The Universal Language of Tea

Photo by Abigail Mason

I slid off my shoes at the entrance of the Tokyo home, and placed them neatly in the row of already removed shoes. I ducked to avoid hitting my head on the top of the door frame, and stepped onto the cool tatami mat that covered most of the home’s floor. The tea master presumably heard the sound of feet shuffling across the mat, and suddenly popped her head around the corner of the adjacent room. She didn’t speak any English, but I had found that to be the case in most of Tokyo, and had learned to adapt. We greeted each other with a bow, and she motioned me towards the entrance of the next room. I had done some basic research, prior to my visit, about the ritual and tradition of the Japanese tea ceremony, but my knowledge quickly proved to be rudimentary. The ceremony can only be described as a combination of choreographed and precise movements. I watched, in awe, as the tea master swirled and poured—each step more complex than the last. And then it was my turn. I knelt down in front of the bowls and varied ceremony tools and blundered my way through the choreography.

The culture of tea extends far past the simple act of drinking. Traditions surrounding tea can be found in many countries around the world, from formal tea ceremonies, to the communal act of drinking tea. During social engagements in Morocco, Maghrebi mint tea is offered on a tray to guests. The tea is often served three times, as dictated in the Maghrebi proverb:

“The first glass is as gentle as life,

the second is as strong as love,

the third is as bitter as death.”

China’s tea tradition is steeped in religious and philosophical teaching related to cultural ideas of “balance, harmony, fulfilment and enjoyment.” The drinking of tea is closely linked to physical, social, and spiritual health. India has the highest rate of Chai (tea) consumption. Chai stands can be found lining the streets throughout the country and serve as “centre[s] for gossip and news amongst the locals.” In a sense, tea is a universal symbol of community. It is meant to be shared.

Although my performance of the Japanese tea ceremony was far from perfect, I was struck by its role as a facilitator of community and connection. The tea master and I could not communicate through words, but the ceremonious activity of making and drinking tea together allowed us to interact and develop a connection in a different way.