The Game That Changed Japanese Tea Cups
Historically, a popular game called Tocha (tea-tasting competition) involved tasting different teas to distinguish authentic tea from imitations. It was during this era that black tea bowls (kuro-chawan) first came into use.
This suggests that participants focused heavily on aroma and flavor. Alternatively, it might mean that historical tea leaves had such distinct visual differences that the tea's appearance alone gave away its identity—requiring a dark backdrop to keep the test fair. In any case, this story shows just how passionately people anticipated and enjoyed their tea.
Historically, a popular game called Tocha (tea-tasting competition) involved tasting different teas to distinguish authentic tea from imitations. It was during this era that black tea bowls (kuro-chawan) first came into use.
This suggests that participants focused heavily on aroma and flavor. Alternatively, it might mean that historical tea leaves had such distinct visual differences that the tea's appearance alone gave away its identity—requiring a dark backdrop to keep the test fair. In any case, this story shows just how passionately people anticipated and enjoyed their tea.