The ninth century carried tea to Japan; before that it was carefully a Chinese refreshment. From that point forward the Japanese have built up a rich tea culture, one that has presented to us the Hojicha tea function.
What Is Hojicha?
The Japanese have two primary sorts of green tea. Inside those two classes a wide range of varieties exist, however they the entire fall into the two fundamental arrangements: Sencha and Hojicha. Sencha tea alludes to entire green tea leaves, typically prepared free not in teabags. Hojicha is the Japanese word for powdered tea, and that is the thing that the Hojicha tea function spins around. Just calling Hojicha powdered tea does not give this green tea the regard it merits. It is far beyond that. In the event that you have ever observed Hojicha powder, you were most likely astounded at how splendid and lively its green tone is. This is not a mishap, rather an aftereffect of long-standing Japanese conventions.
Half a month before the collect of Hojicha, the camellia sinensis brambles are secured with mats which offer a lot of shade insurance from the sun’s unforgiving beams. During this period, the plants are never in full, direct daylight. This causes a response whereby the shrubbery produces huge measures of chlorophyll and certain amino acids. The general outcome is a brilliant green tone, a better taste and gentler, more flexible leaves. After gather the leaves are left to lay level. At the point when they are dry, the veins and stems are taken out. The leaves are then stone-ground into a fine powder.
The History of the Hojicha Tea Ceremony
Buddhist priests began the hojicha tea function customs. At first, Hojicha was just utilized as a feature of strict services performed at Buddhist Monasteries. That was around the twelfth century. After 100 years, the utilization of Hojicha spread to the fighter class. An additional 100 years saw utilization of the tea spread all through all of Japanese privileged. The utilization of the tea was still generally ceremonious, keeping with the customs of the twelfth century priests.
The Tea Ceremony
So what is the tea function? It is much easier than you may anticipate. It was, all things considered, began by Buddhist priests who will in general practice effortlessness in each part of their lives. The function at its most essential includes warming water and moving it to a formal bowl. A little bamboo scoop is utilized to include the Hojicha; at that point a bamboo whisk is utilized to blend the tea. It is raced until foamy. The tea is then served in tiny bowl-like cups. That is everything necessary, albeit a few more multifaceted traditions exist in Japan contingent upon the district, class of the host and sort of event.
