Matcha & a Book
by Hanly on Feb.01, 2009, under School, The Wisconsin Experience
Today I needed to buy a book (Blues People by Amiri Baraka) I have to read for my ethnic studies comparative literature class. I had waited so long to get the book, considering I need to have it read by Tuesday, that the only place I would be able to get it on time was Rainbow Bookstore. This was the bookstore the professor has ordered the book at. I took the 80 bus down to the Humanities building, then walked down State Street headed towards the capitol. Rainbow Books was near State and Gilman, which is about halfway between campus and the capital. Before I left I made a note to try to find Dobra Tea, a tea house in downtown Madison that sells matcha. Last semester I wanted to try out matcha and upon doing a search I found that Dobra was the closest place that sold it. I had walked down State many times trying to find it as I passed and funny enough it had been right under my nose. Anyways, after buying the book I decided to stop by to try matcha.
I went in and was given a small menu book which had a brief history of the tea house, with the preceding pages having the teas they offer separated by country of origin. With the book came a bell, which I was instructed to ring if I had any questions or when I was ready to order. I thumbed through the pages, already knowing what I wanted but deciding to make sure it was on the menu. I rang the bell, and ordered the Matcha Kyoto. I started reading the book as my order was prepared. I was expecting to just get the tea made like one usually gets at regular places. However, to my surprise Dobra takes their business seriously. The weighter (for lack of a better word) attending me sets up a stool opposite me and brings out a tray with a tea kettle, chasen, chawan, chakin, chaire, chashaku and three small leaf shaped cookies. He asked me if I had had matcha before, I replied that I hadn’t and he began to explain the tea ceremony procedure which traditionally goes with matcha in Japan. He explain that matcha is usually served at a Japanese tea ceremony which is usually an all day affair, but that at Dobra they had adapted it to give their customers the experience.
He began by cleaning the bow as it is traditionally done; by taking some of the hot watter from the kettle and slushing it around the chawan with the chasen. He then emptied it into a pot, and began cleaning the chawan with the chakin, after which he scooped up 2 scoop fulls of matcha with the chashaku and placed them in the chawan. He then took 2 ladle fulls of water from the kettle and dripped into the chawan. He then took the chasen and began whisking the matcha until it was frothy and green. Upon finishing he grasped the chawan gave it a turn, and handed it to me. I took a sip, and it was great. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and attention Dobra gives their teas.
Tags: art, book, funny, rain, teaRelated posts
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