How to Hold a Japanese Tea Ceremony

A Japanese tea ceremony is a celebration of the senses. It provides a brief respite from the stresses of contemporary life because its focus is all on beauty found within nature, the seasons and of the space that the host holds the ceremony in.

Things You'll Need

• Seasonal flowers or foliage
• Green tea
• Tea pot
• Utensils
• Tea cups
• Small plates
• Sweets

Instructions

Be the Host of a Japanese Tea Ceremony

1. Choose an intimate space to hold a Japanese tea ceremony in that is away from distractions. This can be a room in your home, a corner of your yard or even a public park space.

2. Decorate the space according to the natural beauty of the seasons for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Incorporate fresh flowers in the spring or a branch of changing leaves in the fall. You can also hang prints that reflect seasonal beauty.

3. Gather the tea cups and utensils, making sure each piece is both beautiful and functional. Beauty is of utmost importance in a Japanese tea ceremony.

4. Set the places before your guests arrive. Place a tea cup in front of each seat, with its most attractive side facing the inside of the table. If you are serving sweets, include a small plate and any utensils your guests may need to eat with. You can also decorate individual places with seasonal foliage, other natural items or anything else you know your guests find beautiful.

5. Welcome guests as they arrive and show them to their seats. Guests appreciate it if you have chosen tea cups especially for them, so let them know exactly where they should sit. Offer sweets and talk about the beauty of the season.

6. Brew the tea once all of your guests arrive. For modern ceremonies, brew it however you find the tea most delicious. Use care as you brew and engage in no unnecessary and distracting actions.

7. Pour tea for the guest on your right first, and continue around the seating area until all are served. Pour your own tea last.

Be a Participant in a Japanese Tea Ceremony

1. Take your seat and engage in a conversation about the beauty of nature as you wait for the tea to be prepared.

2. Pick up your tea cup in your right hand when everybody is ready to drink, and then transfer it to your left hand. Hold the rim in your right hand, bring the cup to eye level and bow to the group to express your gratitude for being able to enjoy tea with them.

3. Bring your tea cup to your chest and rotate the cup 90 degrees clockwise so the side previously facing the center of the table now faces you. Your host has chosen this side as the most beautiful and would like you to enjoy it as you drink your tea.

4. Taste the tea with a small sip and comment on the delicious taste. Then finish your tea.

5. Wipe the rim of the tea cup with your right thumb and forefinger after you have finished your tea.

6. Appreciate your tea cup after you have drunk your tea. Spend a moment examining it while you hold it in your hand, and share your observations with the others at the ceremony. After you are done admiring its beauty, turn the tea cup 90 degrees clockwise again so the group can now admire its most beautiful side.

7. Place the tea cup gently back on the table with your right hand. The host may then brew additional tea. Spend the time discussing the beauty of the immediate surroundings or of nature, or reminisce about the delicious tea you have just shared.

8. Leave promptly when the host indicates it is time to go. Close the Japanese tea ceremony by praising the host's decorating skills, the deliciousness of the tea or the beauty of the current season.

Tips & Warnings

• Let your guests know beforehand whether your Japanese tea ceremony will be formal or informal, and let them know how to behave at the ceremony. The more knowledge your guests have, the more successful your ceremony will be.

• You can use matcha tea and whisk it in a bowl to prepare it, or you can have regularly steeped tea.

• Your tea ceremony doesn't have to be formal. You can violate the formal rules in anyway that feels right, as long as all participants agree that the ceremony should be informal. In your conversation, though, stay focused on the beauty of nature and the seasons for the most relaxing ceremony.

• Putting a half-full cup of tea down in the middle of a Japanese tea ceremony implies that it doesn't taste good, which can be insulting or hurtful to your host.