Learn green tea history
Let's learn history behind Japanese green tea.
Green tea history: Green tea was started in China
From China a knowledge of Green tea was carried into Japan, and there the cultivation was established during the 9th century. It is said that the tea seed was brought from China by the famous Buddhist monks Saicho, and Kukai in 805 A.D., and planted first in the south island, Kyushu, whence the cultivation spread northwards.
Uji (Kyoto) cha history of Japanese green tea
In 1911, during the Kamakura period, zen Buddhist Eisai brought back the tea seed from China, which was sent to the Myoue high priest. The tea tree seed was planted in Uji, current Kyoto region. This starts the base of Uji cha.Eisai sets off the matcha brewing and the tea ceremony. This is why the tea ceremony "sado" has deep connections in zen culture. Back then, tea was only for the aristocratic society. Eisai also helped to spread green tea to Buke "Samurai family" level. It is said that Eisai cured shougun Minamoto Sanetomo's hangover with green tea. Eisai wrote a book called "Kissa Youjouki" (Drinking Tea For Health.)
History of Sencha, the most common Nihoncha
Sencha became common to ordinary people in the Edo period (1603-1867.) Buddhist monks from Hukken, China, traveled to Japan, and spread the brewing style. pouring hot water directly on to the green tea leaf. This style settled as the most common Japanese tea drinking style. Nagatani Souen (kyoto) start making Japanese style tea leaf, and it helped to spread the sencha throughout Japan. Gyokuro was also born at the end of the Edo period.
Sen Rikyu (1522-1591)
Sen Rikyu (Sen no Rikyu) was known for establishing the Japanese tea house styles and "wabi cha" style ceremony. Built famous tea houses. Myoukian is the only survived historical tea house built by Rikyu. His term "ichigo ichie" one chance to meet came from the tea ceremony philosophy, where people may only gather for one time to share the time.Trusted by shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he was deeply involved with politics. Rikyu also helped hideyoshi to build garden of Jurakudai castle and owned his house within the castle site. Hideyoshi ordered him to "seppuku" harakiri in the end.
Rikyu is the most famous figure in the Japanese green tea history till this date.