Tea talk with Yuko Kikuchi

In this article we talk about tea with the lovely and extremely talented artist and designer Yuko Kikuchi. Read on to find out more about Yuko’s personal tea journey …

What is your first memory of tea?

Being Japanese, tea has just always been part of my life. We always had different types of tea at home – Ryoku-cha (green tea), Genmai-cha (green tea with toasted rice), Hoji-cha (roasted green tea), plus Mugi-cha (barley tea) in the summer. And at some point black tea got added to the mix too. It was just a normal part of our meals and routines, we would drink tea after dinner or during the weekend. I even remember learning how to properly prepare tea as part of a school class in junior high school and I had access to a traditional tea ceremony house on campus.

What is your favourite tea object?

It’s hard to say, as every item I design and work on is my favourite at that moment. However, I love a good quality porcelain tea bowl. There’s something about drinking tea from a beautifully crafted vessel that just makes the tea taste better.

What is your favourite tea memory?

My most cherished tea memories are of the study breaks with my mother during the preprations for my university entrance exam. She would kindly prepare tea and accompany it with my favourite sweets, creating moments of calm during that intense and stressful time. Those quiet moments together over tea are really special to me, especially now that she’s gone.

With whom would you most like to have tea?

These days, I most enjoy having tea with my close friends. Tea seems to create a special atmosphere that enriches our precious time together.

What’s your favourite tea and food combination?

Without hesitation, it’s green tea paired with Sakura-mochi – that perfect spring Japanese sweet treat wrapped in cherry blossom leaves. This pairing captures the essence of seasonal celebration and the arrival of spring.

If the world were to end tomorrow, what tea would you drink today?

If it were my last day, I’d want to have a high-quality gyokuro green tea. The deep and rich flavour of a good gyokuro would be a wonderful way to add sweetness to and savour those final moments.