Hands-on Matcha Workshop by ochamode

Matcha, sweets, and a quiet Sunday reset in Oakland

On Sunday, November 1, Local Economy in Oakland is hosting a small morning workshop for anyone who wants to learn matcha the slow and thoughtful way. It runs from 10:30 am to noon, which feels like a pretty good time to settle in with a warm bowl of tea before the day gets busy.

Local Economy has a neighborhood feel, the kind of place that works well for a calm gathering rather than a big production. This session should fit that mood nicely. Expect a table style Japanese tea ceremony, simple guidance, and space to ask questions without feeling rushed.

The workshop is led by Harue Imaizumi, a certified Omotesenke tea ceremony instructor based in Berkeley. She has studied tea in Japan and the United States, and her teaching centers on harmony, etiquette, and the small details that make a bowl of matcha feel grounded.

You will also hear from Mayuka Inaba, founder of ochamode in Berkeley. She grew up in Kikugawa, a tea growing town in Shizuoka, Japan, and brings organic matcha and green teas from farmers in that region. That local East Bay connection makes the class feel personal, with a direct line back to where the tea is grown.

Guests will learn about Japanese tea culture, matcha basics, water temperature, whisking, storage, and how to avoid clumps. Then everyone gets to whisk their own bowl and enjoy it with traditional Japanese sweets. There will also be tips for making matcha at home, including lattes.

Tickets are $60 and include the workshop, matcha during the session, sweets, and a 30g tin of ochamode Organic Okumidori Matcha from Shizuoka. There is also an $85 ticket that adds a Japanese made matcha bowl to take home. Members get $10 off.

If your matcha routine usually starts and ends with a cafe order, this is a nice chance to learn what goes into it. Details and tickets are available through the event page.

Experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony in a welcoming, hands-on workshop led by a Japanese tea ceremony instructor.
Harue Imaizumi practices and teaches the Omotesenke way of tea in Berkeley. She has studied tea in both Japan and the United States and is a certified instructor of the Omotesenke school. Through her practice and teaching, she is dedicated to sharing wa no kokoro—the spirit of harmony.
During the workshop, guests will learn about Japanese tea culture, matcha culture, and the wellness benefits of matcha, while being introduced to a table-style Japanese tea ceremony.
You’ll learn the basic principles and etiquette of Japanese tea ceremony, as well as practical tips for preparing delicious matcha at home—including matcha-to-water ratio, water temperature, and whisking techniques. You’ll then whisk your own bowl of matcha and enjoy it with traditional Japanese sweets.
The tea will come from ochamode, founded by Mayuka Inaba. Originally from Kikugawa, a tea-growing town in Shizuoka, Japan, Mayuka grew up with ocha as part of everyday life. She founded ochamode in Berkeley in 2021. Through high-quality organic matcha and green teas grown by farmers in her home region of Shizuoka, she shares the Japanese ocha lifestyle that nurtures well-being in both body and mind.
Program
Introduction to matcha, Japanese tea culture, and the story behind ochamode
Learn about the traditions, principles, and etiquette of Japanese tea ceremony
Experience a table-style Japanese tea ceremony demonstration
Learn about matcha and its wellness benefits
Hands-on guidance on how to whisk your own bowl of matcha
Enjoy freshly prepared matcha with traditional Japanese sweets
Practical tips for making delicious matcha at home, including matcha-to-water ratio, water temperature, whisking techniques, preventing clumps, storage, and matcha latte preparation
Q&A with the tea ceremony instructor and ochamode founder
Ticket Options
Basic Ticket — $60
Includes:
Full 75-minute workshop experience
30g tin of ochamode Organic Okumidori Matcha from Shizuoka, Japan ($32 value)
Matcha served during the workshop
Traditional Japanese sweets
Matcha Bowl Ticket — $85
Includes everything in the Basic Ticket, plus:
One Japanese-made matcha bowl to take home
Members get $10 off. Just pick the the member ticket!