Tea Ceremony

Ceremony Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder Japan Uji Kyoto with USDA JAS certified
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US $25.00

Chasen Japanese Tea Whisk Ceremony for use with Matcha
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US $8.99

Japanese Tea Ceremony Scroll Byojoshin Kore Do c872
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US $10.49

Tea Ceremony Scroll Daitoku ji NANZAN SOJU Calligraphy w box c874
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US $51.00

Tea CeremonyJapanese Pottery BIZEN Yunomi by Matsui
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US $39.99

Japanese Tea ceremony cloth cover SHIFUKU
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US $9.99

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Teahouses

Teahouses first appeared in China as simple buildings conducive to social gathering and, of course, tea drinking. Usually humble wooden houses, sometimes with extensive local decorations, they served much the same function as the modern café. In Japan, the concept was expanded to include combinations of food, Geisha girls, music, and elaborate service. Later Japanese teahouses were of two kinds, one for casual social interaction and the other for ritual tea ceremonies.

The social variety offered a selection of teas and food, often in the form of Dim Sum, a meal in the form selection of small baskets or plates and offerings of dumplings and other foods eaten with chopsticks. Different types of Dim Sum are meant to accompany various kinds of teas.

More elaborate and opulent versions of the social teahouse, called ochaya, offered a place to entertain and impress clients, have a romantic encounter, or relax in a refined atmosphere. These were constructed of fine woods or bamboo with rice paper over the slotted windows to allow light into the ochaya while remaining secluded from the outside. Many times the buildings were graced with elaborate and beautiful trees, flowers, water gardens, or koi ponds. Inside, customers sat on low cushions or covered floors at short tables in small rooms. Many ochaya of various kinds can be found today in cities throughout eastern Asia as well as in large cities the world over, and remain favorite spots of visitors and locals for evenings out.

The Japanese ceremonial teahouse is called a chashitsu (also the word for the room in which the tea ceremony occurs). A chashitsu comprises two small rooms, one in which the tea is prepared to be served, and the other where the guests are seated. The simple but elegant design of these houses stems from the original designs by Zen Buddhist monks, who constructed them from elements they had at hand, which accounts for the traditional materials such as bamboo, and straw, thatched roofs, and clay plaster walls. Parchment with sacred calligraphy adorned the interior, and, like the ochaya, the windows are covered in thin rice paper to allow light to enter. Outside, well-kept paths and gardens often surround the building. The entire atmosphere contributes to the ceremonial experience, shielding the participants from the external world and leaving them free to focus on the ritual at hand.

On approaching the chashitsu and before being admitted, guests rinse their hands and mouths with water from a stone basin, cleansing themselves physically and spiritually to prepare for the tea ceremony. The preparation of the tea (by a tea master) for the ritual is an elaborate, precise sequence of actions that takes many years to learn and perfect. The tea, in the form of a green powder, is sifted and prepared with water heated to a specific temperature, and whisked until frothy with a special bamboo implement in small, decorative bowls for each participant. Although chashitsu are traditionally public establishments, some people build their own ceremonial teahouses in their own gardens.

Contemporary teahouses can be found in many forms and all over the world. The majority are similar to the social ochaya, primarily for eating and relaxation, but there are many instances of ritualistic teahouses to be found as well, reflecting both the modern enjoyment and ancient customs of tea drinking.

To brew the best quality loose leaf tea, you’ll need teaware like cast iron teapots, kyusu teapots, or Yixing teapots.

Japanese Tea Ceremony: Tea At Koken WITH SOUND