Nanzen-ji Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Shortly after I first moved to Sweden, I remember remarking to my neighbour that the weather was a little chilly for mid-August. “Ah, yes,” he replied, “not long now and winter will be here again!’ I had the sort of feeling I used to get towards the end of the summer holidays when a sadistic aunt or uncle would come out with something like, “Well, not long now till school starts again. Those fun times are over for you. Time to get your nose back to the grindstone…” and so on. In the face of my neigbour’s stoic expression my heart sank and the smile on my face froze. August? Winter? Surely it can’t be true!!

Well, it isn’t. At least it’s not quite true. This year August is still definitely a summer month and quite as hot as June or July. But next year it could just as well be autumnally chilly with grey skies and even the chance of frost. While the beginning of August itself may not always mark the end of summer, when it rolls around we know that change is definitely on the way. In Sweden, mid-August is when schools start; autumn leaves will soon be falling; T-shirts will be swapped for light sweaters; shorts and skirts will make way for warmer alternatives.  

Ceramic Tang-Ladies in YOCHA store,Uppsala

For businesses like ours this also means a change in routines and habits. 2022 has been Yocha’s first summer in Uppsala – and it has been a wonderful summer! We have had the pleasure of meeting new friends - tourists and travellers from all over Sweden and the rest of the world - and sharing with them our enthusiasm for tea and Asian culture. Now those summer visitors are leaving, it is no less a pleasure for us to welcome back from their holiday break the students, teachers, workers, and locals of Uppsala who make up our family of ‘regulars’ as they, and this beautiful city, return to the normal rhythm of life.  

Uppsala Cathedral

And changes will be coming to our store here in Uppsala too. We have new Asian design items coming into stock along with our wide range of existing products. One exciting change will be the introduction of a Yocha lunch option. This will be good news for anyone looking for a quick, healthy yet delicious lunch at a reasonable price. As Yocha is dedicated to introducing elements of Asian culture to Scandinavia we thought this should extend to our lunch also. Forget those boring sandwiches, wraps and pizza slices! From later this month you’ll be able to enjoy a typical Asian lunch of baozi (traditional meat/vegetable filled steamed bun) accompanied by Japanese tofu with edamame beans on the side, all served with a green tea genmaicha to drink.

Those cooler temperatures will of course mean a little less demand for summer favourites such as iced drinks and cooling desserts. But what about the beverage most associated with Yocha, tea? Well, the great advantage of specialising in tea is that it is, of course, a year-round drink. Cooling in summer, warming in winter - and delicious all of the time! So our unique Kung Fu Tea ceremony will be available just as it has been all year.

Yocha Lunch & New Teaware

And one more important piece of news for those living in Uppsala or planning on visiting in mid-September - don't forget Sweden’s biggest culture night, Kulturnatten Uppsala! This year, this culture-filled day of fun is being held on Thursday, 10th September with cultural events of every kind taking place all over the city. For our part, here at Yocha Studio, we will be holding Kung Fu Tea demonstrations between 11 and 18 – all welcome! 

So, what’s not to like about August after all? Just try not to feel too disappointed about the imminent end of summer and the long dark days ahead and concentrate instead on - change! There’s still plenty to look forward to…

And as usual, if you can’t make it to our physical tea shop here on Kunsängsgatan for lunch, why not make a virtual visit to our online store at  www.yochastudio.com and see what’s new for August!

Till next month, remember – a change is as good as a rest!

The Yocha Team.