The traditional tea ceremony also called ‘Sado’ means a lot for Japanese people. This is a perfect example of the Japanese etiquette. Even today most of the Japanese women learn these rituals at cultural centers all over the country. Study of tea ceremony takes many years and often lasts a lifetime. However it is not an everyday life activity now, as it was for many years – and it seems that the tea ceremony will not disappear from Japanese culture.

‘Sado’ or ‘cha-no-yu’ (Japanese name for tea ceremony) brought to perfection by a Japanese Master (called ‘Sen-no-Rikyuu’) in the 16th century. It is based on the traditions of Zen Buddhism, and it helps to calm your mind and soul. There are many notes written about Japanese warriors who enjoyed tea ceremony after long and tiring battles.

Tea ceremony is about learning courtesy and serving tea for the guests. Even the guests have to have knowledge of ‘sado’, including gestures and the proper way to take tea or sweets. It is held in a special tearoom covered with ‘tatami’ (bamboo mat), called ‘chashitsu’. Guests have to bow passing through the entrance door of the ‘tatami’ room. They have to leave their shoes outside. When they enter the room the host will seat them in a special order.

Utensils:

•An iron kettle and a brazier
•A jug of water
•A special bamboo made water ladle
•A ceramic tea bowl called ‘chawan’.
•A pot: you have to wash the ceramic bowl in it.
•Powdered green tea (‘matcha’) in a special container (usually with traditional Japanese motives)
•A wooden spoon (to scoop tea from the container into the bowl)
•‘Chasen’: A finely split bamboo tea whisk used to whip the powdered tea with hot water
•The host has to wear traditional Japanese kimono.

Procedure:

1. The host ritually cleanses each utensil; including the tea bowl, whisk, and tea scoop in the presence of the guests in a special order and using prescribed motions.
2. The host scoops ‘matcha’ (powdered green tea) from the container to the bowl (‘chawan’).
3. Next step is pouring hot water from the kettle gently into the bowl using the water ladle.
4. The host stirs the tea quickly but gently with the bamboo whisk. (After stirring the tea has to be frothy.) Then she/he places it in front of the guest.
5. Guest has to lift the tea bowl with right hand onto the palm of the left hand.
6. Guest has to rotate the bowl clockwise twice with the right hand.
7. He/she has to drink the tea quietly, until the bowl becomes empty.
8. After finishing it, the guest has to wipe the bowl on the side where she/he drunk - with the right hand’s thumb and forefinger.
9. Than the guest has to rotate the bowl counter-clockwise twice, than place it in front of his/her knees. Than the guest returns it quietly to the host. While he/she gives the bowl back, he/she has to say: The tea was tasty – in Japanese.

Read more about tea ceremony:

1. Okakura Kakuzo. The Book of Tea. Tokyo, Japan: Tuttle, 1977.
2. Sadler, A.L. Cha-No-Yu: The Japanese Tea Ceremony. Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962.
3. Tanaka, Seno, Tanaka, Sendo, Reischauer, Edwin O. “The Tea Ceremony”, Kodansha