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Why Preparing Matcha Is a Key Way To Unlock a Zen State of Mind, According to a Japanese Buddhist Priest

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For higher and for worse, matcha has turn out to be a totally mainstream, commodified product within the U.S. The Japanese inexperienced tea beverage (or iterations thereof) might be discovered on Starbucks menus and large field retailer cabinets. And there have by no means been so many matcha manufacturers to select from.

For Reverend Takafumi Kawakami, a meditation advisor for Cuzen Matcha and head priest at Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto, Japan, ingesting a cup of matcha means a lot greater than getting a fast repair of caffeine. In actual fact, Kawakami, who has devoted the final 20 years of his profession to spreading his wealth of information on Zen, a college of Buddhism centered on meditation (he even hosted a TED Speak about it!), says matcha is an integral a part of his follow and spirituality.

“Matcha has historic connections to Zen Buddhism, significantly in Japan,” Kawakami explains. “Zen monks integrated matcha into their meditation rituals to assist them keep alert and centered whereas sustaining a way of calmness. The method of making ready and consuming matcha turned a meditative follow, encouraging mindfulness and non secular consciousness.”

Other than the plain incontrovertible fact that matcha is well-loved for its caffeine and sturdy L-theanine content material (a happiness-boosting amino acid linked to boosting longevity), Kawakami  says there’s extra to understand. He encourages of us to look past the dietary info to discover a deeper, non secular reference to the beverage. Forward, Kawakami delves into the meditative follow that goes behind making ready matcha served throughout a Japanese tea ceremony and the way adopting this easy follow can encourage discovering Zen (slowing down and discovering your interior peace) and working towards mindfulness in your day by day routine.

The cultural and non secular significance of matcha in Japanese custom

Though the origins of inexperienced tea might be traced way back to the eighth century in China, it wasn’t till the 1100s that matcha (the powdered type of inexperienced tea leaves) started to achieve reputation in Japan. That is because of Myoan Eisai, a Zen Buddhist monk, who reportedly launched matcha to Japan and established its reference to spirituality, meditation, and on a regular basis temple practices early on. “Matcha is deeply ingrained in Japanese tradition and historical past. It has been consumed for hundreds of years and is taken into account an integral a part of Japanese id,” Kawakami says.

Though matcha is closely rooted in its reference to spirituality, Kawakami says the multifaceted inexperienced powder can be celebrated past the confines of the temple as of late. “From conventional tea ceremonies to fashionable culinary creations, matcha continues to be celebrated as an emblem of Japanese heritage and cultural delight,” he says.

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The connection between matcha and Zen Buddhism

For Kawakami, Zen is the follow of getting a direct expertise of ourselves. “Usually, we’re specializing in our conceptual existence or narrative self. We expect and attempt to analyze and consider ourselves with logic. Nevertheless, in Zen follow, by means of our meditation, we expertise ourselves as the way in which we’re or ‘minimal’ self,” he says. These are the core rules of working towards Zen that target worrying much less of what we assume about ourselves or who we wish to turn out to be, and deal with accepting and loving ourselves for who we’re at this very second.

Kawakami says that “matcha and tea assist make our senses extra eager to look at what we’re.” The act of making ready matcha is extraordinarily meditative and ritualistic, which may help instill a sense of calmness whereas partaking within the exercise. On the identical time, ingesting matcha or tea crammed with L-theanine may also physiologically improve alertness and cognitive perform. A win-win.

That is all to say, Kawakami finds that ingesting (and making ready) matcha are excellent alternatives to follow mindfulness—by slowing down and taking within the second, as evident in conventional Japanese tea ceremonies. “Throughout meditation, we expertise what we expertise as the way in which they’re, like sensation and ideas—ideas are thought of sensations in Buddhism. Simply observe sensations and ideas come and go,” Kawakami says.

The normal Japanese tea ceremony

Based on Kawakami, a standard matcha tea ceremony might be damaged down into 5 elements: preparation, appreciation of the tea utensils, tea preparation, tea service, silent contemplation, and the closing ceremony.

1. Preparation

Earlier than the tea is introduced, Kawakami says it’s vital to arrange the room for the ceremony. “The host prepares the tea room, generally known as a chashitsu, with cautious consideration to cleanliness and aesthetics,” he says. Throughout this time, the ceremonial host will rigorously prepare the tea utensils “in a exact method.” This contains the tea bowl, tea whisk, tea scoop, and tea container.

2. Appreciation of the tea and utensils

As soon as the utensils have been rigorously organized, it is time for some gratitude. “Earlier than the tea is ready, the host might take a second to showcase the tea utensils to the company, highlighting their craftsmanship, historical past, and significance,” Kawakami says.

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3. Tea preparation

To organize the tea, the host will begin by transfering the powdered tea into the tea bowl utilizing the news. “They then pour scorching water into the bowl and whisk the combination with the tea whisk till a frothy consistency is achieved,” Kawakami says.

4. Tea service

Throughout this a part of the tea ceremony, company are introduced with the tea because the host performs a set of rituals to honor the beverage. “The host presents the bowl of matcha to every visitor individually, utilizing exact actions and gestures. Visitors obtain the bowl with each arms, categorical gratitude—normally by complimenting the tea or utensils—after which take a sip of the matcha,” Kawakami says. As every visitor takes a sip, the bowl is rotated and cleaned as an indication of politeness to keep away from ingesting from the identical space because the earlier individual.

5. Silent contemplation

The fifth step is named “silent contemplation,” a possibility for self-reflection and appreciation. “After everybody has had a flip to drink the matcha, there could also be a interval of silent contemplation or dialog the place company replicate on the expertise and respect the second,” Kawakami says.

6. Closing

The ultimate step is named the “closing,” which alerts the top of the ceremony. Throughout this time, the host will clear and thoroughly prepare the tea utensils again of their place. Kawakami says that that is additionally a time for company to specific their gratitude to the host earlier than departing.

3 suggestions for making the proper cup of matcha at residence

For Eijiro Tsukada, co-founder of Cuzen Matcha and matcha skilled, making the proper cup of matcha at residence boils all the way down to 4 key steps.

1. Select your substances properly

For the best-tasting matcha beverage, it’s vital to decide on the suitable kind of matcha powder. For instance, for those who’re planning on making a matcha latte, Tsukada recommends a stronger, bolder matcha powder, like Cuzen Matcha’s brilliant and sturdy Latte Mix Natural Matcha Leaf Packets ($17).“It’s vital to make use of a matcha mix with a bolder bitterness and a brighter shade than that of a mix supposed for a straight drink,” Tsukada says. For a extra conventional, ceremonial-grade mix, he has beforehand beneficial Jade Leaf Natural Ceremonial Matcha ($20).

Moreover, Tsukada says sourcing the highest-quality matcha each time attainable is essential. “Choose leaves from an natural farmer who prioritizes wholesome, clear soil for a wholesome, pure tea,” he recommends. And for even increased L-theanine content material, Tsukada says a high-quality, spring harvest matcha is your finest wager.

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Bonus factors for those who can supply freshly-ground leaves, which is Tsukada’s gold customary. “The second matcha leaves are floor, the floor space will increase, inflicting the oxidation course of to speed up. The extra oxygen the grounds are uncovered to, the weaker the flavour, shade, aroma, and well being advantages turn out to be,” Tsukada says. As such, he says grinding the leaves simply earlier than making ready the matcha is most best. Cuzen’s Matcha Maker is a straightforward approach to get the job performed. The glossy machine is able to storing, grinding, and whisking a recent cup of matcha with the press of a button.

2. Make sure that the water is good

“Even the water issues,” Tsukada says. Very like when making espresso, the kind of water you employ for matcha can have a major impact on how the ultimate brew tastes. As such, Tsukada recommends utilizing mushy water as a substitute of exhausting water each time attainable. “Heavy mineral deposits in exhausting water influence the style, mouthfeel, and shade of the tea,” he says. Filtered or bottled water are nice choices if you do not have entry to mushy water straight from the faucet. (You possibly can check the hardness of your water with an at-home check equipment, like this one accessible on Amazon for $10.) Moreover, he advises of us to make use of water that’s no hotter than 175ºF. “That is the normal temperature used for matcha,” Tsukada says.

3. Let the matcha’s flavors do the speaking

Probably the greatest methods to understand and rejoice the scrumptious flavors of matcha is to let the ingredient shine brilliant. “Discover steadiness when making extra elaborate recipes. In terms of lattes, I personally choose a recipe with minimal substances which can praise a high-quality matcha, moderately than distract from it,” Tsukada says.

The right matcha latte recipe in line with the skilled: two fluid ounces of matcha to 6 fluid ounces of milk. Feels like a matcha made in heaven.

An RD delves into the important thing variations between inexperienced tea and matcha:




Nicely+Good articles reference scientific, dependable, current, sturdy research to again up the knowledge we share. You possibly can belief us alongside your wellness journey.

  1. Baba, Yoshitake et al. “Results of l-Theanine on Cognitive Operate in Center-Aged and Older Topics: A Randomized Placebo-Managed Research.” Journal of medicinal meals vol. 24,4 (2021): 333-341. doi:10.1089/jmf.2020.4803


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