The Art of Drinking Matcha

Last month, I explained the general flow regarding the proper mindset of a guest. This time, I will explain in detail how to drink matcha.

Usucha (Thin Tea)

For usucha (thin tea), in principle 1.5g of matcha is used per serving. However, the host adjusts the amount and strength according to each guest’s preference.

For this reason, before receiving a bowl of usucha during practice, you greet the host by saying, “Otemae chōdai itashimasu” (I humbly receive your tea preparation).

You pick up the tea bowl from the side with your right hand, place it on your left palm, then reposition your right hand so that it supports the right side of the bowl. In this position, you make a slight bow while gently lifting the bowl slightly upward.

This gesture expresses gratitude for the bowl of tea. After conveying your thanks, you begin the motion of turning the bowl. If you imagine the bowl as a clock, hold it at the 2 o’clock position with your right hand, and rotate it clockwise twice so that your hand moves to the 4 o’clock position. By doing so, the bowl will naturally end up facing 180 degrees opposite from its original position.

The reason for this is that every tea bowl has a “front.” When the host prepares the matcha and presents the bowl to the guest, it is always facing forward. After expressing gratitude, by turning the bowl and avoiding the front, the guest symbolically shows the front toward the deity in front of them.

In most cases, bowls with designs make the front easy to recognize. However, some bowls have no visible design. In such cases, the direction the bowl faces when the host presents it to the guest is considered the front.

After turning the front away, you may drink the matcha.

Incidentally, when I was first learning how to drink matcha, I received detailed instructions for each movement starting from how to hold the bowl, and there were times when it took nearly ten minutes just to finish one serving.

After finishing the tea, wipe the rim with your fingertips, examine (appreciate) the bowl, and return it to the host. When the host gives the bowl to the guest, and when the guest returns it to the host, the bowl is always handed over with the front facing the other person.

At large tea gatherings, assistants in the back prepare the matcha and carry it to where the guests are seated. They turn the bowl before handing it over, and when guests return the bowl to the server, they also make sure to face the front toward them.

Koicha (Thick Tea)

In principle, 3.75g of matcha per person is used. Typically, one bowl is shared among several people. So, for three people, more than 10g of matcha would be used in a single bowl.

This style was created by Sen no Rikyū. He had seven main disciples known as the Rikyū Shichitetsu (Seven Sages of Rikyū), and since many of them were Christians, sharing one bowl among everyone symbolized equality in the tea room, regardless of social status.

When there are three or four guests, they share one bowl. After the host presents the bowl facing the principal guest, the main guest (shōkyaku) receives it. Once back in their seat, all guests perform a formal bow together called sōrei (a full, sincere bow).

The main guest then takes the bowl, turns it as in usucha, and drinks—but does not finish it entirely (usually about three sips). The bowl is then passed by hand to the next guest.

Before passing it, the rim is wiped with a small white cloth called a kochakin, which has been wetted and wrung out beforehand. While the subsequent guests drink the koicha, the main guest engages the host in conversation and may ask about the matcha and sweets served that day.

When the last guest finishes drinking, the bowl is then examined and appreciated.