Japanese Culture
The Art of Japanese Tea: Wabi-Sabi and the Tea Ceremony
Talking about Japanese tea without talking about wabi-sabi usually means missing the layer that gives the ritual its depth. Tea is not just a drink.
Maison Genkai
Journal
Reflections on ritual, presence, and the objects that ground us
Recipes
Iced Matcha: 5 Recipes for Summer 2026
Summer is probably the best season to convert matcha skeptics. Once you take matcha out of the hot bowl and build it properly in iced form, it becomes...
Maison Genkai
Matcha Guides
Matcha Gift Set: The Perfect Christmas Gift
Giving matcha as a Christmas gift can be brilliant or completely forgettable. It is brilliant when the set is built around a real use case, coherent tools and...
Maison Genkai
Matcha Guides
Detox: Why No Tea “Cleanses” the Body
“Detox” is one of the most misused words in wellness marketing. It often promises that a powder, juice or short reset can somehow “clean” the body in a few...
Maison Genkai
Matcha Guides
Is Matcha a Miracle Product? (Spoiler: No)
No, matcha is not a miracle product. Sorry to disappoint you. If you landed here hoping to read that matcha would transform your health, help you lose 10 kilos...
Maison Genkai
Matcha Guides
Hojicha: The Roasted Japanese Tea Nobody Knows About (Yet)
If you've been paying attention to the Japanese tea world, you've probably heard of matcha. It's everywhere: in cafés, all over Instagram, in latte recipes.
Maison Genkai
Comparisons & Reviews
Hojicha vs Matcha: Two Teas, Two Worlds
Hojicha and matcha. Two Japanese names, two teas from the same plant, and yet two completely different experiences.
Maison Genkai
Japanese Culture
Ichigo Ichie: The Japanese Art of the Present Moment
What Is Ichigo Ichie? In Japanese, ichigo ichie (一期一会) translates literally to "one time, one meeting.
Maison Genkai
Japanese Culture
Omotenashi: Japanese Hospitality and Tea Culture
What Is Omotenashi? The word omotenashi is often translated as "Japanese hospitality," but that translation falls a bit short.
Maison Genkai