Because my cousin Colleen is the tea queen, I thought it would be fun to to take her & TJ to a Japanese Tea Ceremony. I signed up for a tour on base. We boarded the bus at 9:00 am, and were taken south, to the city of Naha. I'm not exactly sure where we were (I couldn't point it out on a map if I tried!), but we were definitely in the city. Our tea master was Ooo-Tem Sensei (I am certain that I have butchered her name, that's how it sounded phonetically. Sensei means master/teacher).
When we arrived at Ooo-Tem's home, we walked to the front door, and promptly removed our shoes. We were given a pair of wooden sandals to walk through the Japanese garden. Every part of the Tea Ceremony (including your entrance!) has significance. Walking through a garden is supposed to cleanse, purify and relax you, before entering the tea room.
We were also encouraged to "wash". If you remember from our post in Tokyo, when Joe & I went to the Meiji Shrine, we had the opportunity to wash with a long "spoon". Colleen & TJ were good sports, so we all washed our left hand, right hand and mouth.
The entrance to the tea room was most unusual. It was that little hole! You literally had to crawl in. (Of course, at the same time, you were supposed to drop your sandals! Ooo-Tem's daughter was a big help with the sandals :)
Once inside the tea room, there were benches set up for us (in a traditional ceremony, you sit on the floor). The focal point of the room was the beautiful tea area.
Here we are, all stuffed in the little tea room. We were on tatami floors.
There were a few different tools for tea making. The orange container was the green tea powder. You see next to it a green tea bowl (Ooo-Tem chose to use large tea bowls instead of a cup because she made the tea in the bowl with a "whisk"). Inside the bowl there is a bamboo "whisk", used for mixing the tea. The bamboo "spoon" laid across the bowl was for measuring green tea into the water.
This was cool (or room temperature) water.
This was the hot water. She used that big bamboo scoop to retrieve the water from the hot place and pour it into the bowl.
Ooo-Tem sensei preparing tea for us!
You may notice that Ooo-Tem was wearing a sort of cleric collar. The Japanese Tea Ceremony is based in Shinto beliefs, I think. Ooo-Tem is actually a Christian minister. She mixed Shinto philosophy with Christian belief during the ceremony.
The first tea she mixed for us was a very dark green tea. When I say dark, I mean like evergreen color! I was so caught up in trying to drink it properly, that I forgot to take a picture. This was a shared cup - so when it was passed to you, there were certain things you had to do. First, you did not put the bowl down; it was passed from hand to hand. Next, you had to turn the cup clockwise 180 degrees. Then you could drink -- but not just a sip! You had to take three and one-half drinks! Once you were finished with the drinks, you could set the bowl down and proceed to clean your area. Then you pick the bowl back up, turn it 180 degrees (clockwise) again and pass it to the next person.
You may notice that Ooo-Tem was wearing a sort of cleric collar. The Japanese Tea Ceremony is based in Shinto beliefs, I think. Ooo-Tem is actually a Christian minister. She mixed Shinto philosophy with Christian belief during the ceremony.
Though it seems like her tools are simple and few, the tea ceremony is anything but! The way she picked up a bowl or the way she poured water -- to the way she folded a napkin! were all very deliberate and special. She has been studying the art of tea for many years. (Her sensei has been studying tea for 40 years!)
The first tea she mixed for us was a very dark green tea. When I say dark, I mean like evergreen color! I was so caught up in trying to drink it properly, that I forgot to take a picture. This was a shared cup - so when it was passed to you, there were certain things you had to do. First, you did not put the bowl down; it was passed from hand to hand. Next, you had to turn the cup clockwise 180 degrees. Then you could drink -- but not just a sip! You had to take three and one-half drinks! Once you were finished with the drinks, you could set the bowl down and proceed to clean your area. Then you pick the bowl back up, turn it 180 degrees (clockwise) again and pass it to the next person.
The tea was, well, interesting! I am glad to have tasted it, but it was very, very thick. We were served a snack with each tea. The first one was a sort of sponge dessert in the shape of a peony. (The Japanese seem to enjoy a variety of textures in their dessert - crisp, soft, spongy, creamy, etc.)
With the second tea, we were served a shortbread and some sugar candies.
This green tea was a little more palatable for me. As you can see, it was still pretty thick! It was the color of pea soup. Each person had their own bowl of tea this time.
Colleen & TJ enjoying their tea!
With the second tea, we were served a shortbread and some sugar candies.
This green tea was a little more palatable for me. As you can see, it was still pretty thick! It was the color of pea soup. Each person had their own bowl of tea this time.
Colleen & TJ enjoying their tea!
The special treat was that we could take a "backstage" tour. We got to see the big tank from the top!
