The Tea House
To share our passion for tea and the serenity it generously bestows, we have created a Tea House dedicated to the art of tea tasting.
A place for sharing
In the heart of Alsace, unique in Europe for its design and size, the Maison de Thé has been conceived and designed to invite visitors to contemplate and meditate over a cup of tea. Surrounded by Japanese gardens and lulled by a Zen atmosphere, you'll be able to enjoy delicious teas in this calm, restful setting, and escape to another world.
In the heart of Japanese gardens
Nestled in the shelter of a bamboo grove, access to the Tea House begins with a walk through one of the six surrounding Karesansui-style Japanese gardens. In these vegetal and mineral gardens, concentric shapes traced in crushed granite represent water to evoke calm.
As tradition dictates, these gardens are intended to be viewed from a different angle from each corner of the Tea House, without ever entering it..
Rites of passage, precise gestures, simple materials such as bamboo, stone or water, pure forms and respect for the seasons in the choice of objects and decoration are all things that inspired Arlette to build the Maison de Thé. This place is brought to life by memories of all her travels and encounters in these tea countries.
In designing this site, Arlette has set up Les Jardins de Gaïa in a place that reflects her own personality. A lifelong dream, this space inspired by Japanese Zen gardens is at the crossroads of East and West. The emblematic Tea House, first and foremost dedicated to the ancestral art of tea, is also widely open to the world, to serenity, to the emergence of ideas and to the arts.
Zen gardens
Like all art, these gardens can't be explained in words, which is why we'll only briefly describe the essence of each one. We will faithfully follow the Zen motto: the finger that points to the moon is not the moon.
In all five gardens, water has been replaced by crushed granite. This form, known as "karesansui" (without water), has a very ancient origin, as demonstrated since 1494 by Kyoto's Ryoan-ji garden. These gardens are innovative: they communicate with each other, and the rocks in one garden are linked with those in other gardens, as are the plants and other elements that make them up. This multitude of links between the gardens allows visitors to build their own history with the place.
Turtle pond
Once through the entrance gate, visitors are guided along a long wooden path through the "Turtle Pond". To the right, an island of green plants with a Japanese maple tree is called Turtle Island, but does not symbolize the animal. On the left, a small island emerges from the "water", inviting visitors to imagine what it represents.
The crane garden
As soon as you enter, the second garden comes into view. Rigorously designed, it is very modern. The rock on the left suggests a crane (patience and wisdom). As a counterpoint to the black gravel tongue edged with metal, it rests on a natural island of moss in the middle of the imaginary pond (life).
The Mandolin Garden
This garden, located in front of the Japanese tea pavilion where the tea ceremony takes place, can only be contemplated from this vantage point. Although the shape of its pond evokes a mandolin, the emphasis is on the inaudible sound of this little oasis. The more you let yourself go, the more you discover. The Japanese pond enriches this haven of peace with its silent lapping.
The lake of silence
This main garden, at the heart of the gardens, is a tribute to the anonymous creators of Kyoto's Ryoan-ji garden, arguably the most famous in the world. Eight large rocks caressed by the waves rest in a granite lake. Some of these rocks, which only partially emerge from the "sea", embody four fundamental aspects of our existence: harmony, consciousness, purity of thought and action, and inner peace. From these come wisdom, honesty, foresight and decisiveness.
A ninth boulder on the hill may suggest that Sisyphus managed to leave his stone at the top of the mountain.
Full is empty (a tribute to Master Hachiro Kanno)
Full is empty, a strange statement..
A wooden plank path straddles a pond surrounded by five iris beds. Straight, man-made borders contrast with a natural bank of river gravel. A boat has run aground, marked by time and reclaimed by nature.
This setting is also a nod to the Indian Bodhidharma, founder of Zen, who lived around the year 500 (1000 years after Buddha).
This is where East and West unite in harmony..
Landscape architect :
JacobPlanung GmbH, Basel | Zürich, T +41 (0) 61 603 28 30, mail@jacob-planung.ch, Hauptadresse: St. Alban - Anlage 66, 4052 Basel - Switzerland
Dedicated to the ancestral art of tea
Our Tea House has been designed to offer you a privileged moment over a cup of tea, rooibos or herbal tea. Its Japanese Chashitsu tea room is reserved for tasting exceptional teas.
To enjoy a tea, rooibos or herbal tea in the best possible conditions, a certain number of criteria must be met. The quality of the leaves and water, the right accessories and the right preparation are all factors to be taken into account.
With the advice of our staff, you'll be able to savour our most popular references and discover our new products in our Tea House, the only one of its kind in Europe.
Tastings & tea ceremonies
For connoisseurs of fine teas, Chanoyu Japanese tea ceremonies and Gong fu cha tea tastings (the art of Chinese tea tasting) are regularly organized in the dedicated room.
Sharing and tradition on the tea path
The art of Chinese tea introduces you to gong fu cha, gaiwan or zhong and the use of the small yixing memory teapot. This traditional Chinese porcelain cup with lid, used for tasting fragile teas, allows you to follow the evolution of the tea through its various infusions.
Throughout the Japanese Chanoyu ceremony, literally "the way of tea", the tea master opens the doors to three teas and their associated rituals: matcha, a fine powder of the finest tea leaves; sencha, Japan's most distinctive green tea; and gyokuro, literally "precious dew".
Art at the Tea House
Open to the world and to the arts in all their diversity, the Maison de Thé regularly welcomes artists for exhibitions and events (tea tales, Médi'thé workshops, etc.).
The store
In the store adjoining the Tea House, visitors can see all our teas and discover the accessories we use to prepare them. It's a way of prolonging the magic and sharing it with others.
Opening hours
Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Last order taken at 5:30pm.
Contacts
Tea House: +33 (0)3 90 56 20 22
Store: +33 (0)3 90 56 20 20
Service Animation: +33 (0)3 88 85 89 69