Tea Ceremony – Icons of Japan

Also called Chanoyu 茶の湯 and Sado/Chado 茶道, the Japanese Tea Ceremony is the ceremonial art of preparing matcha 抹茶– powdered green tea. To offset its bitter taste, matcha is often enjoyed with wagashi 和菓子 which are traditional Japanese sweets.

The Sado or Tea Ceremony takes place in the Cha-shitsu 茶室– literally tatami-floored tea rooms where the seating positions of the host and guests are important. Formal wear is a must (kimono) though lately, guests may (with permission from the host) wear formal Western wear. Some places that cater to tourists allow casual clothing although this is not the norm.

Tea was introduced to Japan around the 8th century along with Buddhism . At that time, it was drunk in the form of sencha 煎茶: dried tea leaves with hot water. It was not until the Kamakura period (1185–1333) that Buddhist monks introduced the method of making matcha by grinding tea leaves into a powder . The higher caffeine content in the powdered tea leaves allowed the monks to stay awake and meditate . The traditional culture of tea ceremonies, including the necessary utensils and procedures, gradually developed over time.

Sen Rikyu 千利休 is considered the person who most profoundly influenced the wabi-cha tea ceremony わび茶– (the “beauty in simplicity” in tea) Of the many schools of tea ceremony in Japan, most, if not all, have their teachings derived from this philosophy.

There are 3 main tea schools that are descendants of Sen Rikyu : Omotesenke Biao Senjia, Urasenke Li Senjia, Mushakoujisenke Warrior Koji Senjia. Together, they are known as Sansenke or “the Three Families “

There are three essential tools to perform a tea ceremony:

Cha-wan 茶碗– Bowl to prepare matcha; It comes in many materials and patterns.

Cha-sen 茶筅– Bamboo whisk for mixing matcha; be careful not to break.

Cha-shaku 茶杓– Scoop to get the optimal amount of matcha powder; typically bamboo.

The host of the tea ceremony may use other utensils that, while not essential, can help set the mood and maintain the elegance of the ceremony.

Chakin 茶巾: a cloth to clean the bowl after the guest has drunk the matcha.

Fukusa 袱紗– A silk cloth to clean the tea spoon, tea cart and handle the teapot.

Natsume 棗– Lacquered tea box for fine tea powder.

Chaire 茶入– Ceramic tea box for less fine powdered tea.

Hishaku 柄杓– Bamboo case to draw and pour water.

Cha-gama 茶釜– Iron kettle for boiling water.

For a souvenir or special gift, you can get the most basic tea ceremony sets containing just the bowl, tea whisk, and tea spoon for a reasonable price. Matcha may come with the game. We have these options in our online store!