Tea Cultures of Japan

Abstract

In the 21st century, the archaic form of powdered green tea, matcha, has become a global superfood fad, bringing the traditional practices that maintained matcha production for centuries into greater visibility as well. This article surveys the major historical uses of tea in Japan from introduction of the substance until the present day. Special focus is concentrated on matcha and the “Japanese tea ceremony” that has come to define Japanese high culture and persists as a living practice centered on a consumable beverage but also encompassing arts, philosophies, and political histories.