The
Way to Serve Japanese Tea
By Etsuko Kurimasa
Sit
erect on the tatami mat in the seiza position and bow before entering
the tea room.
Look
at the hanging scroll and bow. After bowing, look at the hanging
scroll again and the flowers (chabana). Then eat the Japanese sweets
laid out.
First,
take the chopsticks with your right hand, then change them to your
left hand. Second, touch the bowl of sweets with your hand and take
a Japanese sweet.
Third,
hold the kaishi paper and only eat a little at a time.
Greet
the tea master and the person sitting next to you.
Take
the bowl in your right hand and put it in your left hand. Turn the
bowl twice clockwise with your right hand and then drink.
After
you finish drinking, wipe the lip of the bowl with your right hand
and forefinger.
Next,
turn the bowl twice from this side to the other side facing the
tea master. Admire the bowl, then return it to the tea master.
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