When I think of Japanese tea culture it immediately conjures up images of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. An elaborate and refined ritual of preparing and serving green tea. In all honesty, these images discouraged me from learning more about Japanese tea for a long time as I felt ill-equipped to understand and comprehend "The Way of Tea". Fortunately, my tea studies have opened up the world of Japanese tea just enough for it not to feel so overwhelming. Peeling back the edges, I love what I see, a wonderfully accepting, diverse and rich tea culture. Having shared the fun-side of our tea...