Complete Japanese ceramic matcha set.
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A traditional Japanese set for preparing matcha. It includes a handmade ceramic bowl in black, white, and red with purple, a whisk holder in white, black, and blue, a spoon, and a bamboo whisk.

The history of green tea in China dates back to the 8th century, and the method of making powdered tea from steamed dried leaves became popular in the 12th century. Matcha was discovered by a Buddhist monk, Myoan Eisai, and introduced to Japan. Eisai realized that consuming matcha improved his Zen meditation sessions, creating a state of calm alertness. (Today, we know this is due to the interaction between matcha's caffeine and L-theanine). As the benefits of matcha became more recognized, it became the foundation for the refined art of the Japanese tea ceremony or "chado."

Drinking matcha not only assisted Zen monks in their meditation efforts but also became a means to achieve enlightenment. Offering a bowl of tea to the Buddha was part of the daily temple practices. A modest form of the tea ceremony, which has survived to this day, carries a message of beauty found in simplicity, evoking admiration even in the West, appearing in the 16th century. It was a response to the elaborate and luxurious style favored by the Japanese aristocracy, which imitated Chinese patterns. The radical simplicity was encouraged, among others, by the monk Murata Shuko, who recognized that the eternal law of Buddha is revealed through the simple act of filling a bowl with hot water. The beauty of the tea ceremony arises from the harmony between the host's mind and their guests. The spirit of tea is expressed in four concepts: peace, purity, respect, and the aforementioned harmony. A ceremony performed correctly dispels concerns, reflecting the perfection of nature and human activities.

A tea house—a remarkably small structure, nearly minimalist in expression, with thin walls, a flat roof, and empty walls—serves as a backdrop for the careful practice of preparing and serving the drink between host and guests. The focus on the delicate, sensory experience celebrates the fleeting beauty of objects and careful gestures.

Over the centuries, "chado" continued to spread throughout Japan, including not only the samurai class but all levels of society. There are many schools of Japanese tea ceremony that have evolved throughout its long history and are still active today.

Today, the matcha tea ceremony provides opportunities for gathering, exchanging ideas, deepening understanding, and expressing care and continuity of tradition.

"Those who cannot feel the simplicity of great things by themselves are capable of ignoring the greatness of small things in others." – written in an essay collection titled "The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzo, one of the first Japanese advocates for traditional art, craftsmanship, and artistic techniques in the early 20th century.