FERMATA RITUAL · PRIVATE TEA PAIRING
Tea, at your table.
A private tea-led gathering with Joel Wu, for the people you choose to bring together.
Trained at The Culinary Institute of America. Formerly in the kitchen of Le Bernardin, New York.
Private dinners · Celebrations · Brand gatherings
Book your gathering
JOEL WU · HIS APPROACH
A place for tea at the table.
Joel starts with the tea: its origin, age, roast and extraction. Food follows, in a conversation of richness, acidity and temperature.
An eight-month journey through China in 2024 took him from Dali and Weishan to Kaiping, Xinhui, Shaoxing and Hangzhou. That research, and ongoing conversations with fellow chefs, inform his Tea Alchemy Lab.
RESERVATIONS
Reserve your gathering.
Begin with a date, a place and the people at your table. Joel will follow up personally about the menu and quote.
Availability is confirmed individually. Your date is held by written agreement; no payment is taken here.
SELECTED WORK · BEIJING
Tidings from Mountain and Sea
山海有信
Dongsi Sixth Alley · Ten courses, ten teas
The tea sets the sequence.
In this ten-course gathering, Joel begins with the tea, then builds the food around it. The sequence moves from delicate flavours into greater depth, before returning to a clear, restrained finish.
- Mushrooms
- White tea & aged tangerine peel
- Lobster & rice
- Laobanzhang pu’er
Two pairings from the menu. Tea and culinary creation by Joel Wu. Menus, paper pieces and handwritten place cards by FERMATA Ritual.
THE ONGOING PRACTICE
Tea Alchemy Lab
The Sixfold Dialogue Between Tea and Cuisine
Three teas, six culinary compositions. An early iteration of Joel’s ongoing work, exploring how tea takes its place within a meal.
TEA 01
Bingdao Zen Pu’er
Lotus Destiny Pudding
Artichoke, acorn squash, yokan jelly
Crimson Jade
Kale, dragon fruit, corn silk, snow mochi
TEA 02
Lapsang Souchong
Golden Deconstruction
Beef tartare, Parmesan tuile, plum vinegar
Fungal Revelation
Dates, black trumpet mushrooms, sunchoke crisps
TEA 03
Da Hong Pao
Blossom Pyre
Strawberries, rose, French pastry layers
Ember of Dawn
Guava, pineapple, strawberry, mango
Selected works. Each gathering has its own menu, shaped around your occasion and preferences.
FROM RECENT GATHERINGS
At the table.
MADE FOR YOUR OCCASION
The shape of your table.
A private dinner at home or a considered gathering for your brand. The same personal attention, with the details agreed for each occasion.
- Tea & menu
- Joel develops the tea and food together, around your occasion and dietary needs. The menu, service scope, quote, and payment and cancellation terms are agreed before your date is confirmed.
- Place & availability
- Tell us the city and your preferred date. Availability, travel and the suitability of your home or private venue are confirmed with you before arrangements are made.
- Planning ahead
- Preparation depends on the menu and gathering size. If your date is close, email Joel before making other arrangements.
- The FERMATA Ritual details
- Menus, paper pieces and handwritten place cards can be arranged as part of the guest experience. The scope and fees are quoted for your gathering.