Matcha

Matcha products are recognized everyone these days. You see green tea ice cream, matcha lattes, or Japanese mochi desserts on various menus. But we like the pure good matcha tea. Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder, from a high-quality shade-grown tea leaves, with the characteristic bright green colour and strong umami flavour.

Powdered tea was introduced to Japan may centuries ago (sources vary between the 9th and 11th centuries), but at that time it had a brownish colour. It became popular among upper classes in the 14th century. When in Japan, you can try a good matcha at the Japanese tea ceremony, which is the preparation and presentation of match by a master, following the tradition. Both Shinto and Buddhism religions have influenced the ceremony. A good example of this influence is the step of purification of one’s hands and mouth, the process directly related to the purification required at Shinto shrines and torii gates, where there is a fountain with ladles that serve that purpose. We had the pleasure of participating a tea ceremony in Kyoto, and it felt very special. Here are the steps of the ceremony:

·      Having taken your shoes off, you enter the special tea room in silence. We wore kimonos.

·      You exchange bows and show respect

·      Purification step; you wash your hands and rinse your mouth

·      You sit in a specified order

·      The door is closed, and the host enters

·      The host cleans the utensils: the tea bowl (called chawan), bamboo tea whisk (chasen), and tea scoop

·      The host prepares the tea by putting match powder in the chawan, adding hot water, and stirring vigorously with the chasen until the tea has a nice thick foam

·      Bows are exchanged and host offers the tea to the guest

·      The guest rotates the bowl in a special way

·      The guest drinks and compliments the tea

·      The host cleans the utensils

I was quite mesmerized by the process. The silence, the movements of the host, the feeling of peace, and drinking slowly the thick liquid, all gave me a feeling of zen.

We brough matcha and chasen home and made tea. It wasn’t quite the same (I guess it was missing the decorum), but I loved it anyway. I think it will become our tradition on weekends.