Ryokan etiquette [How to drink matcha] 3 basic rules!

• Table of Contents
• What is Matcha?
• Matcha etiquette
• Etiquette 1: Eat Japanese sweets first
• Etiquette 2: Bow when you pick up the matcha bowl
• Etiquette 3: Drink from the matcha bowl, avoiding drinking from the front
• Genji-koh serves local Japanese sweets and Nishio matcha.

What is Matcha?

Many people who come to Japan have probably seen "matcha" served as a hospitality treat in sweets. Matcha is made by grinding tea leaves into a powder using a stone mill. It can be mixed into sweets or dissolved in hot water, water, or milk and consumed.

The matcha served as a hospitality drink is made by dissolving matcha powder in hot water and whisking it with a whisk-like device called a chasen. Those who are familiar with matcha in sweets may think it is sweet, but it is actually a little bitter when eaten alone. However, the wonderful aroma is very relaxing.

Matcha etiquette

There is a proper etiquette for drinking matcha. This is because it originally came from the "tea ceremony" which is based on the consideration between the host and the guest. The host makes the matcha with all his heart, and the guest drinks it with respect. That is why there are proper etiquette rules. The etiquette rules vary slightly depending on the school, but basically you should be fine if you keep the following points in mind. They are all easy to follow, so please give them a try.

Etiquette 1: Eat Japanese sweets first

Matcha and Japanese sweets are a set. You may have the Japanese sweets served first, or you may have matcha and Japanese sweets served together, but you should eat the Japanese sweets first. This is because by eating the sweets first, the sweetness remains in your mouth, neutralizing the bitterness of the matcha. Also, matcha can be quite irritating to the stomach when you are hungry, so it makes sense to eat the sweets first.

By the way, be sure to finish the wagashi. The main ingredient is matcha, so if you eat the wagashi and matcha alternately, the taste of the matcha will be diluted.

Etiquette 2: Bow when you pick up the matcha bowl

Once you have the matcha bowl in both hands, give a slight bow as a sign of respect to the host who prepared the matcha.

Etiquette 3: Drink from the matcha bowl, avoiding drinking from the front

The matcha bowl is served to the customer with the front facing them, which is the cleanest side. The customer enjoys looking at that side. Then, to avoid getting the front dirty, the customer rotates the matcha bowl clockwise twice before drinking.

Also, drink matcha while it's still hot. In the tea ceremony, the host will warm the tea bowl with hot water beforehand before serving. This is simply because they want you to drink it when it tastes the best. So when the matcha is served, keep talking and photography to a minimum and drink it straight away.

Genji-koh serves local Japanese sweets and Nishio matcha.

At "Genji-koh" in Minamichita Onsenkyo, Aichi Prefecture, a welcome service is available in the lobby until 5:30 pm, offering local Japanese sweets "Nagisa Mochi" and "matcha" from Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture. When you think of matcha, you may think of Uji in Kyoto, but Nishio City in Aichi Prefecture is the second largest producer of matcha after Kyoto.

Matcha is so rich in nutrients that it is called a Japanese superfood. Moreover, unlike green tea, which is extracted from tea leaves with hot water, you eat the powder as is, so you can get plenty of nutrition. Please enjoy "matcha," a product that Japan is proud of.

Genjiko, Minamichita Onsenkyo, Aichi Genji-koh