Japanese Tea Ceremony

[AsahinaKimi]

[Kablooie]

1. I've tried maccha, (green tea) at a tea ceremony. It's unusual.

It was very thick and looked like green paint and had a very strong, bitter green tea taste.
There are several Japanese confections and some candies with maccha taste.

[AsahinaKimi]

2. Green Tea (matcha)

is supposed to be some what bitter. I enjoy the flavor, with or without the sweet.

[Kablooie]

3. I use the maccha spelling because its more consistent with standard romanized Japanese.

Both are acceptable according to Wikipedia.

I agree the basic taste is pleasing.
The thick texture was the most surprising aspect.

[AsahinaKimi]

4. The matcha I get from Japantown comes in a tin..

The lowest one was 35 dollars. It will last a while if kept in the fridge.

[Kablooie]

5. I attended a Tea Cermony at Meiji Jingu.

It was basically a demonstration of the tea ceremony ritual for Japanese tourists.
There were a few of us Americans who were guests of our Japanese co-workers.
We all knelt on tatamis and watched it being prepared.
Then she passed the cup around so we could all take a sip.
We had to hold and sip it in a prescribed formal manner.
There was a short lesson ahead of time how to do this.
It was fascinating and felt deeply Japanese.

[AsahinaKimi]

6. Yes, I have done this before

during our Sakura Matsuri.