-regarded author and authority on tea will lead a tea lecture followed by a book signing. All attendees will also enjoy a cup of green tea at the close of the event.

About Per Oscar Brekell
Per Oscar Brekell is a certified Japanese Tea Specialist, tea consultant, author and founder of tea brand SENCHAISM. Born in Sweden in 1985, Brekell developed an interest in Japanese tea during high school, something that grew into a passion that later led him to relocate to Japan. Apart from being one of few foreigners certified as a Japanese Tea Instructor, Brekell is also the first non-Japanese to be awarded a diploma for making hand-rolled sencha. After having completed an internship at the Tea Research Center in Shizuoka, he went on to work for organizations including the Japan Tea Export Council and Japan External Trade Organization, where he organized tea tours and tea classes. Now based in Tokyo, Brekell has published several books on Japanese tea in multiple languages and presented his classes in 15 countries throughout the globe. In 2018, he set up his own business and founded his own tea brand, SENCHAISM. With the focus on single-estate sencha, Brekell’s aim is to find the most unique taste experiences Japanese tea has to offer.

About Oscar’s Book
Do you know the difference between a bancha and a hojicha? How to brew the perfect matcha? A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Tea: Selecting and Brewing the Perfect Cup of Sencha, Matcha, and Other Japanese Teas will help you. Japanese tea expert Oscar Brekell is one of the few foreigners to complete the difficult training in Japan as a tea instructor. Now, with this book, he shares the insights he’s gleaned from a career dedicated to preparing this ancient beverage. The book includes: a visual guide to help you understand everything from how tea is picked and processed to the physical and mental health benefits that come from drinking it; a tour of Japan’s main tea-growing regions; an introduction to top-grade premium and single-estate Japanese teas; a detailed guide to brewing Japanese teas; an in-depth look at traditional Japanese teapots and teacups; and a curated selection of teas suitable for home brewing and serving in various situations.

Autographs and Book Sales
Attendees will be able to purchase copies of A Beginner’s Guide to Green Tea at this event or bring books from home for a signing session following the talk.

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Japan Society’s 120th anniversary initiatives and related programs are generously supported by Champion Sponsor, MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Japan Society programs are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Additional support for cultural programs is provided by an anonymous donor, the Sandy Heck Lecture Fund, and Anime NYC.

Japan Society Food Events are sponsored by Kikkoman Corporation.