Tea has been a basic drink in Japan for ages. Whereas it has taken on lots of fashionable remixes, just like the rising fame of matcha that all of us love at present, the story tea itself is among the oldest tales there’s. The earliest recognized references to tea have been made all the way in which again within the 8th century in historic Japanese texts. In Japan, tea began out as a drink for the non secular lessons as Japanese monks on missions to China introduced tea house. Within the following centuries, its attain expanded, finally changing into a staple drink for all walks of life. Furthermore, many sides of Japanese tradition fashioned round tea and meals to eat alongside tea, particularly after sencha tea was created within the 18th century. Particularly, tea ceremonies grew to become central to tea tradition in Japan.
The Japanese tea ceremony, generally known as sadō or chadō in Japanese, is a standard exercise involving the preparation and consumption of inexperienced tea, like matcha or sencha. There are two foremost households of tea ceremonies in Japan, the casual gathering, known as chakai, and the formal gathering, known as chaji. Whereas each purpose to spotlight the hospitality of the host, they differ in size and complexity. Chakai is a smaller gathering that includes a tea brewing and small, gentle snacks. A chaji is a really formal occasion that features a multi-course meal, known as kaiseki, paired with a number of teas and confections. Any such ceremony can last as long as 4 hours!
With tea, ceremonies come tea masters. As Food & Wine explains, “a tea master is to tea what a sommelier is to wine: an knowledgeable who can determine the drink’s origin, aromas, mouthfeel, and far more.” Tea masters know tea just like the again of their hand; they know teas’ traits, can pair meals completely with totally different brews, and carry out tea ceremonies. All through Japanese historical past, there have been quite a few well-known tea masters. Murata Shuko is taken into account the daddy of the “Approach of Tea” and was the primary to design a constructing devoted fully to tea ceremonies. Tea grasp Sen Rikyū established the ceremony procedures, totally elevating the follow to an artwork type. He outlined the right utensils to make use of, the teahouse structure, the rules for landscaping the teahouse grounds, and the steps of the ceremony.
Changing into a tea grasp takes time and dedication. You study every part from the flavour profiles of teas, the easiest way to organize totally different brews, and have hands-on expertise at tea estates the place the leaves are being grown and cultivated. Establishments just like the Global Japanese Tea Association and the International Tea Masters Association provide full coaching programs however are additionally at present providing digital lessons you may take from anyplace!
If you are in your solution to tea mastery, Bokksu has an awesome number of teas to get you began. On {the marketplace}, yow will discover every part from inexperienced teas to black teas and natural teas. If you happen to have no idea the place to begin, head to the Traditional Japanese Tea Bundle. This set consists of 5 conventional inexperienced teas, together with sencha, ryokucha, hojicha, and kukicha. Alternatively, you may put collectively your personal number of teas by searching our single serve-bags and loose-leaf packets, together with Higa Granny’s Sanpin Cha Jasmine Tea, Ginger & Yuzu Herbal Tea, and the Sasumarché Kagoshima Black Tea. Then, if you end up prepared, you may attempt your hand at a tea ceremony of your very personal with the Ceremonial-Grade Matcha: Unryu, derived from the distinguished Uji areas, which is understood for its matcha manufacturing. Mix this matcha with the Ceremonial Matcha Tea Starter Set, and you’ll able to go. This equipment comes with conventional teaware like a ceramic mixing tea bowl (known as chawan), a bamboo tea whisk (known as chasen), a tea scoop (known as chashaku), and a matcha powder container (known as natsume).