The Japanese tea ceremony is a traditional ritual for preparing and serving Japanese green-tea, called Matcha. It dates back to the 9th century when tea was first introduced into Japan from China and is still preformed today. These ceremonies are used to make the best tasting tea but it’s about a little more than that. This choreographed ritual is about simplicity, spirituality, and being in the moment. It is a beautiful thing to experience. During the ceremony the tea is often served in chawan tea bowels, which are a form of raku ware. This is a traditional type of Japanese pottery that is hand-shaped and cooked at low firing temperatures. Because of the low temperature, raku pieces are fairly porous. They are often black in color and glazed. But different metallic compounds can be used to give them color, such as iron, copper, and cobalt. In some cases designs such as dragons or the famous Mount Fiji are added to the black bowel. These ones look gorgeous if you want one that is a little more special than the plain black. And because they are hand-formed, it is unlikely that any two pieces are actually the same. Which is pretty cool! You could own something that no one else has a duplicate of. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and designs that every raku piece is unique. Raku ware is a fitting choice for a Japanese tea ceremony considering the word raku translates to enjoyment, comfort, or ease. All words that can be used to describe the feelings produced by the ceremony. If you are in Japan and can attend a Japanese tea ceremony, you really should. It will be like nothing you’ve ever experienced. And one of these bowels would be a great souvenir or gift for someone. They have such a long history behind them and are used in such a special tradition.   Click here to buy now