Japan

The history of tea in Japan dates back to the 9th century, although it was not until the 12th century that tea became popular among the upper classes and Zen Buddhist monks. In the 15th century, tea drinking gained spiritual significance when Zen Buddhist tea masters developed Chado, The Way of Tea. Japanese tea processing evolved over time, with steaming becoming the prevalent method in the 18th century. Today, Japan is known for its vibrant and umami-taste teas like gyokuro, sencha, matcha, and hojicha.