The History and Spirit of Matcha
Green tea has been growing in popularity in the UK, and I've started seeing matcha appearing on cafe menus. While it's still rare to find a place that serves proper match, I'm happy that I can now enjoy it here in London.
I've always loved matcha, but realised I knew very little about its origins - so I decided to look into its history.
From China to Japan
All types of tea - black, oolong, and green - come from the same plant. The difference lies in the processing:
- Black tea is fully fermented
- Oolong tea is partially fermented
- Green tea is unfermented
The first tea brought from China to Japan was partially fermented tea. It is said to have been introduced by Eisai (栄西), a Zen monk who also brought Zen Buddhism to Japan. When Eisai returned from his studies in China, he brought tea seeds with him and planted them in the Kyushu (九州) region. These seeds are believed to be the origin of Uji tea (宇治茶) - a region still famous for producing high-quality green tea today.
Eisai promoted tea drinking as part of Zen practice and etiquette.
The Medicinal Tea of the Samurai
During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the medicinal benefits of tea became widely recognised. One story tells that Eisai served green tea to Minamoto no Sanetomo (源実朝), the third shogun, who was suffering from a severe hangover. Eisai also presented him with a book he had written about tea - its preparation and health benefits. From that moment, tea drinking spread rapidly among the samurai class.
The Birth of the Tea Ceremony
In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), tea gatherings became popular among aristocrats and intellectuals. However, a monk named Murata Juko (村田珠光) redefined the tea ceremony as 'Wabi-cha" (わび茶) - a humble Zen-inspired approach that emphasised simplicity and mindfulness over luxury and display.
Later, Sen no Rikyu (千利休) perfected this philosophy, shaping what we now know as the Japanese tea ceremony (茶道, sado). He unified tea and Zen aesthetics, influencing everything from the tea room design and garden layout to flower arrangement and pottery.
By the Edo period (1868-1912), both the tea ceremony (茶道) and flower arrangement (華道, kado) became part of women's education, symbolising grace, discipline, and appreciation of beauty.
The Art of Mindfulness
At its heart, the tea ceremony is about connection - between host and guest, between art and nature, and between the moment and the mind. Every detail, from the hanging scroll to the flower arrangement and the motion of whisking the tea, contributes to a shared, mindful experience.
The ceremony reminds us that time itself is art - fleeting, yet deeply meaningful when fully appreciated.
Whenever I drink matcha now, I will think of this beautiful history - how one humble bowl of tea carries centuries of spirit, mindfulness and quiet joy.