The word kaiseki originally comes from the Zen practice of placing a warm stone (kai, “bosom”; seki, “stone”) inside the front of one’s robe to ease hunger during periods of fasting.
In the tea ceremony, this idea came to represent a simple, seasonal meal served before tea.
Today, kaiseki can also refer to an elaborate multi-course Japanese cuisine, while cha-kaiseki specifically means the meal served as part of a chaji, where it prepares guests for the tea that follows through modest portions, seasonal ingredients, and thoughtful hospitality.