Japanese Tea Ceremony

Yesterday I had the awesome opportunity to attend a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony.  Most of you are probably laughing because if you know me, you know I absolutely detest tea.  Sun tea, iced tea, hot tea, sweet tea, chai tea...it doesn't matter. I seriously dislike tea.  But - I am a sucker for cultural experiences and I have been wanting to do this tour since I arrived on island (almost a year ago...!!!).  So I jumped at the first chance I got with my friend Jennifer.

The tea ceremony was held at this woman's home in her tatami room. She has visited 27 different countries to teach others about tea ceremonies and travels to Taiwan almost every month to perform them as well.  Tea ceremonies are typically performed by the Japanese at the change of every season, always for the New Year, and also when there is an important event to celebrate. They usually have a guest of honor with the other guests there as just observers, helping to celebrate.  They have strong roots in Buddhism, but this woman is a Christian and so incorporates Christianity into her ceremonies.  You'll notice her collar...she is actually a pastor, along with her husband, who doubles as a well-known doctor here.

First, we walked through the "zen" garden...lots of bamboo and beautiful plants. Then we washed our hands and mouth in the water to cleanse and purify ourselves.  Japanese tea ceremonies are all about purity, harmony, peace, etc.  Purity is the most important aspect, meaning both in mind and body. As our "sensei" (teacher) said, your heart must be pure as well.

Next, we took off our shoes (Japanese never wear shoes inside, and especially not when eating/drinking - this goes for a majority of the restaurants here on the island as well) and then crawled through this "doorway" (a.k.a. very small hole...no way is it full sized!) into the tatami room.  After greetings, she chose the "guest of honor" and explained the scroll, which changes each time. Ours had the Kanji (Japanese writing) symbols for purity, harmony, etc.

Then our sensei prepared the tea, which involved grinding up tea leaves and adding them to the water, stirring, whisking, some other stuff... as previously mentioned, I don't know much about tea... then they began serving us.  Her daughter was our server and wore the traditional Japanese Kimono with an Obi around the middle.

First we were served a small treat and then the first round of tea. 

Everything is very ritualistic. If I am remembering correctly, this is how it went:  She hands you the mug, bows to you (Japanese bow all the time for everything to show respect). You return the bow, take the tea with your right hand and rest it on your left hand, turn to your neighbor and say (in Japanese) "before you", rotate the cup clockwise twice to turn the 'face' of the cup away from you, inhale the tea 3 1/2 times, rotate the cup the opposite way, wipe it off four times with this cleansing cloth thing, and hand it to your neighbor. 

Then they served us more sweets, and a second type of tea.  Now I will tell you that this is NOT any normal type of tea that we drink in the States.  We drink "British" tea and this is Japanese tea.  Didn't know there was a difference, did you?  Me either. The first tea was dark green and the consistency of a very, very thick soup.  I have no idea how to explain the taste...to me it was like spinach, maybe?  I will admit I faked the last 2 1/2 sips... I just about gagged on the first sip.  The second tea was better and lighter, but still much thicker than regular tea.  We each got our own cup of tea that time, and each was very beautiful and had a special meaning that our sensei shared with us.  My cup had "water" symbols painted on the outside, "wind" on the outside, and Kanji lettering that meant "please come again."  Other cups were gifts to her by important people (one an American General) and others were from Korea or other countries.

The whole thing was such a great experience.  I am always amazed at the way the Japanese let us into their lives and culture given the history of why we are on this island in the first place. They are such kind people!