Tea Shop Notting Hill
Welcome to Keiko Uchida at 120 Talbot Road. Our new Notting Hill tea store and gallery.
We look forward to celebrating the opening of this exciting space with you, where we are showcasing the very finest Japanese teas, together with beautiful Japanese ceramics - from studio pottery to contemporary art pieces. It’s also become the new location for our famous Japanese Tea Ceremony Workshops. Come to 120 Talbot Road, and discover the Japanese Art of Tea.
The Japanese Art of Tea
Keiko Uchida has always been obsessed with tea - everything to do with tea - ever since a child in her parents’ Tokyo home. In that strict atmosphere, she learned about tradition and quality, about the Tea Ceremony, the histories and ideas that are all part of drinking tea in Japan, and about ceramics and the skills of the potters. The Art of Tea in Japan brings you into extraordinary worlds. Worlds that allow you to touch history, spirituality, health, art, nature - as well as to enjoy wonderful tastes, and to explore new teas for many occasions and seasons.
At 120 Talbot Road, we have created one of the most extensive and exquisite collections of high-quality Japanese tea in Europe, as well as bringing together a fascinating and beautiful group of ceramics. Continuing her obsession, Keiko has been travelling frequently to different regions of Japan to visit tea farmers and potters, to work closely with the makers themselves, and to explore new creations and ideas.
Our Tea Collection
120 Talbot Road is a temple of Japanese tea. Our expert staff will be able to guide you round our extraordinary tea collection, which at the moment includes more than 30 different varieties of the very highest grade of ceremonial grade Matcha teas. We also have an exceptional range of other Japanese green teas, including Sencha, Gyokuro, Genmaicha and Hojicha Teas, with their host of different aromas and flavours. The collection will keep growing, as Keiko seeks out new teas and new tea partners on her regular visits to Japan, so there will always be new tastes and passions to discover. We believe finding and tasting new teas is rather like discovering good wine. Each region in Japan has different soil, different weather, and has its individual tea masters and unique tastes, producing unforgettable results.
The teas in our tea collection range from exceptional and specialist teas, to seasonal and day-to-day teas, suiting a range of tastes, and having a range of different price points. You can find out more information about the individual teas here.
Tea Ware
The world of Japanese tea unlocks a wealth of experiences and textures, practices and traditions, and crafts and skills. And there is a rich history of beautiful objects being created for the Japanese Tea Ceremony and for enjoyment of making and drinking different teas. With Keiko’s own extensive knowledge we have been able to build a beautiful collection of Tea Ware. From Cherry Bark Tea Caddies to Matcha Chasen (Bamboo Whisks), and from bamboo-handled Dobin Teapots to hand-thrown Kyusu (clay teapots). Bringing craft and beauty to tea in rich and wonderful ways.
Our Ceramics Collection
Alongside its collection of tea, 120 Talbot Road is a dedicated gallery of Japanese ceramics.
The experience and taste of drinking fine tea is determined by many factors, including the creation of the vessel, in which it is held, which is of enormous importance to the world of tea – and to Japanese culture. Japan today holds potters and pottery in great esteem, with the work of particular modern and contemporary artists being enthusiastically sought after. Over here, a number of these names are starting to be known amongst enlightened collectors, with certain contemporary artists becoming very popular.
Keiko’s mission is to bring the world of Japanese ceramics to a much greater audience. To shine a light on the extraordinary variety of ideas, traditions, work, themes and qualities that Japanese ceramics can offer. There are historic names – and families – of potters (such as Hamada) as well as contemporary artists (such as Akiko Hirai), both now in the V&A. Beautiful glazes and bowls as well as astonishing contemporary achievements.
On her regular travels to Japan Keiko has visited numerous potters and kiln villages, talked and discovered, and re-visted, so that many of the vessels she has now been able to present at Talbot Road are the result of close conversations with artists, or an artist’s foundation. You can find out more information about individual ceramic pieces here.
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