Drinking tea together without talking is a way to slow down and be present. It opens up our senses, makes us receptive, and connects us with the tea and with each other. It takes no effort, much like listening to music. We simply attend to the tea, to our body, and to whatever arises in us.

Our host for this gathering is Florian, a tea and music lover who recently moved to Rotterdam. He will select, prepare and serve the tea. We’ll drink from small tea bowls over 3-4 rounds, and in each round you can choose to drink or sit one out. The tea is steeped briefly, so the leaves open up slowly and release different layers of flavor and aroma each time. It’s a bit like taking a journey with the tea: each round might bring something new to discover. We’ll sit in a circle on cushions on the carpet, and there’s a backrest available if you’d like one.

The tea session lasts about an hour. Afterwards there’s time to share your experience, if you feel like it. From 14:30 the space opens up to other guests, and you’re very welcome to stay as long as you like. Florian will be playing records with his good friend Matthijs for the rest of the day.