Ryunohara Retreats
Tea Edition
Enter the murky world of tea, one filled with intrigue, sabotage, and smoke and mirrors. Leave the Tea Retreat with a clearer idea about what tea actually is so you don’t get played at tea shops. Enjoy our co-host’s class and sass, give your tongue a real treat.
Meet Our Co-Host
Othniel Giovanni
Tea Consultant
Tea Editions of Ryunohara Retreats are co-hosted by Othniel Giovanni, a renowned florist and tea consultant based in Jakarta, Indonesia.
With over a decade of experience, he has helped tea farmers and producers refine their techniques while also advising tea businesses on product selection, procurement, and quality control. In addition, he trains government officials and lab staff in tea appreciation at the Indonesian Tea Laboratory and Research Centre.
His expertise is also sought after by Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe—including in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands—for their tea programs.
Sample Itinerary
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Day 1
Meet up at Kii-Tanabe Station at 2pm. Shuttle to Ryunohara.
Check in to Ryunohara Hatago, meet our co-host Othniel Giovanni, introductions over a Welcome Tea
Dinner featuring seasonal ingredients at the main building, followed by tea over a charcoal fire at the irori hearth.
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Day 2
What is tea, what kinds of tea are there: An Introduction to Tea
Springtime: Learn how tea is picked and processed in a master class. You’ll taste the tea developing at each stage.
Autumn-time: Collect water from different sources (a mountain spring, a waterfall, tap water, bottled water) and brew tea in each to understand how water affects tea
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Day 3
Flowers Maketh Man. Find your self expression inspired by nature’s forms
Picnic lunch and tea by the river: Tea On the Rocks
How materials transform the tea experience
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Day 4
Pairing food with tea: Featuring local cheeses, fruits, and unexpected partnerships
Tempura lunch with tea and foraged ingredients
Nightcap: Tea as Medicine
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Day 5
Breakfast, check out at 10am
Arrive at Kii-Tanabe Station by 11am for your journey onwards.