This week is the first in a series of episodes about foods, ingredients, different things that I couldn’t do without a series I’m calling: Smy Fundamentals. I will look at things that I use everyday, things I swear by, things that I’m constantly suggesting to people or…things that I share with people when they ask me, “what’s your secret for x, y or z?” First up!…is something I am so particular about, it’s the first thing I think about when I open my eyes and I have been drinking it for years, decades even!…this episode is all about….green tea! From some of the health benefits, history, Yamamotoyama and shortages. A look at chanoyu tea ceremonies, origins and the folklore of Shennong. Plus some ceramics and Japanese block prints by Nishimura Shigenaga, Torii Kiyohiro, Suzuki Harunobu and Utagawa Kuniyoshi plus a 21st century depiction of a tea ceremony by Emiko Aida.
Yamamotoyama Green tea, loose leaf, my sencha tea of choice
Matcha Baumkuchen cake from K Minamoto Green tea flavoured layered ring shaped sponge cake.
Matcha Baumkuchen detail
Shen Nung. Watercolour.
Date: [between 1800 and 1899?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Illustration/drawing. The god of agriculture Shennong and two boys prepare herbal medicine from the Great Picture Book of Everything. Painted by: Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾北斎 1820s-1840s
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Tripod brazier for sencha teapot, in the form of a demon's head with wide mouth. Made of earthenware. 19th c
c The Trustees of the British Museum
Tripod brazier for sencha teapot, in the form of a demon's head with wide mouth. Made of earthenware. 19th c
c The Trustees of the British Museum
Woodblock print. Print artist: Nishimura Shigenaga 西村重長
Actor Sanjo Kantaro as female tea-seller, selling Uji tea and carrying brazier, jars of tea, and teabowls in baskets. With hand-colouring and lacquer (ink and glue). Inscribed, signed, sealed and marked. 1716-1736 (c.)
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Woodblock print. Print artist: Torii Kiyohiro 鳥居清廣
The Kabuki actors Yamashita Matataro I in role of samurai with plum blossom and Nakamura Tomijuro in role of prostitute kneeling and performing the tea ceremony. With poem. 1755
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Woodblock print. Print artist: Suzuki Harunobu 鈴木春信
Bijinga. Courtesan and her kamuro practising tea-ceremony, a third stands in doorway holding book called Yoshiwara Bijin Awase. Nishiki-e on paper. 1765-1770
© The Trustees of the British Museum
Woodblock print.
Cha no yu 茶の湯 (Preparing tea)
Print artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳Woodblock print, oban tate-e. A kneeling woman boiling water for the tea ceremony. 1843 (circa)
© The Trustees of the British Museum