Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Way of Tea

I've written about drinking green tea, the art of Japanese incense, and playing the Japanese flute. Another Japanese tradition I enjoy is the tea ceremony, (chanoyu meaning "tea hot-water" or chado meaning "the way of tea"). For folks who visit my Harvard office, pictured here, I prepare a ceremonial powdered green tea called Matcha.

Matcha begins as a high grade tea leaf, grown in the shadows, just like my favorite Gyokuro Asahi green tea. Reduced light slows its growth, creates a deeper shade of green, and results in a higher concentration of amino acids, making the tea sweeter.

The leaves are harvested and laid out to dry. They are de-veined, de-stemmed, and stone grown, to produce a fine bright green power - matcha.

I store the tea in a tea container made of lacquered wood called a Natsume.

For the honored guests visiting my office, I place a small amount of matcha in my tea bowl (chawan) that was handmade in Kyoto. I use a deep bowl that keeps the tea warm. The bowl is irregular with several colors and imperfections. The most beautiful portion of the bowl is one of the emerald shaded irregularities.

To remove the tea from the Natsume, I use a lacquered bamboo scoop (chashaku). The amount of tea I add depends upon the style of tea I'm preparing.

Usucha, or thin tea, is prepared with half a teaspoon of matcha and 2.5 ounces of 170 degree hot water. Usucha creates a lighter and slightly more bitter tea.

Koicha, or thick tea, requires significantly more matcha, about 5 teaspoons, and 6 ounces of hot water. Koicha produces a sweeter tea.

To mix the tea, I use a tea whisk (chasen), which is carved from a single piece of bamboo. For thin tea, I briskly stir the tea and water together, creating a foam. For thick tea, I stir more slowly, without foam.

I serve the tea by presenting the most beautiful part of the bowl to my guest, who appreciates the bowl, turns it 180 degrees to show me the most beautiful portion of the bowl, then drinks a small amount of tea.

I typically serve the tea with a small sweet to refresh the palette.

You may ask, what ceremony do I use in the heat of the New England Summer? I recently visited a remarkable potter at his kiln in North Carolina, Mark Hewitt.

I asked him to create vessels for "Iced Tea Ceremony". This is truly a fusion of Southern traditions, New England practicality, and Japanese inspiration. Thanks Mark for great work.

3 comments:

  1. Can't resist making a comment. I always enjoy your blog, but have two conflicting emotions:

    1 (mainly). in awe of how many different things you seem to be able to perform at a high level in your life (I have some interests / values in common, but I operate at about 10% of your capacity).
    2 (occasionally). I wonder if you're not too attached (in Buddhist terms which you're no doubt familiar with) to, for example, your green tea apparatus. Why not just chuck a mass-produced tea-bag in your mug with boiling water.

    Anyway, fascinating to get insights into the life of a superman.

    Best wishes (sincerely).

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  2. A very good point. As I age, I keep reducing my belongings. Fewer 'toys', fewer clothes, fewer decorative items. In retirement, I'm striving for a truly minimalist livestyle. It's a journey.

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  3. I applaud chanoyu in the office. I did also for many years. I am glad to see more men taking up the practice.

    Thank you.

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