The Origin of Matcha

The Origin of Matcha 

Matcha has a rich history dating back to the Tang Dynasty in China, spanning from the 7th to the 10th centuries. Tea leaves were steamed and formed into bricks for easier transport and trade. The Song Dynasty, from the 10th to the 13th centuries, popularized this tea preparation method. Japanese Buddhist Monk Eisai introduced powdered green tea and high-quality tea seeds from China to Japan in 1191, planting them in Kyoto. Matcha was initially a luxurious symbol during the Kamakura Shogunate, and Zen Buddhists developed the tencha method, growing tea plants under shade to maximize matcha's health benefits.

The Ritual of Matcha

The modern tea ceremony didn't take shape until the 1500s when Zen student Murata Juko unified various aspects into a formalized ritual covering cultivation, consumption, and ceremony.

Zen Master Sen-no-Rikyu played a significant role in popularizing Juko's tea ceremony, becoming a revered figure in its history. Sen-no-Rikyu established the four fundamental principles of the Japanese Tea Ceremony:

• Harmony (wa)

• Respect (kei)

• Purity (sei)

• Tranquility (jaku)

The Japanese Tea Ceremony is called “Chado” or “Sado.” Translated, this means “The Way of Tea.”