Chanoyuu (茶の湯) is the art Japanese Tea Ceremony. Chanoyuu (茶の湯) is a formal ceremony involving various forms of tea etiquette. The main focus is centered on a type of green tea called macha (抹茶). The actual presiding of the ceremony is called chadoo (茶道). The tea ceremony is one of Japan’s oldest traditions. Even now, there are university clubs and social groups that still gather together to hold a tea ceremony.

The tea ceremonies usually take place in a chashitsu (茶室). A chashitsu (茶室) is a room that can accommodate all the instruments needed to make a tea ceremony work. The floors will usually be divided by tatami (畳) mats or straw mats. Tea rooms are characteristic for its ro (炉). A ro (炉) is a fire pit built into the floor of a tea room. It is used to heat water to mix with the tea. Before the tea ceremony starts, the guests will remove their shoes. They will sit on a spot on a floor seiza (正座) style, which is when a person sits kneeling on the floor.

As for the chadoogu (茶道具) or tea instruments, you’ll need a chasen (茶筅) or tea whisk. The tea will be in powder form. When it is mixed with hot water, you’ll need the chasen (茶筅) to stir it into a solution. You’ll also need a tea bowl called a chawan (茶碗). Without the chawan (茶碗), you won’t be able to drink the tea. A chakin (茶巾) is also available, so that the guest can wipe the tea bowl after taking a sip of the tea. A chakin (茶巾) is a white cloth, kind of a like a linen napkin.

Sometimes a meal is served along with the tea. A chakai (茶事) is a ceremony involving a light meal called tenshin (点心). The chakai (茶事) also uses a tea called usucha (薄茶). Usucha (薄茶) is a light powerdery tea with a mild taste. Chaji (茶事) is a tea ceremony that contains the full course meal called the kaiseki (懐石). The chaji (茶事) uses a thick textured tea called koicha (濃茶).

There’s obviously a lot more to be said about a Japanese tea ceremony, but this is the basic gist of the ceremony. With that, I’ll end the post by saying matane! (またね).