Japan History of tea

ancient tea urns used merchants store tea



japanese tea ceremony

tea use spread japan sixth century ad. tea became drink of religious classes in japan when japanese priests , envoys, sent china learn culture, brought tea japan. ancient recordings indicate first batch of tea seeds brought priest named saichō (最澄, 767–822) in 805 , named kūkai (空海, 774–835) in 806. became drink of royal classes when emperor saga (嵯峨天皇), japanese emperor, encouraged growth of tea plants. seeds imported china, , cultivation in japan began.

in 1191, famous zen priest eisai (栄西, 1141–1215) brought tea seeds kyoto. of tea seeds given priest myoe shonin, , became basis uji tea. oldest tea specialty book in japan, kissa yōjōki (喫茶養生記, how stay healthy drinking tea), written eisai. two-volume book written in 1211 after second , last visit china. first sentence states, tea ultimate mental , medical remedy , has ability make 1 s life more full , complete. eisai instrumental in introducing tea consumption warrior class, rose political prominence after heian period.

green tea became staple among cultured people in japan—a brew gentry , buddhist priesthood alike. production grew , tea became increasingly accessible, though still privilege enjoyed upper classes. tea ceremony of japan introduced china in 15th century buddhists semi-religious social custom. modern tea ceremony developed on several centuries zen buddhist monks under original guidance of monk sen no rikyū (千 利休, 1522–1591). in fact, both beverage , ceremony surrounding played prominent role in feudal diplomacy.

in 1738, soen nagatani developed japanese sencha (煎茶), literally roasted tea, unfermented form of green tea. popular form of tea in japan today. in 1835, kahei yamamoto developed gyokuro (玉露), literally jewel dew, shading tea trees during weeks leading harvesting. @ end of meiji period (1868–1912), machine manufacturing of green tea introduced , began replacing handmade tea.