Tea Ceremony 9th July

The Japanese Tea Ceremony, also known as ちゃど, means the way of the tea. Essentially, it embodies the entire physical, mental and spiritual aspects of preparing, serving and drinking tea. To the Japanese, it allows for the total relaxation of both spiritual and physical self, while allowing the mind to be cleared of all thoughts. Participants are encouraged to make use of this time to find inner peace and take a break from the rush of daily life. The tea ceremony that was demonstrated during this class only covered the preparation, serving and drinking of the light tea, which is usually served after meals. The tea is served alongside with a simple snack such as jellied sweets or sweet pastries. The tea served is a variant of macha (green tea) and is served in a bowl that fits nicely into two open palms placed side by side.