Light at the end of the tunnel Welcome to YOCHA STUDIO |
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So here we are, half-way through the second month of 2023 and the first tentative signs of spring have already arrived in Uppsala. Melting winter snows have filled the River Fyris to the brim, Christmas decorations have (mostly) disappeared and a few hardy snowdrops have even shown their heads. No doubt they’ll be snuffed out by snowfalls yet to come, but the fact that breakfast is no longer eaten in the dark and that children have a little daylight to play in after school is a sign that we’re definitely moving in the right direction. In fact in one European country (not unconnected to some members of the Yocha Team) spring is already here! St. Brigid’s Day, February 1st, traditionally marks the first day of spring in Ireland. Here in Sweden it’s a little more complicated of course. The start of spring is defined as “the first occasion on which the average 24 hours temperature exceeds zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days” – try and work that out before summer arrives! However, Ireland and Sweden do have something in common, apart from being on the opposite ends of Viking raids: both have a Saint Brigid, or Birgitta as it is in Sweden. These two holy women may actually have little to do with each other besides sharing a name and sainthood, but they have led to an abundance of Brigids, Bríds, Birgittas and Britts in each country. |
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River Fyris in Feb, Uppsala |
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February, of course, also celebrates another famous saint (and another one with an Irish connection – we’ll leave you to work that out for yourself!) - Saint Valentine. On the 14th we saw several tea loving couples taking advantage of our Valentine’s Day offer and enjoying tea for two at a special price - hope you loved it. Speaking of names, we presume that avid readers of this newsletter are all aware that Yocha is a rather idiosyncratic romanization of the Chinese words 有茶 (yǒu chá) meaning ‘there is tea’, right? Well, if not you’re aware now. And we have been living up to our name this month with a ‘blind tea tasting workshop’ featuring a range of different brews for both neophytes and seasoned tea nerds alike. While this month’s places are all spoken for, keep an eye out for future tea tasting events so that, like our knowledgeable participants, you’ll be able to amaze your friends by confidently answering ‘Yes!’ to questions such as: How many types of tea there are in China? What are the differences between them are? Can you brew and serve Kung Fu tea? Do you love Yocha? |
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Tea Blind Tasting workshop & Valentine Day in YOCHA |
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Yocha is not just about authentic tea and Asian design of course. Since we began this adventure, our most important goal has been to introduce aspects of true Asian culture to Sweden. We believe deeply that learning about and participating in cultural experiences can bring people together. And seeing the reactions on the happy faces of our guests when they first see a Kung Fu tea demonstration, taste a Japanese mochi or hold a handmade Chinese teapot has only strengthened that belief. This is why our workshops are so important to us and what helps us to get up in the morning. And apart from all that – it’s just great fun! And for even more fun, we’ll be holding another of our popular Mahjong workshops this month where you can sip Chinese tea as you attempt to outwit your opponents in this addictive game that combines luck and skill, all the while listening to the mesmerizing clacking of the Mahjong tiles – a true teahouse experience! |
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Finally, in more good news, we’re expecting a new consignment of authentic Asian design products to arrive at any moment. This means we’ll be restocking sold out items and introducing some stunning new pieces to our range, so keep a look out for an arrival announcement! And, as always, if you can’t get to see us in person at Yocha Uppsala (but we really wish you could), you can always check out our website www.yochastudio.com or social media channels for the latest updates on all our tea ware and original Asian design items. These are all available for purchase online – and with delivery to your door. The Yocha Team. |
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