Chapter 1
The monk who brought matcha
Chapter 2
The science of shade and stone
Chapter 3
The ritual of chado
Chapter 4
The global green wave
Ch 1 · The monk who brought matcha
diego In 1191, the Japanese monk Eisai returned from China with Zen teachings and the very first green tea seeds.
Quiz
Which Chinese dynasty first popularized pressing tea leaves into bricks and grinding them into powder?
diego The volcanic soil and morning mists of Uji, near Kyoto, made it the perfect birthplace for high-quality matcha.
Fun Fact
Zen monks: Zen monks drank matcha to stay awake during 12-hour meditation sessions, thanks to the combination of caffeine and calming L-theanine.
Quiz
In which Japanese region near Kyoto were the first premium tea seeds planted in the 13th century?
Glossary
eisai (noun)
A Japanese Buddhist priest credited with founding the Rinzai school of Zen and popularizing green tea. In 1191, he returned from China with tea seeds to cultivate the powdered beverage in Japan.
A Japanese Buddhist priest credited with founding the Rinzai school of Zen and popularizing green tea. In 1191, he returned from China with tea seeds to cultivate the powdered beverage in Japan.