Chado...., The Art of Living.
"To have the mind to enter the path is, indead, to have inherent teacher." Rikyu
Dear Michian friends,
Since my last post , “ Healing Lunch within$10 in Nara” in February, …, the time just flying, as same as you all! I am promising myself… that I will be resuming this happiness messenger to you all.
It’s so easy to make an excuse and skipping for something I can control or no one pushes me. How about you?
“To have the mind to enter the path this pass is, indeed, to have an inherent teacher,” the first verses from Rikyu’s Hundred Verses. No matter where I am, how and what busy I am doing..…, chado have been a part of my life. Every day is new meeting and learning, more than ever, deeply rooting into my life.
2024…, the year of dragon has been a meaningful year for my life. Three Japan trips, and one more to come in two weeks. I thank for my family, friends, and work related events, new articles. I am also a happiest mom preparing for upcoming my dearest daughter’s wedding at Kasuga shrine, Nara, Japan…, it’s like a dream comes true.
Finally…, you are reaching to the article, similar to the CNBC one… , but I added extra personal feeling, recalling my late dearest mom…, always loved having matcha with me… smiling and said, “ あー美味しい“ so delicious and healing.
Chado, the Art of Living in Peace and Happiness in daily life.
Growing up in Nara, the oldest capital in Japan, surrounded by tea fields, matcha has been a part of my life. The full aroma and the deep bitter and sweet umami taste since my memories starts, green tea evokes so much nostalgia for me.
I started a formal chado ( tea ceremony) practice in my high school year in Kyoto and continue practicing here in New York. The lesson from my late tea master, “continue practice until the last moment of one’s life as we are always beginners,” has been rooted into my life deeply.
You might like some of matcha ice cream, matcha-late, or matcha cake. Then, do you know exactly what matcha is?
Matcha, 抹茶 in Japanese, 抹(matsu) means powder, 茶(cha) means tea. It’s one of the highest quality of teas in taste, color, flavor as well as nutritional level. Before the harvest season in May, they cover tea plants to avoid direct sunshine. So, leaves remain soft and tender…, concentrate umami and aroma.
My day starts with an offering prayer and a bowl of matcha to ancestors. Then for myself and often sharing with family members. This daily calm and peaceful ritual are my secret power sauce for a day.
Chado, known as Japanese tea ceremony, though it’s also known as “Way of Living”, or even the “Art of Living”. There are four important principles; Wa-和Kei-敬, Sei-清, Jaku-寂、(harmony, respects, purity, and tranquility) deeply rooting into our practice. I think those are boundless universal principal in our society, too.
When I make a bowl of matcha for myself or for others at any occasion, each time I focus only for making the best bowl of matcha as it would be the only one occasion, calls Ichigo ichie (一期一会). When I saw their joy an peaceful face, we make unconditional harmony, the prestigious moment. Sen no Rikyu, a creator of Chado, one of this hounded rules says practice starting from one, then, two, three… to ten, then back from ten to one, the beginning. Urasenke Grand Tea Master is the 15th generation of Rikyu family, and now he is one hundred and one years old. He is actively traveling globally promoting peace though a bowl of matcha as peace ambassador.
Matcha is well known in nutritional biological properties, catechin, theanine, fiber, vitamin A, C, and K, protein, polyphenol, and caffeine.. Study indicates numerous health benefit of matcha.
1. Mindfulness
2. Communication and community ( Ikigai, business performance)
3. Anti-inflammatory ( anti-cancer)
4. Memory and behavior improvement ( For dementia, Alzheimer, and depression)
5. Metabolism improvements, gut and brain health ( Chronic disease)
6. Muscle strengthen
Catechin, especially calls EGCGepigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) , is known high in antioxidative agent beneficial in autoinflammatory and anti-cancer benefit. Combine with quercetin, other type of polyphenol controls blood sugar and optimize metabolism and immune function.
Caffeine stimulates brain function alert while theanine relaxing brain keep our brain from aging. So, this combination with theanine, EGCG, and caffeine, regular consumption helps memory and cognitive function support.
Why don’t you incorporate a bowl of matcha into your daily routine?
How to make a bowl of matcha.
Must have items
Matcha 1.5-2 g, I use two scoop of sift matcha by chashaku, a bamboo tea scoop
Approx. 60ml ( 2 oz) of boiled water ( 70-80F)
Chasen, bamboo tea whisk…Being Nara native, I spoiled myself with “Takayama Chasen , “ especially by Master Tango, the 20th generation of tea whisk master. However, you can use regular, but I strongly recommend use bamboo tea whisk which you can find in an Asian store and or online. If you cannot find it…., alternate with small kitchen hand whisk or even mason jar with lid for start, (but no blender, please)
Tea bowl prefered, or wide mug cup, (or cereal bowl )
1. Place ½ cup of hot water into your bowl and whisk several times to purify and warm up bowl and wisk. Drain hot water and wiped with clean cloth or paptert towel.
2. Place 2g of sift matcha on the bottom of bowl, then pour hot water slowly, enjoy aroma
3. Hold bowl with your left hand ( of your righty)、staring slowly…, then whisk vertically about 20 seconds. I call it’s the gift of Zen moment .
Cook Well, Eat Well, Love Yourself
Michiko Tomioka, RDN, CDN, IFNCP. —https://michinutrition.com/—-
Michiko’s Vegan Matcha Cake
We love desserts to treat ourselves!
This very nutritious and tasty “Yakuzen” cake are made from medicine foods, packing antioxidants, fiber, and omega-3s to make our gut and brain happy!!
Let’s enjoy your life with this triple free; (cholesterol, dairy, and guilt free) yakuzen cake. You can keep those treats for 2-3 days at room temperature and up to a week in a refrigerator. Why not make extra with variety of flavors for you and your loved one.
Yield: 6inch cake pan or 10 cup cakes
Ingredients:
Dry mix
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour, sifted
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp sea salt
1 and ½ TBS matcha, cacao, cinnamon, yuzu, or any.
Wet mix
½ cup soy milk, unsweetened
½ cup apple sauce, unsweetened
1 tablespoon ground flax seeds soaked with 3 tablespoons water
¼ cup avocado or flaxseed oil (or EV olive oil)
1/4~1/2 cup muscovado or brown sugar**
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp maple syrup (Optional for extra sweetness)
”>70% dark chocolate for extra chocolate
**organic cane sugar for lighter finish
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees
2. In a medium bowl, place all dried ingredients and whisk to combine
3. In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients until thoroughly mixed.
4. Pour dry ingredients into wet mix in three batches, gently mixing after each addition until the batter is smooth.
5. Pour batter into a well-oiled (cooking spray recommended) cake pan and bake for about 30-35 min (20 minutes for cupcakes)
6. Let cool for 30 minutes on a cooling rack.
Serving suggestions:
Dust with powdered sugar and matcha, berries, homemade cranberry sauce, yakuzen -anko (azuki paste) as desired.
