it later became the practice for the host to serve the tea in individual bowls. The guests sip the tea slowly and talk until they have finished drinking. Then they are expected to throw back their hands and take the final sip with a loud sound to show how good the tea is. As the ceremony comes to an end, the guests admire the empty serving bowl for its beauty. The host washes the cups, and the ceremony ends. The formal tea ceremony is certainly not undertaken every time someone drinks tea in Japan, but the tea is always served with much care and politeness.