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Portland International Tea Gathering Update
The Portland International Tea Gathering will take place October 15-20, 2025 in Portland, Oregon, USA.
For those making travel plans, we have reserved a discount block of rooms at the Cedar Tree Hotel, the site of the Tea Gathering. The link can be found here.
We are working to finalize the program, booking speakers and …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/portland-international-tea-gathering-update/
In the depths of winter, Plum season
In the winter the year I lived in Japan, people talked about plum blossoms. I was confused because I had heard that Japan was all about the sakura, cherry blossoms. But I remember walking to school in the cold, going to class in the cold, coming home in the cold and trying to stay …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/in-the-depths-of-winter-plum-season/
New Year Poetry Gathering
This year on New Year’s Day, 8 poets gathered to begin the New Year with a poetry gathering. We composed a modified linked verse. While we composed poems, people brought and brewed all kinds of tea from genmaicha to oolongs. We also shared sake to help with creativity, and pot luck lunch. One …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/new-year-poetry-gathering-2/
Return to the light
Today, December 21 is the winter solstice, the longest night, the shortest day of the year. In Portland, the sun rose today at 7:49 am, and the sun set at 4:30 pm, an 8 hour 41 minute day, a 15 hour 20 minute night. From now on the days will become longer and the …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/return-to-the-light/
Autumn activities at Issoan
This Autumn there were many tea activities for Issoan.
October 18-20, Margie traveled to New Mexico to celebrate their 20th Anniversary.
October 27, Margie visited the beautiful Hakone Gardens in California to attend the Hakone Daichakai. It was good to reconnect and meet new tea …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/autumn-activities-at-issoan/