There are a lot of guidelines for the tea ceremony that are all centered around politeness, respect and humility. For example, when the host gave us tea, she turned it so the "front" of the cup, the side with a nice design, was facing us. However, when we drank, we were not supposed to dirty the nice design. Therefore, we rotated the cup before drinking from it. Similarly, there are important phrases to say during the day ceremony, like "Thank you for making the tea," "I will receive the tea," and "I apologize for drinking before you." It is important to use specific Japanese words in these sentences to show respect and gratitude to the host.
The tea tasted delicious. It was thick and frothy, unlike most teas I have had, which taste like water. How did the tea become that way? I got to learn afterward when we were given the opportunity to make it. The key is in the chasen, or whisk. The whisk is made of many thin pieces of bamboo. As you use your wrist to rapidly move the whisk, the water and matcha powder passes through the pieces of bamboo, creating small bubbles. When you have created enough bubbles the drink turns into a thick, frothy beverage. I intend to buy a chasen before returning to the U.S., to see if it can froth up other drinks such as hot chocolate.
Green tea was first brought to Japan from China in the ninth century. Originally, it was mainly drunk by nobles. However, as Japan started growing its own green tea and developed its own ways of drinking it, the tea became popular among everyday people as well.
