Tea Tasting

The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix is hosting a Tea Tasting on Thursday, Oct 22, as part of its wider Chanoyu, or Way of Tea, program. The garden, also known as Rohoen, is a Japanese stroll garden in downtown Phoenix with a 12-foot waterfall, koi-filled ponds, and more than 1,500 hand-selected plant species—it was once named 'Best Oasis in the Desert' in the Phoenix NewTimes Readers' Poll.

The experience centers on Musoan, the garden's traditional tea house. Inside, you'll see Japanese seasonal art and hear about the building's history before tasting a few casual Japanese teas—sencha, genmaicha, and hojicha—each paired with a Japanese sweet. After the tasting, a docent leads the group through the roji, a garden designed to reflect the history and purpose of Japanese tea culture.

It's pitched as a relaxed alternative to the formality of a traditional tea ceremony, with the focus on connection, mindfulness, and the simple pleasure of a good cup of tea. The tasting lasts about 60 minutes, and the garden offers it on Thursdays in two time slots: 9:30 AM to 11 AM and 11 AM to 12:30 PM. The Oct 22 date is one of several they run, with others on Oct 8 and Nov 5.

Tickets are $50, which covers the Tea Tour and general admission to the garden, plus a $1.75 service fee. The garden is at 1125 N 3rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003.