Previous Tea Review - Mate
The first tea discovered in China was the Green Tea as we know it today and commonly associate this tea as Japanese tea. Tea in Japan dates back as far as the 800’s. History has it that Saicho, a well known priest of his time, brought back the first tea seeds from China during a Japanese Priest Envoy to China for a Zen Buddhism pilgrimage. The origin of tea was a green form and was discovered by the Chinese during the Song dynasty and initially promoted within the medical community for the benefits to the nervous and digestion systems and used to remedy many common ailments in China. Tea soon became popular after the Japanese Emperor, Saga, had a taste and then promoted tea drinking in the Japanese culture by encouraging the growth of tea plants.
The Japanese developed their own brands of tea such as Sencha, Matcha and Bancha. Sencha (broiled tea) the most common green tea in Japan made from leaves that are exposed directly to sunlight. Matcha (rubbed tea) is a fine ground tea used primarily for special occasions and in tea ceremonies, also a very popular flavor for ice cream and other sweets in Japan. Bancha (common tea) unlike the other teas coming from tea leaves, this tea comes from the trimmings of the twigs from the tea plant. Another name referred to this tea is Aki-Bancha meaning autumn Bancha. Jasmine tea is another popular variation of the green tea with the added notes from Jasmine flowers producing a subtly natural rich, sweet flavor regarded as a less harsh tea for some tea drinkers.
Green tea has the amazing quality of aiding the body to rid itself of excess fat. During ancient times life was a real struggle and food was not so abundant and loosing body fat was not a desirable option, especially during hard times. Oolong became an alternative which is a form of Green Tea but partially fermented which reduces the effects of the fat oxidizing elements of raw Green Tea. Oolong is now one of the most popular drinks consumed in China.
Green tea is not just a simple beverage, it comes with a rich legacy of culture and tradition. A whole culture was born when tea was discovered and has woven itself into an elaborate art form over the world for centuries. From tea pots, brewing rituals, to ceremonies, tea has evolved to one of the most popular drinks in the world producing a rich commerce trade and global marketplace. Early on, merchants and manufacturers of tea and tea accessories were vying for business in the selling and the production of functional and decorative tea making equipment and the best tasting tea. Teapots of all kinds were developed in various parts of the world promoting the best cup of tea infused in specific pots with specialized processing techniques to enhance and promote the flavor and benefits of tea. One of the most famous tea pot manufacturers comes from a town in China, Yi Xingwith, famous for the purple clay in their region where they produce a beautiful purple clay teapot. Another teapot native to Japan is theTetsubin created of cast iron and crafted into handsome masterpieces with folklore designs and expressions such as dragons. These pots have become works of art and conversational pieces throughout the world and have been traded in various markets for high sums of money.
Tea ceremonies in Japan involve several dimensions such as social, aesthetics and religious aspects. These dimensions are exercised during the tea ceremonies and events.
Social gatherings have been synonymous with tea drinking since the early times and have evolved into entertaining events between hosts and guests alike in the sharing of food and drink as a gesture of friend and kinship. Informal and formal customs have originated with practices going back to the early times of tea drinking. A Chakai is an informal gathering of a small or large group which usually lasts for twenty minutes enjoying a cup of tea with a light snack or meal with friends, family and acquaintances. This event may evolve into a more elaborate event depending on the guests and may follow with an intermission with a stroll in a Japanese Tea Garden. Also there may be on occasion some ritual movement expressed, concluding the ceremony with a solemn ending and a strong thick tea overture. Tea gardens such as the Kaiyu-shiki “strolling garden” are modeled all over the world for their inspirational serene beauty coupling the tea drinking experience with nature. Compliments to the host are usually conducted in the form of the guests making a loud slurping noise at the end of the cup of tea imparting satisfaction that the tea was truly enjoyed. The formal social gathering is Chaji which brings out the finest fashions of tea ceremonies and is restricted to a small gathering of five compatible guests and lasts three to five hours. An old Japanese fable states “for no one sits down with enemies to share a meal.”
Aesthetics are considered very seriously to where the movement of sipping the cup of tea is choreographed to the granular level of a finger position when holding the cup of tea. The food prepared is a masterpiece of art that mesmerizes you with the tranquil beauty and serenity that feeds both the body and soul. The Japanese have a traditional saying “food must be tasted with the eyes before the mouth enjoys the morsels.” Art is embraced throughout the Japanese tea ceremonies, even the simplest form of building a fire to brew the tea and forming the ashes to compose a tapestry for the audience’s enjoyment. These lengthy ceremonies are unique empowering you with the humble ashes of charcoal which are raised to a level of refinement and magnificent beauty leaving you at awe with the transformation experience.
Religious and spiritual innuendos promoted from tea are the submission of yourself to the universe and freeing you from your selfish desires. The experience is optional and intended to provoke this desire from the inner self while participating in the drinking of the tea, a Zen traditional doctrine of giving yourself over to the here and now with a heart free from selfish desires. Other religious sects have their practices for sharing and drinking tea in a spiritual atmosphere. Tea is a universal language promoting companionship and friendship in the world.
Over time, tea has become so diversified and has no boundaries amongst cultures, nations and traditions, that there is always a place and time for tea around the world.
