Chanoyu
The Japanese tea ceremony — formal preparation of matcha as ritual.
Also known as: sado, chado, Japanese tea ceremony
Chanoyu ("hot water for tea") is the formalized Japanese tea ceremony, codified in the 16th century by Sen no Rikyū and continued through three main schools: Urasenke, Omotesenke, and Mushakōjisenke. A full chanoyu involves multiple types of matcha (usucha, koicha), seasonal sweets, specific bowls, and a choreographed sequence of preparation that can last hours. Most home matcha is informal, but the techniques (whisking, water temperature, tools) all derive directly from chanoyu tradition.