The act of serving food and drinks to visiting customers, and providing them with warm hospitality is called おもてなし (hospitality). Japanese sometimes serve tea and sweets to show our hospitality to our customers.
How to Serve and Drink Tea
1.お茶を出す
In recent years, in addition to making tea, many companies are also serving drinks in plastic bottles. When we say “tea”, we don't just serve hot green tea; we also sometimes serve other drinks such as coffee and black tea. Tea is served to the customer first, starting from the highest ranking among the customers. Place the teacup on the teacup saucer, say something like どうぞ (Please) or 失礼します (Excuse me), then place it to the right of the person drinking it. Place it quietly in a place where it won't get in the way of the other person, and do not put it on top of other documents.
In recent years, in addition to making tea, many companies are also serving drinks in plastic bottles. When we say “tea”, we don't just serve hot green tea; we also sometimes serve other drinks such as coffee and black tea. Tea is served to the customer first, starting from the highest ranking among the customers. Place the teacup on the teacup saucer, say something like どうぞ (Please) or 失礼します (Excuse me), then place it to the right of the person drinking it. Place it quietly in a place where it won't get in the way of the other person, and do not put it on top of other documents.
2. お茶を飲む
When someone offers you tea and suggests どうぞお飲みください (Please drink), say いただきます (Thank you for the drink). If your boss or senior colleague is present, wait until the other people of higher rank than you start drinking. When drinking tea, leave the teacup saucer on the table and do not lift it. If tea is served with a lid, the younger person should open the lid, turn it over, insert the lid under the teacup saucer, and place it on the right side. When you finish drinking, put the lid back on the teacup.
When someone offers you tea and suggests どうぞお飲みください (Please drink), say いただきます (Thank you for the drink). If your boss or senior colleague is present, wait until the other people of higher rank than you start drinking. When drinking tea, leave the teacup saucer on the table and do not lift it. If tea is served with a lid, the younger person should open the lid, turn it over, insert the lid under the teacup saucer, and place it on the right side. When you finish drinking, put the lid back on the teacup.
3. お菓子を出す
Sometimes sweets are served with tea. When a customer brings a souvenir and you eat it together. You can say おもたせで失礼ですが (I'm sorry for the inconvenienc), which is actually a way of saying “I'm sorry for giving you the same thing you gave me”.
Have you ever received or offered drinks at Japanese companies? Share in the comments!
Sometimes sweets are served with tea. When a customer brings a souvenir and you eat it together. You can say おもたせで失礼ですが (I'm sorry for the inconvenienc), which is actually a way of saying “I'm sorry for giving you the same thing you gave me”.
Have you ever received or offered drinks at Japanese companies? Share in the comments!
