In Japan taking tea with guests can suggest significantly more than a calming break to the day. The normal Jap Tea Rite is a particularly grand and intricate affair. The Japanese tea rite is more of a holy ritual than a friendly gathering. Each facet of the celebration is symbolic and adds great charm and meaning to this unique event.
The celebration is conducted in a room called chashitsu, found in the teahouse. Clean water symbolizing pureness is held in a stone jar called the mizusashi, and may only be touched by the host. Matcha (tea) is kept in chaire–a small ceramic container covered in shifuku (fine silk pouch) and set in front of the mizusashi. Special stands called tana are used to display the tea bowls, and differ depending on the occasion. The host enters with the chawan (tea bowl) containing a chasen (tea whisk), a chakin (a bleached white linen tea cloth) and the chashaku (tea scoop). Next to this stuff is a water jar, symbolic of the sun (yang) and a bowl, symbolizing the moon (yin). The host brings the kensui (waste water bowl), the hishaku (bamboo water ladle) and futaoki (a green bamboo rest for the kettle lid), and purifies the tea container and scoop using a fukusa (fine silk material).
The beater is washed and the tea bowl is emptied and wiped with the chakin.
For each guest, 3 scoops of tea are placed into the tea bowl. The beater is used to make a thin paste employing an adequate quantity of hot water. Further water is then added, while the paste is whisked into a thick liquid. She drinks some of the tea, wipes the edge of the bowl, and passes the bowl to the following guest.
Each guest follows this same process till all have tasted the tea. The bowl is then returned to the host, who rinses it and cleans the tea scoop and the container. A fire is then built for usa cha (thin tea), which washes the palate, symbolizing the exit of the guests from the non secular arena of tea and into the real world. Smoking articles are offered as a gesture of relaxation, but smoking does not generally occur in a tearoom. Eventually, zabuton (cushions) and teaburi (hand heaters) are offered for the comfort of the guests, and higashi (dry candy) are served. Before leaving the teahouse, guests will express their appreciation of the tea and their admiration for host’s attention to the fine art of serving tea. If you’re ever given the opportunity to attend a convention Eastern tea rite, be certain to attend. There isn’t any other experience like it.