Rasa Tea retreat

Please note: Since this page is meant for an international audiance it's in English.

After last year's awesome tea retreat in Rasa surrounded by pristine Swiss nature, staying in centuries-old buildings in an town without roads and having a joyful time exploring the surrounding mountains while reveling in tea and teaware, we have decided to recreate the retreat this year and open it up to more people who are interested. There will be charcoal tea sessions with Peter's teas, ceramic workshops where we will explore the magic of Matteo's woodfired porcelain creations in comparison to high-end Yixing like a teapot by Hui Xiang Yun (惠祥云), which was kindly lent to us by The Essence of Tea for that purpose and plenty of time to relax and explore that most beautiful village and the surrounding mountains, enjoying the pure mountain air. There are also different water sources nearby, from which we can collect water for brewing tea. Apart from the varying implications according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), different water sources also yield different tea profiles:

• from a waterfall
• from a (slow) river
• from a rocky pond

In addition there will be vegan/vegetarian food and movement practice by Lara
If you are interested, please contact us via Instagram. Please note: Places are very limited.

Date and location

• 10th until 12th July 2026
• optional: arrival on 9th, departure on 13th
• location is Rasa in Centovalli

Program

(optional) 9th July:

• 14:00 - 18:00 arrival time
• 18:00 - 19:00 dinner
• 19:00 light introduction evening charcoal session

10th July:

• 07:00 - 08:00 morning movement practice (Ashtanga Yoga, Tai Chi/Qigong basics or personal pratices) or near mountain path walk (optional)
• 08:00 - 09:00 breakfast
• 09:00 - 12:00 morning charcoal tea session
• 12:00 - 13:00 lunch
• 13:00 - 14:00 afternoon rest
• 14:00 - 15:30 light mountain hike
• 16:00 - 18:00 ceramics and tea matching session
• 18:00 - 19:00 dinner
• 19:30 - 21:00 beer, wine and old tea tasting

11th July:

• 07:00 - 08:00 morning movement practice (Ashtanga Yoga, Taichi/Qigong basics or personal pratices) or near mountain path walk (optional)
• 08:00 - 09:00 breakfast
• 09:00 - 12:00 morning charcoal tea session
• 12:00 - 13:00 lunch
• 13:00 - 14:00 afternoon rest
• 14:00 - 18:00 longer mountain hike with tea session on the rocks and optional bath in a mountain stone pool
• 18:00 - 19:00 dinner
• 19:30 - 21:00 ceramics and tea matching evening session

12th July:

• 07:00 - 08:00 morning movement practice (Ashtanga Yoga, Taichi/Qigong basics or personal pratices) or near mountain path walk (optional)
• 08:00 - 09:00 breakfast
• 09:00 - 12:00 morning charcoal tea session
• 12:00 - 13:00 lunch
• 13:00 - 14:00 afternoon rest
• 14:00 - 18:00 tea session in the mountain with lighter hike
• 18:00 - 19:00 dinner
• 19:30 - 21:00 final evening tea gathering

(optional) 13th July:

• departure

Please note: this is a rough outline, depending on weather and group preferences changes/additions can be made, eg. a wine degustation since Matteo also is a wine expert and produces superb wine!

Costs

• ~66 CHF for provisions per day (mainly vegan/vegetarian, other options to be discussed during reservation)
• ~60 CHF (shared bathroom) - 80 CHF (private bathroom) for housing per day
• ⁠free appreciation for tea (Peter) and ceramics workshop (Matteo)

Additional information

Since the direct cable car from Verdasio to Rasa is currently under construction there are three ways how to get up to Rasa:

• 45min hike up the mountain from Bordei (Note: it's a steep and narrow, rough path with many steps - not suitable for carring much luggage)
• cable car from Bordei to Terra Veccia and then a 15min hike up to Rasa (Note: it's the same path as from Bordei but shorter so luggage capacity is also somewhat limited)
• private small cable car from Verdasio to a private estate near Rasa (shortest walk)
• a direct helicopter ride (3 seats) from Verdasio to Rasa, 90 CHF (needs to be organize din advance!)
• logistics and booking/payment will be done by Matteo, details can be discussed with him on a direct call