Japanese Tea Ceremony: More than just a cup of Tea.
- Kaveri Amin
- Jun 28
- 5 min read
Hello readers! Today I’m taking you on a really informative journey of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Everything you need to know right in one place with no bullshit. Let’s brew in!
Purpose and Philosophy
Steps of a Tea Ceremony
Tools and Setting
Cultural Significance
Modern Relevance
Final thoughts
What is a Tea Ceremony?
The Japanese Tea ceremony or Chadō 茶道 (pronounced: chah-doh) is a ritualized (spiritual, cultural & artistic) way of preparing and serving powdered green tea, popularly known as matcha. It is also called Cha-no-yu 茶の湯 which literally translates to “hot water for tea”.
The Japanese tea ceremony serves as a very important event for the Japanese. It is an important tradition in their culture, where they wear a Kimono (Japanese traditional attire) and attend the tea ceremony to savour the matcha in a special Japanese tea bowl, Chawan (pronounced: Cha-wan). One is supposed to be relaxed and admire the beauty of the ceremony, leaving all their problems as they enter the tea room.
Although the tea ceremony is deeply rooted and has shaped Japan’s culture for over four centuries, its origin traces back to China, where tea was first discovered. However, Japan has managed to make it uniquely its own, by drawing influence from China and India, especially Zen Buddhism.
Purpose and Philosophy
Tea drinking began in China among the Zen monks, who used it as a method of preventing sleep, but overtime evolved into a philosophical and poetic culture. This tea and Zen culture was introduced to Japan during the Higashiyama and Momoyama periods among the military and wealthy class. In Japanese culture it is grounded in the Wabi-Sabi (beauty in simplicity and imperfection) philosophy. It embodies the ideals of form, order and thoughtfulness and encourages mindfulness in everyday actions.
The quality of matcha used plays a huge role in taste—Always ensure that the matcha being used is ceremonial grade matcha tea for the best flavour and authentic experience. The best way to tell if it’s ceremonial grade matcha is by its color. The brighter the color, the higher the quality of matcha being used.
Steps of a Tea Ceremony
The tea ceremony is highly choreographed with each step having ritualistic meaning. There are many small steps during the Japanese tea ceremony, and the procedure may sometimes differ in various schools. However, it can be divided broadly into these 5 steps:
Initial greeting: The tea master and the guest would bow and greet each other before entering the room. This is a way of initial introduction and showing mutual respect to each other, one of the core philosophies of this ceremony.
Purification: The tea master would set down the teaware and begin to purify it. This is a way to demonstrate that the teaware is clean and pure.
Preparing the Matcha Tea Set: Once the teaware is cleaned, the tea master begins setting up for the matcha preparation. She uses a silk cloth called fukusa to open the iron pot and carefully pours hot water into the chawan (matcha bowl) to warm it up. Since the matcha bowl is made from thick clay, it needs to be preheated. Otherwise, it can quickly cool down the tea once it's poured. While the bowl is still warm, the tea master gently dips the chasen (bamboo whisk) into the water and gives it a light swirl. This softens the whisk, making it more flexible and less likely to break, as dry bamboo can be quite delicate.
After that, the water is poured out of the bowl into a waste container called kensui, and the bowl is wiped clean using a small cloth known as chakin. At this point, everything is ready for the tea to be made.
Making the Matcha Tea: Now comes the heart of the tea ceremony. The actual preparation of the matcha. The tea master scoops two heaping spoonfuls (Chashaku) of matcha powder from the natsume (tea caddy) and places them into the warmed bowl. Then, she pours a small amount of hot water (just under a full ladle) from the hishaku (bamboo ladle), letting it fall slowly to help cool the water slightly before it hits the tea powder. Using the chasen, she gently scrapes the sides of the bowl to blend the matcha and water, then whisks the mixture in a quick, zigzag motion. This technique helps create a smooth foam on top, which gives the matcha a lighter texture and a more refined taste. Once done, the tea master places the whisk aside and turns the bowl so its design faces the guest.
Drinking the Matcha Tea: Now it’s the guest’s turn to participate. While the host’s role is more involved, there are still a few customs for the guest to follow. When the bowl is offered, the guest bows silently as a sign of gratitude. They then place the bowl on the tatami mat before picking it up with both hands. Before drinking, the guest turns the bowl so that the most decorative side faces outward, allowing others to appreciate its beauty. This is a gesture of respect. Once the tea is finished, the guest sets the bowl down on the same spot where it was presented.
Tools and Setting
Image via Samurai Museum Japan (https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/) The tea ceremony usually takes place in a small tea room or Chashitsu with minimal, naturalistic decor and if possible, a specially designed garden (roji) for transformational mindfulness.
The essential tools are: tea bowl (chawan), tea whisk (chasen), tea scoop (chashaku), water jar (mizusashi), ladle (hishaku), and kettle (kama).
Cultural Significance
The Japanese tea ceremony integrated and has influenced Japanese etiquette, interior design and national aesthetic. It has bridged the gap between class, religion and art within the nation.
Modern Relevance
Even in modern Japan the tea ceremony is still taught and practiced in schools and cultural centers. It influences the modern minimalistic design and wellness philosophy. It is symbolic of the Japanese value of harmony and balance, serving as a part of heritage tourism and intercultural appreciation.
Fun Fact: Midday is said to be the proper time for the full ceremony with Kaiseki (traditional multi-course meal), but some speak of the Five Times for Tea and others of Seven. The Five Times are Midday, Morning, Dawn, Evening and Odd Times, while the Seven include one Guest Tea and After-meeting. Yo-banashi or Evening Tea.
Final thoughts
The Japanese Tea Ceremony is much more than just making or drinking tea. It’s a mindful and graceful experience that brings people together through respect, simplicity, and beauty. From its Zen roots to its influence on modern design and culture, Chadō continues to hold a special place in Japanese life. Whether you're a tea lover or just curious about other cultures, learning about this tradition offers a calming perspective on how even small, everyday moments can be meaningful.
Words in Japanese | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
茶道 (Chadō) | Chah-doh | The Way of Tea; Japanese tea ceremony |
茶の湯 (Cha-no-yu) | Cha-no-yu | Hot water for tea; another term for the tea ceremony |
抹茶 (Matcha) | maht-cha | Finely ground powdered green tea |
着物 (Kimono) | kee-moh-noh | Traditional Japanese garment |
茶碗 (Chawan) | chah-wahn | Tea bowl used for drinking matcha |
侘寂 (Wabi-Sabi) | wah-bee sah-bee | Beauty in simplicity and imperfection |
袱紗 (Fukusa) | foo-koo-sah | Silk cloth used for handling tea utensils |
茶筅 (Chasen) | chah-sen | Bamboo whisk used to prepare matcha |
建水 (Kensui) | ken-soo-ee | Waste-water container |
茶巾 (Chakin) | chah-keen | Small linen cloth to wipe the tea bowl |
棗 (Natsume) | naht-soo-meh | Tea caddy/container for holding matcha powder |
柄杓 (Hishaku) | hee-shah-koo | Bamboo ladle used to scoop water |
茶杓 (Chashaku) | chah-shah-koo | Bamboo scoop for transferring matcha powder |
水指 (Mizusashi) | mee-zoo-sah-shee | Water jar holding fresh water |
釜 (Kama) | kah-mah | Iron kettle used for boiling water |
茶室 (Chashitsu) | chah-shee-tsoo | Tea room |
露地 (Roji) | roh-jee | Tea garden/pathway to the tea room |
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