The 21st of May was designated by the United Nations as International Tea Day to raise awareness of the economic, social, and cultural significance of tea around the world.
For our global Japanese tea community, celebrating this special day together has become a cherished tradition. This year, the celebration even extended across three days. On the eve of International Tea Day, members joined two online gatherings where we reflected on the meaning and importance of the occasion while watching a video prepared by the FAO at the United Nations. Afterwards, each participant shared what they felt most grateful for, or appreciated most deeply, in their tea journey so far.
The following day, another gathering took place in Kyoto, Japan. Originally planned as a picnic in the Kyoto Imperial Palace gardens with a variety of cold brewed Japanese teas, the event had to move indoors due to an exceptionally rainy day. Nevertheless, the gloomy weather did not dampen the festive spirit, and participants continued to enjoy delicious teas together with Simona and Machi in a warm and friendly atmosphere at our office.
The final event took place in Madrid, Spain, where Anna joined the founders of ShanShan Tea House, Susan and Diana, along with Chinese tea expert Gwen Chesnais. Together, we led a workshop divided into three parts, each of which covered a different aspect of tea history and culture. The idea was to trace a historical line from the Song dynasty tradition of whisking powdered tea, to how tea arrived in Japan and evolved into matcha, and finally to explore contemporary interpretations of tea traditions today.
Eight participants joined this special event. Gwen Chesnais spoke about the history of tea in China and how tea preparation practices were carried out during the Song dynasty. At the time, powdered tea was whisked vigorously until it became a very foamy drink. The concept of tea quality – as well as the brewer’s skill – relied heavily on how well the tea foamed, how long the foam lasted, and how skillfully the tea master could “paint” on the surface using water.
Anna then talked about the origins of tea culture in Japan, which emerged from these Chinese practices but gradually evolved into something distinctly Japanese that has survived and continues to be practiced today. Participants had the opportunity to whisk and enjoy a high-grade spring harvest matcha from Kyoto Prefecture, accompanied by homemade dango prepared by ShanShan.
Finally, Susan discussed how tea culture is evolving in China today, from contemporary brewing methods to innovations by tea makers crafting new styles of tea leaves.
This event was incredibly enriching not only for the participants, but also for us. It was exciting to witness how the way of tea travelled from China to Japan, transforming across time and cultures while still remaining alive today. Although much attention is currently being given to the global matcha boom, tea culture itself has always been in constant evolution. We left feeling recharged and inspired by this exchange around tea – one that spans countries, cultures, languages, and centuries, and continues to thrive today.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined these celebrations and hope you will continue appreciation for Japanese tea throughout the rest of the year.