Chanoyu, or the art of preparing tea, is beautiful moving art, a deep cultural and aesthetic experience and very complex and intricate. The word chanoyu is used somewhat interchangeably with chado, or the way of tea.
Back in 2008, I started taking lessons through Urasenke, one of the largest schools of chado. It became apparent that I was also taking lessons in thoughtfulness, consideration for others, grace, and meditation.
Swipe through to see how drawing aHiragana shape finished a bowl of matcha.
Enjoying the modern uses of matcha while honouring and respecting its origins
There's nothing wrong with enjoying an oat mylk matcha latte, a scoop of matcha ice cream, some bubble tea or baking a matcha loaf at home. The versatility of matcha for modern use is incredible!
But how do we ensure matcha's integrity isn't lost in our modern uses? We don't want to lose sight of meaning behind chanoyu and the authenticity of matcha.
Warning! Learning how to make matcha and experiencing chanoyu does have some side effects. You may deepen your gratitude, find a moment of stillness amidst the chaos around you, gain confidence, start appreciating the transience and impermanence of life, or understand simplicity within complexity.
