Sorry, me again. I know I’m the one reached out to you, so these are a bit counterintuitive questions, but why should I take this session, and why should I do it with Heesum?

[Heesum]

I think these are very valid questions, and this is such a great topic that we’d like to share with other guests too.

Whether you are visiting Seoul for the first time or living here, learning about a country's tradition and history is meaningful, not only because you gain knowledge, but because you can learn lessons from it. I believe every country has a meaningful culture and history that we can always learn from.

We give out tips on water temperature and steep time, but more importantly, we try to help you build good habits so you can find peace and live a more enjoyable life with your loved ones. That’s exactly what the Korean tea ceremony is all about: learning etiquette not just to seem proper, but to share the joy of life with other people in harmony. It is a ritual, and it can be meditative if that’s something you need. So whether you are looking for joy or peace in life, a Korean tea ceremony can perhaps help with that.

Do you think the Korean tea ceremony is the only way to find those virtues?

[Heesum]

Of course not. Whatever makes you happy, calm, and joyous, please keep it as a habit and let it become an important part of your routine. It doesn't have to be a Korean tea ceremony, and it doesn't even need to be tea, it could be anything. We just happened to fall in love with tea and Korean traditions, so we decided to pursue our studies and research to share them with other people.

Could you tell me more about that? What do you mean by research? Isn't it just making tea? I mean, I know it's a ritual, but what is there to research?

[Heesum]

Great question. On the surface, yes, it is ‘just’ making tea. However, tea in Korea was always backed by East Asian philosophy. True peace, hospitality, and humility are not just acts, they are gestures derived from a deep understanding of philosophy.

Also, during the Japanese colonial period in early 20th centry, much of our culture was suppressed and went through culutral genocide by Japan, and we almost lost our tea traditions entirely. We restored it successfully over times but we still have to collect historical evidence and connect the dots to understand why and how people enjoyed tea across different dynasties. So, our research isn't just about finding the perfect water temperature for the best taste.

We go to school, specifically graduate degree programs focusing on tea and East Asian philosophy. We visit museums, big or small, wherever we can find relevant artifacts. When we find tiny clues here and there, we take them to professors and our peers for discussion. That is what we mean by research.

So that we can have a good conversation in a cozy place over tea with people.

Well, how do you define a "good conversation"?

[Heesum]

Polite, comfortable, liberating, and educational yet entertaining.

I'm not saying we are going to ‘educate’ you, we will educate each other together. It’s an interaction, not a one-way lecture.

Sorry, so why shoud I do this tea experience with you?

[Heesum]

For all the answers above.

If you feel like meeting us in person and sharing nice tea and having good conversation.

Right. Yes, I think this is what I’ve been looking for.

Great! Let’s meet then.

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