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Ocha

Elegant Ceramic Tea Set
£45.00
Cast Iron Japanese tea pot
£33.50
Cast Iron Japanese tea pot
£33.50
Zen tea pot with Lid
£55.00
Ru Kiln cracked ceramic tea store
£24.00
Ceramic Japanese tea cup - Blue/Black
£8.50
Ceramic Japanese tea cup - Black/Grey
£8.50
Matcha tea set - Green
£30.00
Illustration showing steps to make matcha: add matcha powder to a cup, pour water from a teapot, whisk with a matcha whisk, and include matcha powder and leaves for garnish.

Learn about the history.

  • The history of tea in Japan is a story of its transformation from a medicinal rarity to a profound cultural art form. Tea was first introduced from China by Buddhist monks in the 9th century, used initially to aid in meditation and religious rituals. 


    Zen monks introduced powdered green tea (matcha) and its associated brewing methods. This sparked a tea culture that flourished among the samurai and nobility, though initially it was a lavish affair with extravagant tea-tasting contests and innovations in tea houses and utensils, laid the foundation for the tradition that continues to this day, making the act of drinking tea a symbolic representation of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.