Chawan question

[hyakuraiju]

This might sound like a stupid question, but..
Is it morally okay to make matcha outside of a tea ceremony, like alone at home? Do people in Japan drink it at home when they feel like it?

[Alex]

I dont know about tradition or how this is seen in Japan (I'll let someone else jump in) but IMO it would be immoral to deny yourself a beautiful tea experience when you're on your own relaxing at home. Enjoy.

[TwoPynts]

This might sound like a stupid question, but..
Is it morally okay to make matcha outside of a tea ceremony, like alone at home? Do people in Japan drink it at home when they feel like it?

If you drink matcha outside the confines of the tea ceremony, you do so at your own risk.
They will hunt you.
They will find you.
They will make you pay!

[Victoria]

Much more is enjoyed informally I would think!

[Chip]

In Japan, more and more people are enjoying matcha in non traditional settings, or creating their own style of personal ceremony. Though they surely drink more Coke ...

Nothing on the label says you must enjoy it ceremoniously. Just make it and enjoy it.

Make your matcha however you enjoy it, enjoy your matcha however you make it.

[xmfi]

I've only had matcha in a Japanese home once. I gave a family whose home I was staying in a box of locally-made wagashi; they seemed to think pretty highly of it and said it'd be best if eaten with matcha. The kids especially seemed to think it was sort of funny to make matcha at home (actually, I think they had to go buy some-- they didn't have any on hand).

While drinking matcha at home-- let alone by oneself-- may not be a normal, day-to-day activity for most Japanese today, I don't think you drinking it outside of tea ceremony is a moral question. Drinking matcha is just too time-consuming, expensive, or high-maintenance (and maybe a little old fashioned or stuffy seeming) for most people. If you like it and have the time for it, I don't see a problem with drinking it casually. It fits your needs, just like the bag and bottled tea many Japanese typically drink fits theirs.

Edit: Chip's post also made me think of eating matcha ice cream, matcha-flavored cookies, matcha lattes, etc., as well as drinking koicha and matcha in non-ceremonial settings. So, yes, there are a lot of casual, non-traditional ways to enjoy matcha, too.

[entropyembrace]

matcha can be casual too!

Today before school I whipped up a quick bowl of matcha and slurped it down just before I ran out the door...I´m finding it quicker and easier to make then regular leaf tea actually.

I use a chawan, bamboo whisk and scoop and a fine mesh tea strainer from a teapot to shift the matcha...but I don´t do any kind of ceremony, I just follow the basic steps to get a good bowl of evenly mixed matcha with a bit of foam on top.

Also like others have mentioned...it´s good for adding to baking or milkshakes and smoothies I like blending it with vanilla rice milk sometimes too.

[britt]

matcha can be casual too!

Today before school I whipped up a quick bowl of matcha and slurped it down just before I ran out the door...I´m finding it quicker and easier to make then regular leaf tea actually.

I use a chawan, bamboo whisk and scoop and a fine mesh tea strainer from a teapot to shift the matcha...but I don´t do any kind of ceremony, I just follow the basic steps to get a good bowl of evenly mixed matcha with a bit of foam on top.

Also like others have mentioned...it´s good for adding to baking or milkshakes and smoothies I like blending it with vanilla rice milk sometimes too.

I agree it can be easier to make matcha than sencha or gyokuro.

If you like ice cream, try mixing some matcha into softened Haagen Daaz vanilla.

[britt]

This might sound like a stupid question, but..
Is it morally okay to make matcha outside of a tea ceremony, like alone at home? Do people in Japan drink it at home when they feel like it?

If you make matcha at home don't be surprised if you start seeing ninjas stalking you!

Some serious tea ceremony fanatics may have a problem with making matcha in an informal setting, but I think most people who drink it do so very casually. In Japan matcha is used in many products, both food and drink, and is even mixed with milk. A well known Japanese vendor of chawans told me he sometimes adds milk to make a matcha latte.

[Sydney]

I prepare matcha whenever I feel like it, and my conscience doesn't bother me.

[Seeker]

britt said it...

and now we've done it. We've exposed ourselves in a public forum.

...sigh


ZOMG!!! ...(the ninjas are coming!)



...run!

[rabbit]

I've had matcha made on the counter with a *gasp* metal wisk... in a *gasp*... CUP!

[entropyembrace]

I've had matcha made on the counter with a *gasp* metal wisk... in a *gasp*... CUP!

I´ve done that in a cereal bowl.

[hyakuraiju]

Thanks for the replies and good points on other uses(ice cream udon, ect). I will be sure to drink it during the daytime though, so as to avoid ninjas.