What temae means
Temae refers to the choreographed sequence of movements a host performs to prepare matcha, from carrying in utensils to whisking, serving, and cleaning each piece. Each school, including Urasenke, Omotesenke, and Mushakojisenke, teaches its own catalogue of temae for different seasons, utensils, and levels of formality. A single temae can take years to refine and is treated as a path of practice rather than a fixed recipe. The word literally points to what is done in front of the guest.
Also called
Temae also appears as tea procedure.