History of Japanese Tea
The History of Japanese Tea 🍵
Japanese tea culture dates back over 1,200 years to the Nara (710–794) and Heian (794–1185) periods. During this time, Japanese envoys travelling to Tang-dynasty China brought tea seeds and knowledge of tea cultivation back to Japan.
Among them were influential Buddhist monks such as Saicho, Kukai, and Eichu, who helped introduce tea as part of monastic life. These early tea seeds are believed to be the origin of Japanese tea.
In 815, Buddhist monk Eichu famously served tea to Emperor Saga, marking the first recorded mention of tea in Japanese history. Emperor Saga later encouraged tea cultivation, helping establish tea as a valued cultural practice.
At first, tea was rare and reserved for the imperial court and Buddhist monks.
Saicho (767-822)
Tea and the Samurai
During the Kamakura period, the monk Myōan Eisai further promoted tea culture after studying in China. He wrote Kissa Yōjōki (“Drinking Tea for Health”), highlighting tea’s health benefits and spiritual value.
As tea production expanded, it became popular among the samurai class. “Tocha” (tea tasting competitions) became fashionable, and tea evolved into both a social and cultural ritual.
Myōan Eisai (1141-1215)
The Birth of the Tea Ceremony
From the 15th to 16th centuries, tea masters such as Murata Jukō, Takeno Joo, and Sen no Rikyu refined the philosophy of wabi-cha — a style that embraced simplicity, humility, and natural beauty.
Their teachings laid the foundation for the modern Japanese tea ceremony, which remains a deeply respected cultural tradition today.
Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591)
The Development of Sencha (Green Tea)
In 1738, tea farmer Nagatani Sōen developed the steaming and rolling method that created modern sencha — Japan’s most widely consumed green tea.
This innovation transformed tea production and made high-quality green tea accessible to everyday people.
Nagatani Sōen (1681-1778)
From Ancient Roots to Modern Japan
Today, Japanese tea — from ceremonial matcha to daily sencha — reflects centuries of craftsmanship, mindfulness, and tradition.
At EdoMatcha, we honour this history by sourcing authentic, JAS-certified organic Japanese tea directly from trusted farmers, bringing true Japanese tea culture to Australia.