Tenshin was originally a snack designed to satisfy the hunger pangs of meditating Zen priests. Such snacks might have been dumplings, rice-cakes, and udon or soba noodles which were eaten before the taking of tea. Nowadays, tenshin, similar to chakaiseki, is a light meal served at a chaji, or tea-gathering. Unlike kaiseki, however, a tenshin meal consists of fewer dishes which are served all at once on one tray. At an informal occasion, items are placed in Bento containers and served with Sake (Japanese Rice wine).
