Lujiazui, Shanghai, China

YES! As of 22nd March 2023, Yocha Studio is officially one year old!! Happy Birthday to us, happy birthday to us, happy birthday dear Yocha…etc. (sing along, you know the tune…)  

So, what did we do to mark this auspicious day? Well, we closed a little early and invited some of our oldest and most regular customers to a little celebration right here in Yocha Studio! Apart from each other’s fascinating company, a few dozen guests also enjoyed some fine Asian dishes, plenty of tea of course - and just a drop or two of champagne. As befits any good birthday party, speeches were made, toasts were drunk – even the odd tear was shed. We didn’t expect it, but it was an emotional night. Seeing all those familiar faces that have become good friends and realising that a lot of hard work on our part and a lot of support on yours, has actually paid off (at least so far!) was quite overwhelming.

This has been quite an extraordinary year for all of us here at Yocha. We hope it has been just as exciting for all our friends, old and new, online or IRL, real or imaginary. One comment we hear from our customers again and again is that Yocha is ‘so different from anywhere else’, and we know it has become a very special place for many of you. We promise we will do our best to preserve that unique feeling, but we need your help because a big part of that special atmosphere is down to you, our very special guests.  

Just two years ago, Yocha was little more than a gleam in our founder’s eye; a year later, on 22nd March 2022, Yocha Studio became a reality with a small gathering of friends at Kungsängsgatan 5B; fast forward to now and we feel like our little business is finally walking on its own two feet! There may be the odd wobble from time to time and, given the world we live in, who knows what the future holds for any of us, but all in all we’re pretty proud of how our baby is doing. And as a little birthday bonus for us, March was officially our busiest month ever – even surpassing the Christmas season – so thanks to you all for that little birthday present!

On a slightly less happy note, we are sad to say that one of the stalwarts behind Yocha’s growth over the past year, the ever-effervescent Anna Dedukh, will be leaving the Yocha team at the end of this month. We all have our dreams and Anna is returning to follow her calling in the world of art and design! We just want to say how grateful we are to her for contributing so much to making Yocha what it is today, and we wish her the best of luck in all her exciting endeavours. Thanks Anna!       

Anna

In better news this month, our long-awaited new stock finally arrived, fresh from the belly of the beast that is the international logistics system. The latest consignment includes several items which sold out over the past few months along with some exciting new pieces we’ve added to our range, so if you’ve been waiting for that fascinating sand-painting to return or are looking for a spectacular teapot, just pop into the store or check out our website. www.yochastudio.com 

Sand Painting

Teapot丨'Southern Song Dynasty'

Incense Holder丨Fisherman

Now, abject apologies to those of you living in Sweden for daring to mention spring in the last newsletter. We really should have known better. You may recall our hope that the first signs of spring were tentatively appearing and the phrase “no doubt these will be snuffed out by snowfalls yet to come.”  Well, of course the snuffing out happened as only Sweden can snuff … at least here in Uppsala where arctic winds brought our heaviest snowfall of the year followed by some of the lowest temperatures of the entire winter. We will be more careful about tempting fate in the future.  It would appear that this year, unlike the famous Japanese anime by Chika Umino, March came in like a lamb and went out like a lion. 

March Comes In like a Lion

27 of March, snowfall in Uppsala countryside

But April, come she will, (we won’t mention anything about spring this time), and this April be sure to look out for more fabulous Yocha cultural workshops. We’ll be advertising these over the coming weeks but one that will definitely appeal to tea nerds is an introduction to what many believe is the ancestor of Matcha: Song Dai Dian Cha (宋代点茶 ) or Song Dynasty Whipped Tea. Find out more about this ancient technique, the unique flavour it produces and its relationship to the modern Matcha tea, only at a Yocha Studio near you! 

Song Dynasty Whipped Tea

And finally… if you didn’t get to see us in person for our birthday bash don’t be too upset, there’s always next year! But do check out our website www.yochastudio.com  or social media channels for news on our recently arrived stock including previously sold-out items and plenty of cool new products available for purchase online – all with delivery to your door.

Till next month (don't mention the war!)

The Yocha Team.

Teapot丨Crane