Step Into The World of Green Tea
A tea ceremony is a spiritual experience that takes place in a room with tatami mats and a flower arrangement or hanging scroll.
Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies use matcha (stone-ground powdered green tea). According to 8th century Zen Buddhist Eisai, matcha is the ultimate mental and medical remedy which has the ability to make ones life more full and complete. The tea ceremony is the ultimate in Japanese hospitality. There’s so much more to it than simply stirring a teapot; it’s Zen Buddhism in a cup. Intrigued? Here’s everything you need to know about “the way of tea”.
Matcha consists of a finely ground powder of the first tea leaves of the year. It has a bitter, refreshing flavor. The Japanese “way of tea” is a lot more than just enjoying drinking matcha. It is a Japanese cultural and religious rituals grounded in philosophy. .Rooted in Chinese Zen philosophy, the tea ceremony is a spiritual process, in which the participants remove themselves from the mundane world, seeking harmony and inner peace.
The utensils created through traditional craft arts, the space in the tearooms and gardens, the dishes used and the Japanese confectionery are all essential elements of the ceremony. Everything is done for the wellbeing and enjoyment of the guests. All movements and gestures are choreographed to show respect and friendship. Beautiful ceramics with seasonal motifs are hand-picked to match the character of individual guests. Even the utensils are laid out at an angle best admired from the viewpoint of the attendees.
HERE ARE SOME ETIQUETTE /TIPS FOR DRINKING JAPANESE TEA
Turn off your phone: Turn off your phone or put it on silent to avoid distractions.
Bow: When you receive your bowl of matcha, it is polite to hold it with both hands. This shows respect and appreciation for the tea. Bow to the host and say "itadakimasu" which means "I will eat/drink".
Hold the bowl: Hold the bowl with both hands, with your right hand picking it up and your left lightly touching it. As you might have noticed by now, using both hands is considered to be polite in Japan. The same principle applies to many situations, such as when pouring or being served alcoholic beverages and when giving/receiving a gift.
Rotate the bowl: Rotate the bowl clockwise so the front is not facing you.
When drinking your tea, use both hands on our cup.
Take sips: Drink the tea (while still holding it with both hands), without making any noise. If the tea is too hot, you shouldn’t blow on it. Wait until it cools downs a bit, but don’t wait too much because it could be considered rude! Take small sips and enjoy the taste. Don't drink it all at once.
Wipe the bowl: If you leave lipstick on the yunomi, use the index and thumb of your right hand to gently wipe it off. Now place the yunomi back in the saucer. When you are done drinking say “gochisousama deshita” meaning that you had a delicious treat. Wipe the rim of the bowl with your right thumb and index finger.
Return the bowl: When you are done, return the bowl to the host with the front facing them. Bow to express your gratitude.
Compliment the host: Compliment the host on the tea.
Express gratitude: Express your gratitude to the host for enjoying the tea.
Keep in mind that this is a basic explanation and it doesn’t apply to the tea ceremony. Now you only need to practice and have fun!