One of the best sources of information regarding the Japanese tea ceremony. It has detailed explanations and has pictures on most pages to create a clear image of what is being discussed. Especially the page which describes the step-by-step process of preparing a bowl of tea is a great read to get some understanding of how the tea ceremony is performed
(content sample: japanese-tea-ceremony.net)
” The tea ceremony is an artistic pastime unique to Japan that features the serving and drinking of Macha, a powdered green tea. Though tea had been introduced into Japan from China around the eighth century, matcha did not reach the country until the end of the twelfth century. The practice of holding social gatherings to drink matcha spread among the upper class from about the fourteenth century. Gradually one of the main purposes of these gatherings, which took place in a Shoin (study), became the appreciation of paintings and crafts from China in a serene atmosphere.
Having witnessed or taken part in The Japanese Tea Ceremony only once, one will come to understand that in Japan, serving tea is an art and a spiritual discipline. As an art, The Tea Ceremony is an occasion to appreciate the simplicity of the tea room’s design, the feel of the bowl in the hand, the company of friends, and simply a moment of purity. “
