TRADITIONS & CULTURES (IV)

TEA CEREMONIES

Tea ceremony in Japan is a ceremonial way of preparing and drinking tea. This custom has been strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism.
The tea ceremony nowadays is a relatively popular hobby in Japan. The tea ceremony consists of many rituals that have to be learned by heart as each hand movement is prescribed.

Japanese Tea Ceremony Procedures
The steps to the ceremony are quite simple:
First up, the serving bowls is to be clean. Then, boil a pot of water. After which, serve a sweet to your guests before the tea. After serving the sweet, mix powdered bitter green tea (matcha) and water to make a frothy tea. Serve the tea to guests.
[The flavors of the sweets and bitter tea compliment each other. This is a sign of harmony.]

1.Bow when you receive the cup of tea (Chawan)
2.Take the chawan with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left hand.
3.Turn the chawan clockwise three times before you take a drink.
4.When the tea is gone, make a loud slurp to tell the host that the tea was truly enjoyed.
5.Wipe the part of the chawan where your lips touched with your right hand.
6.Turn the chawan counterclockwise and return to the host.