 You may already know that the Japanese have a special way of preparing green tea known as the Japanese tea ceremony. The tea ceremony is very complicated, and it requires several years of practice to perform it correctly. Even so, it is very popular in Japan and has become an important part of Japanese culture. The history of the tea ceremony began when tea was first brought to Japan from China in the ninth century. Three centuries later, two major events important to the evolution of the ceremony happened: Zen Buddhism was introduced to Japan and matcha (powdered green tea) became very popular. In the beginning, the preparation of matcha was a ritual performed at Zen temples. The drink was believed to have health benefits and was known to help monks stay awake during long periods of meditation. Over the years, the tea ceremony became more and more popular amongst the rich and eventually came to be practiced within all social classes. Today, many high schools and universities have tea clubs, and there are a variety of courses available for those interested in learning the history and practice of the tea ceremony. Courses range from teaching very traditional Zen-like practice to modern courses that help people integrate the tea ceremony into their private or office life. New students usually start learning by observing advanced students. There are typically three stages to learning the tea ceremony. First, students learn how to properly open and close the sliding doors and walk on the tatami mat. Next, they learn how to clean the tea equipment and care for all the tools. Finally, after mastering these skills, students learn the tea preparation itself. Although it may sound simple, it takes years of study and plenty of expensive classes to become an expert! | 
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