A cup of presence: Tea ceremony with Momoca at Restaura

Written by: Angie Silva

There are places that open portals, moments that feel like thresholds between the ordinary and the sacred.

Such was the first day at Restaura, the annual gathering in Tulum that brings together those who believe in the profound restoration of the self.

This year (May 1–4), I had the honor of attending as invited press. But beyond that, I arrived as a witness to the transformations that unfold in these spaces.

The morning gently unfolded at Ikal Hotel, Tulum. The air was fresh, and amidst the palm trees, an invisible murmur hinted that something significant was about to begin. The program spoke of rebirth and indeed, the first day of Restaura blossomed into a garden of conscious practices: yoga, movement, sacred music and silence. All intended to align what we think, say and do.

I chose to begin my day with a tea ceremony. My intuition led me to the energy of Momoca, a Japanese artist who honors the tradition of chado, the way of tea, with a presence that moves the soul.

She welcomed us at the stupa of Ikal, adorned in a traditional kimono, -a garment that seemed to float on her like a second skin- and exuded a stillness that only those who have cultivated the art of presence can sustain.

Seated before her tea utensils, she gazed at us softly and made a subtle yet powerful gesture: she invited us into silence. A mental, physical, reverential silence.

Born and raised in Tokyo, Momoca began her artistic journey in childhood, captivated by dance, art and rituals. As she shares in an interview for Peony Lovers, her connection to aesthetics and ceremony has been a constant thread in her life. She studied contemporary dance, fashion and visual arts, collaborating with renowned brands like Loewe and Stella McCartney. However, what impressed me most was not her achievements, but the way she embodies the art of living with beauty.

In her ceremony, she explained that the host always acts with delicacy, guiding the rhythm of the gathering. In Japan, the person serving tea carefully selects the first guest, who must then seek permission from the person beside them before beginning to drink. The bow before drinking is not merely a gesture; it is a silent prayer.

Afterwards, the guest admires the cup before bringing it to their lips. Indeed, the cup is part of the ritual. In Japanese tradition, tea cups -handcrafted and painted- are unique works of art. Some can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, not for their price, but for their history, texture, and the fire that shaped them.

According to the Japanese Ceramic Society, this aesthetic appreciation is part of the concept of wabi-sabi: an imperfect, transient, and deeply poetic beauty. Admiring the cup is a way of contemplating time held in the potter's hands, honoring imperfection as a portal to the eternal.

As I drank that tea, I felt a deep connection to the cacao ceremonies I have shared and received many times in my own country (México). Both hold a silent fire, a spirit invoked through simplicity. The tea cup or cacao bowl are not merely vessels; they are symbols. They are miniature altars.

I was moved to realize how much Japanese and Mexican cultures converge in these sacred drinking rituals. Both create a space for the soul. Both honor the earth, the hands that cultivate, the silence that heals.

Fourteen years ago, Momoca arrived in California for college, and life led her to a tea house garden in Oakland. There, she chose to walk the path of tea, not just as a ritual, but as a way to care for others with presence and grace. She carries deep gratitude for her teachers, Yuko Sensei and Nakagawa Sensei.

Momoca, a japanese artist

More than a tea master, Momoca is a multidisciplinary artist who weaves beauty through dance, art, music and poetry. Her presence at Restaura was like a haiku blooming in the jungle: quiet, profound and full of soul.

I left that ceremony in silence, my heart warm and with the certainty of having experienced a sacred moment.

Thus began my experience at Restaura: with a cup in my hands, an open soul and the certainty that the art of living begins with the first sip.

I'm grateful.