Tea - Clay - Joy
The Way of Tea Bowl
2027
6 days creative workshop with tea, clay, water and fire
June 2026 | Střížovice near Jindřichův Hradec, CZ |
For tea lovers and professionals | all workshops in English
Amidst the picturesque landscape of South Bohemia, we will consciously experience the entire journey of a tea bowl—from working with clay and wood-firing it in a kiln to the final tea gathering. We will immerse ourselves in the world of tea, master the art of its preparation, and discover what makes both this healing plant and the tea bowl so unique.
You will take home a wealth of experience, a tea bowl crafted with your own hands, and a simple tea ceremony to share with loved ones—inspiring a sense of calm and the joy found in simplicity.
Lecturers
Václav Dušek
Tea and tea aesthetics have been a part of my life for more than half of my years. In tea, I find both joy and gratitude in the ordinary. There is perhaps nothing simpler than taking a bowl, adding a few tea leaves, and pouring in hot water. Life is essentially just as simple, and tea helps me realize this truth.
Tomáš Rajnoch
For the past 16 years, I have been importing, discovering, and sharing tea in many forms – on 12 trips to China, behind a teapot at Meetea Studio, in the Tea Subscription I send out every month, with friends, and as my own healing ritual. I enjoy the atmosphere of a tea gathering and all the arts it connects, most notably ceramics and music, after tea itself. Recently, I have been exploring how tea culture can help us live healthier and more conscious lives in the 21st century.
Your comfort at the Tea Cottage will be taken care of by Maruška Rajnochová.
Tomáš Rajnoch
Tea (and Pottery)
Václav Dušek
Pottery (and Tea)
Maruška Rajnochová
Care and smiles :)
Schedule
The course is limited to just 12 participants, creating an intimate and friendly atmosphere.
It is designed for beginners, advanced enthusiasts, and professionals in both tea and ceramics, as we will experience every step of the journey toward creating a tea bowl deeply and with our whole bodies.
For the tea workshops, we can divide into two groups of six—each with an instructor—based on your experience level, ensuring we can give you our full, undivided attention.
Day 1 - Grounding
Arrival anytime after 4:00 PM
Getting acquainted with the venue over afternoon tea.
Program presentation, opening, and welcome party starting at 8:00 PM
Day 2 - Leafes in the Bowl
Morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Tea Workshop
A tea ceremony featuring loose-leaf tea in a bowl, accompanied by a lecture on tea preparation, the history of tea and tea bowls, and the art of pairing them.
Afternoon (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Introduction to Ceramic Clay
Theory: an overview of the entire creation, glazing, and firing process ahead of us. Practice: a hands-on exploration of the clay—feeling the material between our fingers and sensing its texture as we discover what it allows us to do.
Day 3 - Hands and Clay
All day, starting at 9:00 AM
Creating a Tea Bowl
We will guide you through the hand-building of a tea bowl—a beautiful process unhurried by the potter's wheel. We draw inspiration from the technique used to create, among others, the first Raku Chawan (tea bowls) for the renowned Japanese tea master Sen no Rikyu. As we shape the bowl, we will "converse with the clay," seeking form, texture, and balance—both in the clay and within ourselves.
Day 4 - Forest Inspiration
Morning (15:00–18:00)
A walk in the woods and preparation for the firing
For Friday’s bowl firing, we need wood—as well as a clear mind, focus, and energy. We will take a walk through the landscape, soak up inspiration from summer nature, and enjoy a moment of rest with a cup of tea beneath the tree canopy. On the way back, we will stretch our bodies while gathering and preparing wood for the firing.
Afternoon (15:00–20:00)
Glazing, loading the kiln, and tea
We will give the bowls a coat of natural glaze and carefully select their placement in the kiln to ensure the fire colors them beautifully. It is a leisurely process that doesn't require everyone's constant attention, allowing us to sample teas right next to the kiln at the same time.
Day 5 - Listening to the Fire
All day, starting at 9:00 AM
The Firing—or the Miracle of a Tea Bowl’s Birth
We will begin the kiln firing in the morning, a process that will last well into the night. Throughout the morning, we will gradually heat the kiln, ramping up to full intensity by evening to reach a temperature of 1,380°C and draw flames from the chimney—in short, a powerful fire that requires a delicate touch.
We will take turns tending the kiln throughout the day and night, allowing us to simultaneously prepare and enjoy tea.
Day 6 - Calm down and rest
The bowls are resting. They will cool slowly in the kiln throughout the following day and night. In the morning, we too will enjoy a well-deserved rest after a sleepless night by the kiln.
Afternoon (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Tea workshop, tasting, or an excursion into the surrounding countryside.
We’ll decide based on interest and mood.
Evening
Gathering around the Bonfire
Barbecue, music, dancing, and all the other joys of summer.
Václav and his pottery
I fire in a wood-burning kiln, using only basic glaze ingredients such as feldspar, quartz, and ash. What draws me most to this technique is its closeness to life itself. After many firings, one can anticipate certain results; yet, just as in life—where we act based on experience but are still constantly surprised—wood firing holds its own surprises.
There is little new to be invented regarding tea bowls; over the centuries, they have been perfected. At their core lies a simple, uncomplicated shape—a form defining a void. The essence of a bowl is its capacity to be filled; it is essentially a space for tea, cradled by clay. All I can add to this is my own dialogue with the material.
You can find more about my work on Instagram:
Tea Collection
You can also enjoy tea tasting outside of the workshop time - our "All You Can Drink" tea collection with many types of fresh and vintage teas as well as our rich collection of beautiful tea utensils will be freely available to you at all times.You can experience boiling water on charcoal, Yixing teapots, Czech wood-fired ceramics and other treasures.
Place, accomodation, eating
Our tea paradise is located in tiny village Střížovice near city Jindřichův Hradec, Czech republic (map).Connection by car from Prague or Brno 1 hour 50 minutes, we will try to arrange a car sharing with other participants. Train from Prague takes about 3 hours 20 minutes and you can enjoy the last part of the journey by taking a romantic local narrow-gauge railway and a short walk.
We will stay and create at our home - In a South Bohemian cottage with a beautiful garden surrounded by meadows and forests. Simple accommodation, shared kitchen, original tea room - everything is under one roof.
-
The cottage has two comfortable bathrooms and a toilet.
-
Fully equipped (not only tea :) kitchen where you can cook.
-
We provide vegetarian lunches from a great local chef, which you can order a week before the event (not included in the price).
