Tea Articles — Tea Ceremony

In Japan, serving tea has been elevated to a style of ceremony that takes years to perfect. The Japanese tea ceremony dates back hundreds of years. Over the years, the tea ceremony has come to include four principles that are still at the heart of the ceremony today. Harmony, respect, purity and tranquility are all essential parts of the customary and elaborate tea ceremony performed today both in Japan and around the world. Elements Of The Tea Ceremony The tea ceremony is an ritualized serving of matcha, or powdered green tea, to guests. There are three primary schools when it...

So long as there has been tea, there have been tea "events." Thousands of years ago, the Chinese monk Lu Yu gave form and structure to Chinese tea preparation and drinking. This was just the beginning of the formality of tea. Japanese Tea Ceremonies In Japan, tea was introduced around 800 AD. Buddhist Priest Yeisei brought the beverage to the country, and had seen the benefits of a tea ceremony on religious ceremonies and activities including meditation. Thanks to his influence, tea spread rapidly through monasteries and royalty. Soon, drinking tea was elevated to a true art form still used...