Articles of category "tea games"

In Japan, tea drinking has a long history. Brought from China during the Tang Dynasty (618-905), it has already flourished as early as Heian period (794-1185). Tea plants were grown on the grounds of the temples and used by noblemen and priests as a medicinal beverage. In Japan, tea was known as a luxurious product, as comparatively small quantities of it were exported from China. Today tea drinking and the tea game is regarded as an important part of Japanese culture.

The tea party is a formal gathering that is characterized by top tea service for presenting tea, accompanied by sliced cakes, thin sandwiches and cookies. In warm climates, cool drinks are common as well. Traditional tea party games were a characteristic feature of grand houses in the Edwardian and Victorian ages, and the Gilded Age in the United Kingdom and the United States respectively. While the tradition is old-fashioned today, it is still observed in some communities.