“Tea ceremony” with tastings for the public and music on the terrace this weekend

This Friday (May 30), Casa Pacheco Leão, in Rio de Janeiro's Botanical Garden, is promoting the “Tea Ceremony”, which will show how tea is prepared according to Chinese tradition. The public will be able to taste the drink. The event is free and takes place once a month, always on the last Friday, in two sessions, at 11am and 3pm. There are only 20 participants at each time. Tickets can be obtained at jbrj.eleventickets.com. The ceremony will be presented by teacher Li Lu, and accompanied by music by teacher Gao Chunhan, who will play the Chinese string instrument pipa.

On Saturday (31), the program will be musical, with the Duo Santoro The performance will take place on the Casa's balcony, in two sessions, at 11am and 4pm, and is also free. Formed by the cellist brothers Paulo and Ricardo, the Duo Santoro is one of the most critically acclaimed chamber ensembles in the country. The Duo's recitals showcase an eclectic range of styles, from classical to popular.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, the twins Paulo and Ricardo Santoro have been on the music scene for over 30 years. They have been part of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra since 1986 and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Symphony Orchestra since 1989, and have performed as soloists at the head of various orchestras. They have played alongside MPB artists such as Sivuca, Maria Bethânia and Gilberto Gil, as well as on albums by Guilherme Arantes, Simone, Almir Sater and Roberto Carlos, among others. They have performed all over Brazil and abroad, including a recital at Carnegie Hall in New York.

The Casa Pacheco Leão, listed by the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN), was reopened to the public in November last year after being closed for eight years. After undergoing architectural restoration, it opened the exhibition “Rota do chá́ - botanica, culture and tradition”, an immersion into the rich cultural tapestry of tea, exploring its origins, its global journey and its role in building connections between different cultures, especially between Brazil and China. The Rio Botanical Garden is part of this story, as it was the first place in Brazil where the cultivation of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) was introduced, by Chinese brought by the Portuguese crown especially for this work, at the beginning of the 19th century.
At the House, visitors can see a collection of porcelain and silver tableware used for drinking tea from 12 different countries and styles, dating back to the 18th century. They can also take an emotional journey through tea rituals, with more than 100 pieces on display from different eras, styles and origins. You'll also be able to feel the differences between the various types of tea, through the subtle smells, colors and textures of the six original categories from China.
The events are free. There is no need to buy a ticket for the arboretum.

Service
“Tea Ceremony” at Casa Pacheco Leão
Day: Friday, May 30th
Times: 11am and 3pm
Free tickets at jbrj.eleventickets.com

Music at Casa Pacheco Leão, with Duo Santoro
Day: Saturday, May 31
Times: 11am and 4pm
Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008