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The tradition of the Tea Ceremony
The Japanese Tea Ceremony is known as Chado (茶道), "The Way of Tea", an art that forms a very important part of traditional culture in Japan.
The Tea Ceremony covers 4 aspects:
Harmony - Respect - Purity - Tranquility
It is an elegant, precise art, characterized by an atmosphere of tranquility, which transforms a simple thing, offering a Matcha tea to the participants in a beautiful handcrafted teacup, into something exceptional.
The origin of the Tea Ceremony in Japan dates back to 500 years ago: at that time it was used by Zen monks in temples and later by Samurai, after returning from the battlefield.
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Green tea used ...
Japanese green tea, used exclusively for tea ceremony, is called Matcha, in its highest quality, ceremonial grade, organic and without additives.
Matcha (tea powder) (抹茶) is a special type of green tea, made from carefully selected, stone-ground, high-quality tea leaves made into fine tea powder.
The complicated process involved in making Matcha tea is why it is more expensive than other green teas.
Matcha is grown with a process known as shading.
The tea leaves are kept for 20 days in the shade, without direct sunlight.
Thanks to this process, tea leaves increase both the level of chlorophyll and the production of L-theanine, a substance that gives tea beneficial properties for health.
For Matcha tea, only the best tea leaves are selected by growers.
The most abundant green tea production in Japan comes from the districts of Uji, Nisho, Shizuoka and Kyushu.
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The Tea Ceremony ...
the traditional tea ceremony in Japan consists of some related rituals, which can take up to 4 hours to complete.
It begins precisely at noon when the guests - Kyaku (客) gather in the Machiai (待 合) waiting room of the teahouse, where Master's Assistant Hantou (半 東) then serves a cup of hot water to the guests, to help guests relax before the ceremony begins.
Guests are often asked to remove all the jewellery before the event begins, to avoid damage to the objects used during the ceremony.
After which all guests, refreshed and ready, are invited to walk through the beautiful garden of the tea house to the main tea room. Once there, guests meet the tea ceremony master, Teishu (亭 主), they bow to each other in silence, enjoying the sounds of nature.
The meal prepared for the ceremony is known as
Kaiseki (懐 石).
It is designed to satisfy guests' appetite with simple food and warm the body. Miso soup, vegetables, rice and fish are served.
Guests are also offered sake to relax and purify the body.
After the Kaiseki (懐 石) is finished, the Master will serve the main dessert which is a very important part of the Tea Ceremony. The sweets represent the beauty of nature and the festivities of every season.
The desserts also enhance the flavor of Matcha Ceremonial tea.
There is a short break to allow guests to stretch their legs, walking out to the waiting area. Meanwhile, the Master will continue with the preparations for the next part of the ceremony, replacing the hanging scroll with flowers. To avoid speaking, Master sounds the little gong to let guests know that they can return.
Guests will purify themselves again before re-entering the tea room and admiring the new flowers.
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Ceremonial Tea Service ...
there are 2 different types of Japanese Matcha tea served during the ceremony.
The first is Koi-cha tea (濃茶) (thick Matcha tea) and the second is Usu-cha tea (薄 茶) (fine Matcha tea).
The act of making Matcha tea takes place in silence, focusing on the sounds of nature.
Once everyone starts drinking the tea, the first Sho-kyaku (正 客) guest asks the Master for the brand, maker of Matcha and the name of the dessert they tasted earlier.
Once the Koi-cha (濃茶) has been served to all participants, the host will add charcoal and burn the incense again.
The Master continues to make Usu-cha (薄 茶), but will serve a second dry dessert called Hi-gashi (干 菓子) before the second type of Matcha tea.
From now on the atmosphere is relaxed.
After all the guests have finished drinking Usu-cha (薄 茶), they can ask the Master to examine the tea utensils used during the ceremony.
As the Maestro has personally carefully chosen tea containers, tea measuring cup, Matcha ceremonial whisk and each Matcha bowl for each individual guest for the occasion, to express gratitude and respect guests enjoy looking at these utensils with extreme care not to damage them.
It's time for the Tea Ceremony to end.
Guests, leaving the tea room, will finally bow to the Master, who will greet them at the entrance to the tea room.
Article written by Vladimir Zaicek, Maria Grazia Simeone, Marco Morelli