Have you heard about the history of Korean tea?
Tea culture flourished during the Goryeo Dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries. Not only the royal family and the nobles, but also monks routinely drank matcha. Korean Buddhist tea ceremonies focused on spiritual awakening which symbolized purification, absorption, and meditation attained by making and drinking tea. In many cities and towns there were tea shops on the street, where ordinary people enjoyed drinking tea. Tea played an important role in many aspects of Korean culture, such as poetry, drama, art, and song. On formal occasions, tea drinkers often performed the traditional ceremony known as Ch’a-rye, meaning “Tea Ritual,” before drinking their tea. While tea rituals played an important role in Korean culture, many opted to simply drink matcha for casual refreshment.