EAT IN ASIA / Food destinations / Japan - japaneese food
Sadō/chadō – a traditional Japanese tea ceremony
Participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony (sadō/chadō (茶道, 'The Way of Tea')) and learn what you would need to prepare an authentic Japanese matcha tea. That is one of these experiences that you cannot skip during your stay in Japan. A tea ceremony is an obligatory point of every trip to the Country of Cherry Blossoms. (like in the title of a one-volume manga under the name 'Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms' that is written and illustrated by Fumiyo Kōno.)
What is a traditional Japanese Sadō/chadō - the tea ceremony
The Japanese sadou (sadō/chadō (茶道, 'The Way of Tea') or chanoyu (茶の湯)) ceremony would give you the most pleasure if it was in a traditional tea shop or in a specially dedicated for that tearoom. Take your friends with you and enjoy these unique moments in a beautiful place with blossoming flowers and cherry trees. Spend some hours in one of these wonderful Japanese style gardens where you would be surrounded by nature, singing birds and by perfectly shaped bonsai trees. Let yourself forget about all current duties, concerns and worries. Try to practice in meditation and sip an organic Japanese tea. Then learn more about the whole ceremony and try to practice it at home too. Thanks to that your mind will be calmed and your body will be relaxed.
Finally, buy some small packages of this Japanese organic tea and feel that unique atmosphere also at your home.
A tea ceremony is something very traditional and typical for the Japanese culture. It is a special ritual that celebrates in a wonderful way every single moment of this time. With no hurry, with no pressure and with no obligation to do anything, this ceremony allows you to fully participate in the meeting and to concentrate on what is really important in this exact moment. That means to concentrate on your soul and your mind and on all persons that you are spending these moments with. This will allow you to be grateful for every minute of your life and for the possibility of spending these moments with other persons.
Remember that according to one of the Japanese old sayings, when you meet someone, no matter whether you know this person or not, you might see him or her for the first and also for the last time. That is why you should celebrate that exact moment and appreciate the possibility of spending this time together.
What is a Japanese matcha?
Matcha is a traditional Japanese powdered tea that is used during the tea ceremony. It is finely powdered and has a bright green color.
The whole process that leads to obtaining this high-quality tea takes a couple of steps. At the beginning, young tea leaves are being steamed. During this stage, it is very important to keep them away from the sunlight. The second stage is to dry them. Here, it is worth noticing that the drying process should not include rolling these young leaves. Finally, as the last – third stage of the processing, leaves are being grounded in a stone mill. Thanks to that, a high-quality matcha has a slightly sweet taste.
Tastes and flavors found in the original Japanese matcha
Apart from the above-mentioned sweetness that can be found in matcha, this tea has some other characteristic notes. First of all, it has a soft but still a rich aroma. It is slightly bitter and astringent but as these flavors are moderate, the whole aroma of matcha is very pleasant. Finally, what is so important, matcha has this unique Japanese umami taste that is so hard to be obtained in any other way.
Benefits of the Japanese matcha
Given the fact that the original Japanese matcha is finely grinded, the whole powder can be easily dissolved in hot water. In consequence, all tea nutritional values and health benefits can be fully absorbed during drinking it.
A regular consumption of the original Japanese matcha can bring you many positive effects. Among these the most worth mentioning are dementia, obesity and cavity preventions. Then you should not forget that matcha might have an anti-aging effect and in consequence make your skin more beautiful.
What do you need for preparing a traditional Japanese matcha tea for the tea ceremony – sadō/chadō (茶道)
Chawan
The first thing that you should have, is a special tea bowl in which you will whisk matcha powder. The Japanese name for that utensil is ‘chawan’. ‘Chawan’ is also used for drinking matcha tea. The shape of this tea bowl is so designed to allow an easy movement of the ‘chasen’ to produce, this characteristic for matcha, foam. ‘Chawan’ is wide and relatively deep. Usually, the diameter if is about 12 cm and ‘chawan’s’ height is about 10 cm. Thanks to that shape, you would be able to easily whisk the tea. Vigorous ‘chasen’ movements will be controlled and the tea will not splash around. ‘Chawan’ can be replaced by a regular bowl that has an appropriate shape and size.
Actually, according to the Japanese tea ceremony, for the event only one ‘chawan’ is needed. The same ‘chawan’ is used by all participants and passed from one to another. While drinking the matcha tea, you should place the tea bowl in both of your hands, then have a sip and finally wipe the upper part of the ‘chawan’ so that is clean for the next person.
Chasen
The next thing that you should consider buying for your tea ceremony is ‘chasen’ that was mentioned above. ‘Chasen’ is a whisking utensil that nicely whisks the matcha tea. These original ones are hand-made. ‘Chasen’ should be made of bamboo and what is so incredible, it should be made from a one single piece of the bamboo. Another interesting fact about the ‘chasen’ is the number of prongs. This number should, more or less, equal hundred delicate and very thin prongs. ‘Chasen’ looks a little bit like a shaving brush. Using the original bamboo ‘chasen’ allows you to obtain this unique matcha tea texture and get this incredible foamy consistence. What is important is to keep it clean and dry after single usage to prevent the delicate bamboo from spoiling.
Instead of buying ‘chasen’ you could use any other utensil that would allow you to whisk the tea powder. It can be anything starting from a jar or a bottle and ending on a shaker. Of course, the result will not be the same as while using the bamboo ‘chasen’, however will at least slightly help you to whisk your drink.
Chashaku
Then for preparing the matcha tea you might need ‘chashaku’. ‘Chashaku’ is nothing else than a special spoon. This spoon is made of bamboo and allows you to properly measure the required amount of the matcha powder. ‘Chashaku’ has a narrow, long shape. It is delicate, slim and elegant. ‘Chashaku’ allows you to exactly use the needed amount of the matcha powder for your drink. For a single tea bowl, you would need two full ‘chashaku’, what means about 2 grams of the matcha powder.
As in the case of the ‘chasen’, you should keep your ‘chashaku’ clean after every usage. Remember also about keeping it dry. If you are using a regular spoon instead of the ‘chashaku’, that is required for an ideal matcha tea ceremony, remember to have a dedicated one that would not be absorbing any other tastes and smells that could spoil the delicate tea aroma.
Furui
Finally, you should consider buying a special tea strainer that will allow you to enjoy your tea in the perfect texture. All not whisked properly matcha tea powder clumps will stay in the ‘furui’. This ‘furui’ should have a very fine sifter that would stop the smallest, not well whisked matcha powder clumps.
Chasen kusenaoshi
Having all these utensils stated above, you might also think about a specially dedicated tool for keeping your ‘chasen’ in a proper state. Thanks to that your ‘chasen’ will stay untouched for a long time.
And what is the most important thing, a good quality original matcha tea powder will be crucial. Do not try to cut your expenses and buy the cheapest one because you will lose the whole pleasure that you should get from the traditional Japanese tea ceremony.
Learn how to make matcha tea at home! Read this easy recipe with step by step instructions and photos.
If you are curious about other tea ideas and recipes, do not miss these two posts:
Have a refreshing Thai green tea and a longan soda in Photharam - where you will be able to compare two differnt green teas - this from Japan with this one from Thailand.
How to make a Thai milk tea - step by step - recipe - in this guide you will learn how to prapare a traditional Thai milk tea that is almoast orange! Apart form that, you can always make it your style by adding your prefered milk that is either a regular cow milk or a plant milk! So, it is a great vegan drink too!
Author: Beti – A passionate traveler and lover of Asian cuisine, especially Thai and Japanese dishes, Bernadeta brings her culinary and cultural experiences to life in her writing. Beyond her travels, she’s an avid technology enthusiast with a deep interest in data processing, merging her love for exploration with analytical insights.
Photographer: Adalbert – An aficionado of computers and photography, Adalbert captures the essence of diverse cuisines with a discerning eye. A connoisseur of rich flavors and particularly fond of meat-based dishes, he combines his technical skills with his passion for the culinary arts in every shot.
