Traditional Japanese Teas

After finishing final exams, I provide Japanese traditional teas and sweets for some friends.  I started learning it, when I was 23 years old.  My tradition is The Urasenke of Tea ( http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/index.html ).  Japanese teas were brought from China in 12 s.c. and Rikyu accomplished the basic traditional Japanese tea style.  Then, Japanese tea culture was used to do among samurais.  Eventually, Japanese Tea culture developed as enrichment lessons among girls before marriages in recent period. 

Until latest June, I kept learning the teas.  My teachers age is over 85, but she is still active, polite and feminine, so I like and respect her very much.  When I talked to someone that I have learned Tea culture more than 13 years, most people ask me why I learn it so long time.  I have learned many complicated methods of Japanese traditional teas.  However, the most important thing is spirits for providing teas to someone.  Of course, guests have to know hospitality's minds and appreciate how much hosts select teas and seasonal tools for guests such as teas, tools, flowers, pictures and sweets.  We have to learn those subjects for teas.  Unfortunately, even some Japanese do not know such a manner, but I think that it is important manners fundamentally to communicate with people.  Therefore, it is certain that I would not complete the spiritual lesson and would have life long learning.  According to Rikyu, "Make a satisfying bowl of tea; Lay the charcoal so that the water boils efficiently; Provide a sense of warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer; Arrange the flowers as though they were in the field; Be ready ahead of time; Be prepared in case it should rain; Act with utmost consideration toward your guests".  Some friends who saw the traditional tea at the first time seems excited, because Japanese traditional ways are so sensitive and taste is creamy not usage of cappuccino milk!  It is my pleasure that I can provide my favorite teas.

Thank you for your reading to the end.