Spots Topics

Tea was first introduced from China by Buddhist monks who studied religion, when they returned to Japan. They brought it as a medicine or tonic in the 8th century. At that time, the tea drinking custom was exclusive for those in high classes, such as monks and aristocrats. However, over a long period of time, it gradually became popular among the common people.

Eizai was one of the Buddhist monks who studied in China in the 12th century. He brought a new style of tea in which steamed leaves are dried and milled into powder that is called “Matcha”.  He was a monk of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, so Matcha was used for Zen training and ceremonies. These developed into Tea ceremonies later in the 16th century. Eizai was also the first person who wrote a book on tea, the “Kissa Yojoki”(How to stay healthy by drinking tea). 

Shoichi Kokushi was the Buddhist monk who spread the tea seeds in Shizuoka (his home town) in the 13th century.

(by Hiro)