Maria Katrina Paras

Article (news)

Jacque & Matcha Westin Manila Workshop

<p>True to its mission of inspiring wellness in every stay, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/westinmanilahotel" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Westin Manila</a> continues to redefine the art of mindful living through immersive weekend workshops designed to enrich one’s mind and body. As part of its wellness-forward programming, the Marriott International’s five-star hotel brought the centuries-old Japanese tradition into the lineup with its latest season installment—<strong>“Feel Well: Matcha Workshop.”</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760103787140Matcha Workshop at The Westin Manila in partnership with Jacque &amp; Matcha.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">Jacque Medestomas of Jacque &amp; Matcha</span></span></span> </strong></div><p>In collaboration with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jacqueandmatcha_" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>Jacque &amp; Matcha</strong></a>, a homegrown brand founded by tea enthusiast and educator<strong> Jacque Medestomas</strong>, the session offered a refreshing invitation to slow down, savor, and rediscover calm one sip at a time.</p><p>“I’ve been drinking tea for a while, but I really got into it during the pandemic. I took a deep dive, got into learning more about Matcha and making it at home,” Jacque shared on the journey from leaf to life.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJOLxjjTA5x/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A23863571.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1203" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>What began as curiosity soon turned into a calling. Jacque immersed herself in the art of matcha, eventually joining the <strong>Urasenke Tankokai Manila Association</strong>, one of Japan’s most respected tea schools. In 2023, she traveled to Japan to learn firsthand from artisans and farmers, witnessing how tea is nurtured from delicate leaves to finely milled powder, stating, “That&#x27;s when I also discovered <strong>chanoyu</strong> or <strong>chado–tea ceremony</strong>. I’ve been practicing from 2023 until now.”</p><p>“What I find most fulfilling about my passion is I get to share the process that goes behind making matcha before it is turned into powder,” she beams. “I&#x27;ve visited tea farms and facilities and talked to farmers. It was such an eye-opening experience,” reflected Jacque. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760104796428Jacque and Matcha.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">@jacqueandmatcha_</span></span></span></div><p>As the workshop began, guests got insights on the basics of matcha from the processes, history, tea fields of <strong>Uji</strong> and<strong> Yame</strong>, to the traditional tools crafted by the last remaining families in <strong>Takayama</strong>. </p><p>Part of the learning was that creating matcha doesn’t require complicated tools. A sieve or strainer, a shaker bottle or mason jar, and quality matcha powder are enough to begin your journey. But tradition, Jacque reminded, adds meaning. </p><p>Still, honoring tradition plays a special touch—such an example is the <strong>bamboo whisk (Takayama chasen)</strong>, hand-carved from aged bamboo then harvested and cured for three to five years, which is a tool born of both art and heritage. “There are only about 13 to 14 families left making these tea tools,” Jacque explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760104879449Matcha workshop at The Westin Manila in collaboration with Jacque &amp; Matcha (1).jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>A taste of Japan in every cup</strong></div><p>What followed was a guided tasting, an exploration of matcha’s many personalities through six single-cultivar varieties and two blends, where each one revealed distinct flavor notes and textures.</p><p><strong>Seimei (Yame)</strong> is smooth, grassy, and mildly sweet, and its name translates to “pure tea,” reflecting its delicate balance and refreshing clarity. </p><p><strong>Ujihikari (Uji)</strong> has a rich, deep umami flavor with a bit of mixture of creamy and sweet profile.  </p><p><strong>Okumidori (Yame)</strong> is bright and vegetal that offers a lingering sweetness and clean finish.</p><p><strong>Yabukita (Uji)</strong> is Japan’s most common cultivar, dependable and well-balanced, known for its crisp flavor.</p><p><strong>Saemidori (Uji)</strong> is a cross between Yabukita and Asatsuyu, known for its umami depth and pleasant aroma.</p><p><strong>Asahi (Uji)</strong> is a cultivar with low yield but immense complexity, offering deep umami and subtle sweetness.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1760105158327matcha.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Then came the blends: Matcha Yuu, a luxurious hand-picked and stone-milled blend of different single cultivars—Asahi, Saemidori, Yabukita, Ujihikari, and more—complex yet harmonious, with pronounced umami and sweetness, while Yame 03 is a mixture of Yabukita and Samidori that creates a nutty, lightly astringent blend perfect for lattes but also delightful on its own.</p><p>Participants were able to compare notes and discover that even the slightest shift in water temperature or whisking technique could unveil new dimensions of flavor.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPYxE3bk5pz/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A24540628.299999997%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="857" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>As the afternoon unfolded, participants rolled up their sleeves to customize their matcha drinks and whisk their own cups, learning to master the delicate “W” or “M” motion that gives matcha its signature microfoam. The rhythm was meditative, a dance between wrist and breath, air and water. Soon, the tables were lined with shimmering bowls of green, with each one a reflection of the maker’s quiet focus.</p><p>By the end of the session, guests not only carried home new knowledge but also a renewed sense of calm.</p><div><br/></div><div><em>Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/westinmanilahotel_" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@westinmanilahotel</a> on Instagram for more wellness workshops you can join. </em></div>

<p>By the end of the session, guests not only carried home new knowledge but also a renewed sense of calm.</p>

By the end of the session, guests not only carried home new knowledge but also a renewed sense of calm.

Whisking to Feel Well: Inside The Jacque & Matcha Workshop

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Whisking to Feel Well: Inside The Jacque & Matcha Workshop

Leigh Sofia Lazo

Published October 10, 2025 10:00 PM PHT

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Updated October 10, 2025 10:08 PM PHT

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