noun
New Year's tea made with the first drawn water
A traditional Japanese tea prepared on New Year's Day using the first water drawn from the well (wakamizu). It is believed to bring good health and ward off evil for the year.
元旦に大福茶をいただくと、一年無病息災で過ごせるといわれています。
It is said that drinking 大福茶 on New Year's Day ensures a year of good health and safety.
祖母は毎年、若水で大福茶を点てるのを楽しみにしている。
Every year, my grandmother looks forward to preparing 大福茶 with the first water of the year.
The name combines 大 (great) and 福 (fortune) with 茶 (tea), reflecting the wish for great fortune in the new year. The variant 大服茶 uses 服 (dose/drink) instead of 福. The exact origin is uncertain, but it is a long-standing New Year's custom.