There are two kinds of matcha, thick tea (koicha 濃茶) and thin tea (usucha 薄茶). Thin tea is popular now so let me introduce you to the manners for drinking tea following the Urasenke school of Japanese tea ceremony.
Usually some sweets are served first, so please eat the sweets before you drink tea. The bitterness of the tea will be complemented by the taste of sweets.
Manners for drinking thin tea
Your bowl of tea is served, now．
Next, you take it with your right hand and place it between you and the former guest inside the edge of your tatami mat.
Bow and say “I’ll join you” (Oshoban itashimasu).
Place the tea bowl between you and the next guest, then bow to the guest and say “Excuse me for going before you” (Osakini).
Then put it in front of you inside the edge of the tatami, and bow and say to the host “Thank you for the tea” (Otemae chodai itashimasu).
Pick the bowl up and put it in the palm of your left hand.
Bow your head while raising the bowl slightly, in a gesture of thanks.
Turn the bowl clockwise twice in order to avoid its front and drink the tea to the last sip.
Wipe the place where you drank from with your right thumb and index finger, and wipe your fingers with your packed paper (kaishi).
Turn the tea bowl back so that the front of the bowl faces you.
Place it outside the edge of your tatami.
Then, admire it in the spirit of “One opportunity, one encounter” (Ichigo Ichie).
Place your palms on the tatami and take a closer view of the tea bowl.
Pick it up with both hands and rest your elbows on your knees.
Then turn the front toward the host..
There is another tea procedure for serving tea using a table and chairs. The most important thing in the way of tea is that you relax and enjoy seasonal utensils and sweets.
