Chadō – the way of the tea
茶道
Do you like tea? Me
too! As a Japanese Culture student I became fascinated with it
(jap. chadō, first kanji is for “tea”, second one is for “way”). The history of
the matcha, powdered green tea, goes
back to the 8th century, when it was popularized in China. This
iconic part of the Japanese culture was brought to Japan around 12th
century by Zen Buddhist monks, who cultivated it as a vital thing for the
meditation. At the end of the 16th century matcha grew in popularity
amongst samurais and elites and after that it became famous among common people. In the
21st century matcha became the mainstream product consumed around the
world not only in the tea form, but as an addition or the main ingredient in
desserts, coffee, shakes, sweets, etc.
Matcha is not just tea, it is highly aesthetic experience involving the
preparation of the tea. The tea ceremony is known as ‘Cha-no-yu’, which can be
translated as ‘hot water for tea’. The ceremony consists of many rituals, which
can be performed only by experienced tea masters. The main aim of the tea
ceremony is to clean your mind, find inner peace and spend your time in the
respectful and harmonized atmosphere with guests. Tea ceremony takes place in a
special tea house or tea room which is designed in the Japanese way. Tea
masters have to use specific tools like a tea urn and a bowl, a bamboo ladle, a scoop and a whisk.
There is a restrictive
etiquette for guests when it comes to the tea ceremony. Firstly, you have to
remove your shoes when you enter on the tatami mats (mats made of rice
straws, typical for the Japanese culture). You have to enter on your knees –
traditionally there is a low door which leads to the tea room, so there is no other
way to do it. Also there is a hierarchy in the type of the guests – you can be
the guest of honour (jap. shokyaku) or a regular one (jap. kyaku). Therefore,
the shokyaku will be the first to try matcha, kyaku the second one and so on.
If you are interested,
check this video! Remember about the subtitles ;)
Source: http://blogs.ashmolean.org/easternart/files/2017/10/Tea_Ceremony-02-S.jpg
Questions:
1. Have you ever tasted matcha? Did you like the taste of
it?
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How
was it? If not, do you want to?
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the
process of making tea?
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
Bibliography:
Louise Cheadle, Nick
Kilby, “The book of matcha”, Jacqui Small LLP, London, 2017
Comments
Yes, I have. I actually love it! But it's expensive thought. I'm also a big fan of matcha cheese cake which can be bought at LukuLus in Warsaw. Also new matcha flavoured kit kat is quite nice.
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
No, I have not had oppurtinity to do it, but I'm looking really forward to do it in future.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I think it's quite nice. There are a lot of people that think that most things are stupid, like ritual of doing matcha, drinking fancy coffee or being a fan of street wear. In my opinnion there are nothing stupid about those things.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
Yes I do. I like all of them, expect black :P Green tea after fatty meal is great. Also I like special teas for winter.
2. Once again, I had no opportunity. I think that if I can visit Japan, what I dream about, that there will be an opportunity to experience this kind of thing.
3. Indeed, tea has a specific position in the world. Probably because of its relaxing properties, it is treated exceptionally in many places around the world.
4. I like all kinds of green tea. Especially the already mentioned jasmine.
I have never tasted it and have no idea how it would taste.
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
I have never experienced the tea ceremony. I think it might be interesting to be a part of .
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I think its interesting and many small things comes into making it but I still think that it is a little bit too long. I simply boil water and put my tea pouch into it.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
I drink tea sometimes but I want to drink it with honey and some home made juice. I dont have any favourite one but I like the ones with fruits.
2. No. As if there was an opportunity why not.
3. Not my type. In my opinion it is a waste of time but I understand that someone can like it.
4. Sometimes when I'm away I drink tea to warm up. I like ordinary tea with sugar. In my opinion, tea is supposed to warm up and add energy and that's it.
I've never been to any tea ceremony but it could be an interesting experience and I would like to try it.
When something is important to somebody a ritualization process could make it even more engaging and special. It's all about experience an exceptional moment and I like this idea not only in connection with tea.
I drink tea everyday - but just a simple black one with sugar :-)
2. Again, unfortunately no, I haven't experienced the tea ceremony and as I wrote above, I would love to try it, especially I am a student at PJAIT. In the near future, I plan to fly to Japan and maybe there will be an opportunity to try matcha tea.
3. In my opinion, such ritualization of the process of making tea is a bit long and strange for me. But I fully understand that this is Japanese culture and it must be respected.
4. I think everybody drinks tea. I have tea almost everyday at breakfast and sometimes at dinner. This is my routine and my favourite tea is classic Lipton. Besides, I drink tea instead of coffee.
I would like to visit a real tea ceremony somewhere in Japan. This is a great experience, I would probably transfer something into my life.
I think rituals like tea making and others are very nice ! I would love to take part in such. I think this is very deep traditional way to pay the respects to the particular process and it may be connected with beliefs.
Yes I do drink tea, I drink green tea, black and fruit it depends what I have. Besides tea I am "into Yerba" and i love it :)
Unfortunately I haven’t tasted matcha yet, but have tried matcha KitKat and matcha cake, so I don’t know if it counts
Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to? What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I would love to participate in such ceremony, I find it really fascinating. I hope someday I would have a chance to experience this amazing ritual.
Do you drink tea? What is your favorite one?
I drink tea only during winter, so I’m not really a „tea guy” but I really enjoy it. My favorite type of tea is probably Rooibos which is type of red tea (but I think it might not be a „real” tea).
yes, I have. My girlfriend is a huge fan of matcha tea. To me it has a very interesting taste that at first I couldn’t appreciate.
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
No, I haven’t but I think that it could be a very interesting experience especially in Japan itself.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I think that ritual of making tea is deeply rooted in Japan’s culture and looking at it with layman’s eyes is something interesting and very unusual in countries of Europe.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
I rarely drink tea, mostly when it’s winter or when I am ill. Apart from that I enjoy drinking matcha from time to time.
I never took part in the tea ceremony. I saw it in movies. Due to the fact that this ceremony seems to be interesting, I would like to take part in it.
Tea ritualization is a homage to tea that is good. I do not mind such rituals. They're ok.
I think everyone once drank the tea in their lives. I also. I like raspberry tea the most.
No I didn't. But I will after your presentation 😊
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
No I didn't. I think ceremonies are boring and I just want to try a tea, not the illusion that this is happening 200 years ago.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I think that it's hard to understand tradition of Asia, but for me today it's more like an art you catlike it or not, but it's not going anywhere. For me personally this ceremonies are looking boring and outdated.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
Yeah, I do. I like classical English earl grey, but with a bit of lemon.
2. No, I haven’t experienced this kind of ceremony as a guest. I would like to experience this ceremony but only if there are some exception from rules. It’s looks long and boring, but it wouldn’t be so bad once or twice.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I don’t like this kind of ritualization it’s too bothersome and too time consuming just too drink some tea, but it’s also looks fun to experience something new.
4. I don’t drink too much tea and I don’t have any preferences I will drink whatever is served.
2. No, I have never experienced any kind of tea ceremony but it surely would be interesting to take part in one
3. It seems to me that if done right, the ritual serves this purpose through the exquisite form. If done wrong, it can be just formal for the sake of it, lacking real joy and spontaneity
4. I'm not a big tea drinker but if I have a sore throat, I'll sometimes have tea with rum and honey
No, unfortunately I haven't participated yet in such a ceremony, but it looks really amusing. I am a big fan of tea, so I would be glad if I had such an opportunity.
I think it could be quite interesting and such process could probably help you to calm down.
As I mentioned earlier, I am a big fan of tea, I usually drink black tea, but I also quite like the Chinese green tea with dry currant.
Unfortunately, I have never tasted matcha, but after that topic I would like to.
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
I never had such an experience with tea ceremony, but I have seen it at movies and videos. For me it looks so atmospheric and authentic and it is one of the first associations with China and Japan.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
In my opinion, tea ritual describes an East philosophy in the best way. It is about patience, dimensionality and wish to make everything perfectly, even tea. We should take some valuables from this philosophy - it can teach us to see beauty in simple routine things.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
I like coffee more than tea, but a huge cup of earl grey tea makes me feel cosiness and repose.
Yes, my friends and I always try different kinds of tea. Last winter I tried this tea too. To be honest, he is not bad, but I can not say that he made a fantastic impression on me. But, as they say, tastes differ!
Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
I have never attended tea ceremonies, but the next time I go to one of the eastern countries where they practice it, I will try.
What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
I think this is a very interesting cultural phenomenon. Recently, tea culture begins to cover the whole world. I think new rituals will be invented soon.
Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
I do not drink a lot of tea, only when I meet with friends, well, or at any events. From eastern teas I can advise Japanese Linden green tea.
As i mentioned, i'm a fan of tea, i can drink more than 5 cups of tea in a day and i know the difference between almost every sort of tea, so, i respect all the rituals that are somewhere connected with a tea.
My favourite tea is milk oolong, if you have never tried it, you should do it immediately!
2. No, I did not participate in the tea ceremony, but I would be happy to learn about the traditions and customs of brewing tea.
I think that this is quite interesting and provides new cultural flavors
3. What I think about this ritual. It's hard to say, reading your article seemed to me very strange but also interesting.
4. Tea drinks rarely more coffee, but I love to drink yerba mate. You can not call it tea, but it also has a brewing title :)
I have never tasted matcha.
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
Unfortunately, I have never been at a tea ceremony, but I really would like to have such an experience. I should be very informative and interesting.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
It looks like a very interesting process, as it is a part of history that taking roots from ancient times. I would like to know why making tea ceremony looks as we know it, what it was inspired with.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favorite one?
I drink tea very rarely and my favorite one is black tea.
Yes, I have tried it in Japan. It was more like a ceremonial, traditional experience with a much more stronger version. Once you drink it with an empty stomach it will give you quite dizzy experience.
2. Have you experienced the tea ceremony as a guest? How was it? If not, do you want to?
It was in a small restaurant in Kyoto I think.
3. What do you think about such ritualization of the process of making tea?
It's nice way to taste some culture. It allows you to enjoy moment in a slow life way.
4. Do you drink tea? What is your favourite one?
arabic with a cardamon, matcha is nice too.
2. I never had an opportunity to experience such ceremony but I'm sure I would enjoy it.
3. Some people may think it's a little bit “extra”, but personally- I believe it's important for every culture to have a ritual of their own. It gives people something to look forward to, something that unites them and almost forces them to cherish it. Something that, if not for this tradition, they could take for granted.
4. Rarely but yes, I do. Mainly just black tea served in regular teabags, unfortunately usually also in a hurry.