What is a Japanese Tea Ceremony? Essentially, the Japanese Tea Ceremony is a cultural ceremony rich in history, which can be found to date right back to the 14-century. Also referred to as also called Chanoyu, Sado or Ocha, as well as being known as the Way of Tea, this traditional Japanese tea ritual isn’t entirely restricted to drinking tea. In fact, there are other elements that are just as vital as the tea drinking itself. These other areas include aesthetics, presentation, while also giving people the chance to connect with guests on a spiritual level.

While hosting a ceremony can be viewed as a very complex ritual, which in fact, changes as the seasons do, Oriental Mart can set you on the right path by giving you a fundamental understanding of the equipment and supplies needed to host a successful ceremony at home. We have split this guide into two parts, and you can see what is required to host at home in the second part of the series when we ask; ‘What do I need to do to host an authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony?’. A step-by-step guide awaits, but first, you need to know what equipment you will need…

What do I need for a Japanese Tea Ceremony?

A Japanese Tea Pot

A Japanese tea pot, or “kama,” is characteristically made from iron and is used as a means of heating the water for the tea. You can get these pots in a range of styles, although they are typically passed down from generation to generation within the family.

A Matcha Green Tea

Matcha is a special type of Japanese green tea. Matcha is created by having the green tea leaves ground into a fine powder, with the hot water then being added to the powder and whisked, forming a frothy tea.

A Japanese Tea Bowl

Matcha tea isn’t served in a big mug like your English Breakfast tea; instead it’s typically served in a tea bowl, or “chashaku” in Japanese.

It’s worth bearing in mind that this bowl is the most indispensable element in a Japanese Tea Ceremony, bar the tea.

A Matcha Whisk

A “chasen,” as it is known in Japanese, is a bamboo matcha whisk. This utensil is required to blend the matcha green tea powder until it froths.

A Silk Cloth

A silk cloth, or “fukusa,” in Japanese, is a square piece of silk that is used to not only serve tea but also to clean the tea bowl after it has been used. A silk cloth is normally found to be of a solid colour, while another note worth remembering is that women use red or orange cloths, and men use purple versions.

Mini Napkins

These mini napkins are called “Kaishi” in Japanese and are used when serving guests sweets. They can also be used to wipe the rim of the tea bowl.

Sweet Foods

Traditionally, sweet desserts are served preceding the drinking of matcha as a way to balance out the bitterness of the tea.

A Flower Vase

A flower vase, or “Hana-ire,” is used as a centrepiece and can be made of either bamboo or ceramic.