Peace in a Cup of Tea
17 October 2025 – 30 March 2026
An invitation to tea has always been a sign of friendship and warmth. Unlike coffee, which now dominates the world and has become a symbol of haste and routine, tea is the beverage that still allows us to enjoy a more leisurely ritual, leaving space for conversation and the joy of social interaction. A fragrant, steaming cup of tea soothes and brings people together, offering a sense of safety and comfort. This ubiquitous beverage has travelled the world for centuries, helping integrate the cultural experiences of different nations, teaching us hospitality, tolerance, and mutual respect.
Tea reached our country through unique routes. Although sometimes assumed to be related to Lithuania’s annexation and imperial heritage of the 19th and 20th centuries, our tea tradition actually dates back to the 17th century and is a testimony to strong diplomatic and cultural relations with Western Europe. Lithuania’s location at the geographical crossroads between the East and the West has resulted in unique tea traditions that developed in a particular way. This exhibition aims to present the lesser-known history of Lithuanian tea culture to the general public, show its contexts and origins, and highlight the cultural significance of tea by introducing its material, social, and spiritual heritage.
The exhibition tells the story of how tea’s arrival from China to Europe and Lithuania led to the emergence of a sophisticated continental table culture comprising luxurious tableware and refined etiquette and social customs. It became part of the life of Lithuanian nobility and gentry, and led to the development of an urban afternoon tea culture in the 20th century. Adopted by the Europeans in the 20th century and also echoed in Lithuania, the Japanese tea ceremony offered a new way of approaching social interaction over a cup of tea: the lively European way of enjoying tea during sumptuous festivities gave way to meditative oriental tranquillity and concentration. The message was spreading: more than just a pleasant pastime, tea is part of the art of living, teaching us to live in harmony with both other people and nature.
Project Manager Džiuljeta Žiugždienė
Curators dr. Marius Daraškevičius, Gražina Gurnevičiūtė
Coordinator Živilė Intaitė
Architect Tomas Valentinaitis
Designers Ieva Bastytė, Lina Bastienė
Coordinating Architects : Eglė Jagminė, Mažvydas Truklickas
Lighting Designer Mantas Markevičius
Partners: Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Ar, „Tos arbatos“, „Tea Gong“
Special Thanks To: Haruka Seto, Aldona Snitkuvienė, Tadas Šaulys, Eglė Tarvainytė, Jūratė Kaučikaitė, Milda Šiaulytienė, Dalia Bernotaitė-Beliauskienė, Monika Gedrimaitė, Dainius Labeckis, Jūratė Meilūnienė, Giedrė Uzielienė, Gediminas Mikelaitis, Vadim Šamkov, Andrius Melys, Aistė Bimbirytė, Tadas Blėdis, Vytautas Narbutas
Exhibits and digital images were loaned for the exhibition by: Embassy of Japan in Lithuania, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Šiauliai „Aušros“ Museum, Samogitian museum “Alka”, Kretinga museum, Museum of Ethnocosmology, Trakai History museum, Alexandre Vassiliev Foundation, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuanian Theater, Music and Cinema Museum, Alytus Regional Museum, Church Heritage Museum, Kaunas City Museum, National Museum of Lithuania, Maironis Lithuanian Literature museum, History Museum of Lithuania Minor, Molėtai regional museum, Panevėžys Local Lore Museum, Rokiškis Regional Museum, Živilė Bardzilauskaitė-Bergins, Daliutė Ivanauskaitė, Beatričė Kelerienė, Ernesta Pauplienė, Dormantė Penkinski, Ingė Talmantienė
Organiser: Museum of Applied Arts and Design
- Purchase an e-ticket for this exhibition
- Book a guided tour by phone +370 5 212 1813, +370 5 262 8080
- Plan your visit to the Museum of Applied Arts And Design
3A Arsenalo st, Vilnius, Lithuania
+370 5 212 1813;
+370 5 261 25 48; +370 5 262 80 80.
tddm@lndm.lt
