4 l Smaakmakers
japanese tea ceremony
Japan has a refined tea culture. The Buddhist monks Eichū, Siachō and Kūkai made the drink popular in the 9th century. At first, tea was mainly used for medicinal reasons, but over the years it turned into a relaxing ceremony. This is because drinking tea was linked to the ascetic Zen way of living.
The Japanese tea ceremony is held in a tea pavilion in a tea garden. Before participants can enter the garden they need to
take off their shoes and change in a dressing room. Guests re ceive a plain kimono, white socks and slippers. All other
the art of drinking tea redundant objects are left behind in the room. Then the guests continue to the waiting room where they wait until the host gives them a signal, telling them that all the preparations are finished.
Tokonoma pavilion When it is time the guests walk through the tea garden to
