Lange Theeceremonie

Lange Theeceremonie

Equipment for Tea Ceremony 
Chakin - Small rectangular white linen or hemp cloth mainly used to wipe the tea bowl. The host, Geisha and guests must have one of their own. 
Chawan (Tea Bowl) - Deep bowl for autumn/winter. Irregularities and imperfections are prized; they are often features prominently as the "front" of the bowl 
Chaki (Tea Caddies) - Tea leaf container (In this case it will hold the Jasmine teabags) 
Tea Scoop - They are used to scoop tea from the tea caddy (For show) 
Whisk - Tea Whisk, with correct motions they use this brush to mix the tea (For Show) 
(And of course the teacup in which the water and jasmine teabags have had some time to set) 
Incence sticks 
Cd player and japanese rustic surrounding music 
  
All the tools for tea ceremony are handled with exquisite care. They are scrupulously cleaned before and after each use and before storing.  
  
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The Ceremony 
  
The host -- male or female -- almost always wears a kimono. Proper attire for guests is kimono or subdued formal wear. Tea ceremonies may take place outside (in which case some kind of seating will usually be provided for guests, whether benches or chairs, or even woven straw tatami mats) or inside, either in a tea room or a tea house, but tea ceremonies can be performed nearly anywhere. Generally speaking, the longer and more formal the ceremony, and the more important the guests, the more likely the ceremony will be performed indoors, on tatami mats.

Guests may be served a light, simple meal called a "tenshin", or a special kind of full-course meal called "kaiseki" or "chakaiseki". 
If no meal is served, the host will proceed directly to the serving of a small sweet or sweets. Sweets are eaten from special paper called kaishi, which each guest carries, often in a decorative wallet or tucked into the breast of the kimono. 
  
Each utensil - including the tea bowl, and tea scoop - is then ritually cleaned in the presence of the guests in a precise order and using prescribed motions. The utensils are placed in an exact arrangement according to the ritual being performed. When the ritual cleaning and preparation of the utensils is complete, the host will place a measured amount of tea when its ready in separate (or a single) bowls, the host places it out and, depending on the circumstances, a Geisha takes it to the guest (when more then 3) or the guest comes after it (less then 3). 
  
Conversation is kept to a minimum throughout. Guests relax and enjoy the atmosphere created by the sounds of nature, the smell of the incense and tea, and the beauty and simplicity of the simply decorated Tea Room. 
  
Bows are exchanged between the host and guest of honour when the tea is exchanged. The guest then bows to the second guest, and raises the bowl in a gesture of respect to the host. The guest rotates the bowl to avoid drinking from its front, takes a sip, murmurs the prescribed phrase, and then takes two or three more sips before wiping the rim with his Chakin, rotating the bowl to its original position, and passing it to the next guest with a bow. The procedure is repeated until all guests have taken tea from the same bowl, and the bowl is returned to the host. In some ceremonies, each guest will drink from an individual bowl, but the order of serving and drinking is the same. 
  
After all the guests have taken tea, the host cleans the utensils in preparation for putting them away. The guest of honour could request that the host allow the guests to examine some of the utensils, and each guest in turn examines and admires each item, including the tea caddy and the tea scoop. The items are treated with extreme care and reverence as they may be priceless, irreplaceable, handmade antiques, and guests often use a special brocaded cloth to handle them. 
  
The host then collects the utensils, and the guests leave the tea house. The host bows from the door, and the ceremony is over. A tea ceremony can last up to four hours, depending on the type of ceremony performed, the number of guests, and the types of meal and tea served. (In our case up to an hour max)

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NOTE: 
Only Nobles are given the privilege to experience a tea ceremony