Workshops
Gongfu cha
A session at the Balmain shop is a quiet, guided encounter with a single tea, brewed the traditional way: in a small pot, across many short infusions.
No performance, and no ceremony for its own sake. Max pours, and we taste together.
What to expect
- The method
- Gongfu cha: a small pot or gaiwan, a generous measure of leaf, water held at the right temperature for the tea in front of you, and short infusions poured one after another. You'll see how the same leaf changes from the first steep to the tenth.
- The tea
- One tea drawn from the current range: a Yunnan white, a Wuyi rock oolong, or another leaf we think is worth your attention that day. Chosen in conversation when you book, or on arrival if you'd rather be surprised.
- The pace
- Unhurried. Around 90 minutes, give or take, depending on the tea and the conversation. Expect to sit, taste, ask questions, and notice how aroma, body and finish shift steep by steep.
- The attention
- Water, temperature, timing, vessel: each one changes what ends up in the cup. You'll leave with a working sense of the method and a clearer palate for the next cup you brew at home.
Formats
Individual lesson
One to one
A private session for one. Best if you want to go deep on a particular category — learning the rhythm of a rock oolong, say, or seeing how a Yunnan white opens up across many infusions.
Small gathering
Two to four
A private tasting around the tea table for friends, family, or a couple of curious colleagues. Quiet, conversational, and easy for first-timers.
Team experience
Up to around ten
A longer, guided tasting for a small company or team — a change of pace from the usual work day, built around the tea rather than an agenda. Get in touch to discuss what you have in mind.
Sessions run by arrangement rather than a fixed schedule. Tell us what you're after and we'll find a time.