How to Find Tea Merchant in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Discover how to locate the elusive Tea Merchant in Assassin’s Creed Shadows with our comprehensive guide. Unlock secrets and enhance your gameplay!
"The Perfect Gift" is a pivotal main story quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, blending cultural immersion with assassination plotting. Your goal: Master tea ceremony etiquette to infiltrate Imai Sokyu’s inner circle and uncover the Golden Teppo.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows: How to Find Tea Merchant

📍 Quest Start & Objectives

• Unlocks After: Completing "Searching Sakai"
• Location: Izumi Settsu (Sakai area)
• Main Goals:
• Find the tea merchant
• Meet Sen no Rikyu (historic tea master)
• Learn tea ceremony etiquette
• Choose a gift for Sokyu
• Obtain a kosode (Dress for Success side quest)

🍵 Step 1: Locate the Tea Merchant

Final Thoughts

"The Perfect Gift" brilliantly merges historical authenticity with assassin tactics. Take your time—the tea ceremony is one of Shadows’ most atmospheric missions.

The merchant roams three possible locations:

Western Settsu (near river crossings)

Northern Sakai (market stalls)

Outdoor stalls (south of Sakai’s port)

🔹 Pro Tip: Check your map for a tea cup icon—this marks the merchant’s current spot.

🎎 Step 2: Meeting Sen no Rikyu

• The merchant introduces you to Sen no Rikyu, a legendary tea master.
• Why He Matters:
  • Teaches you critical tea ceremony customs
  • Later helps upgrade your Hideout’s Tea House (post-mission)
• Follow him to his home for the next phase.

🪑 Step 3: Mastering Tea Ceremony Etiquette

At Rikyu’s house, you’ll learn:
✔ How to bow: Choose "Bow halfway" (sign of equality)
✔ Tea preparation: Watch the ritual carefully (hints for later)
✔ Gift selection: Pick one for Sokyu (see options below)

🎁 Gift Choices & Implications

Gift	Symbolism	Canonical Pick?
Yixing Teapot	Luxury, wealth	No
Tea-Leaf Jar	Tradition, purity	No
Bamboo Ladle	Humility, harmony	✅ Yes

🔹 No gameplay difference, but the bamboo ladle aligns with Rikyu’s philosophy.

👘 Step 4: Secure a Kosode (Dress for Success)

Before attending Sokyu’s ceremony, you must complete:

• Side Quest: "Dress for Success"
• Objective: Steal silk from pirates to craft a kosode (traditional robe).
• Reward: Enables entry to "The Tea Ceremony" mission.

🎯 Mission Rewards & Progression

• Unlocks: "The Tea Ceremony" (next Golden Teppo story mission)
• Key Lore: Deeper insight into Sokyu’s motives
• Hideout Upgrade: Sen no Rikyu joins your Tea House, offering buffs later.

💡 Expert Tips for Success

Listen to Rikyu’s dialogue—hints at future Hideout upgrades.

Save before choosing a gift to see all ceremonial variations.

Complete Dress for Success ASAP—it’s mandatory for progression.

Explore Sakai’s market for additional lore scrolls about tea culture.

🎭 What’s Next? The Tea Ceremony Assassination

With your gift and kosode ready, Sokyu’s tea party becomes a stealthy playground for:
✔ Eavesdropping on key targets
✔ Poisoning tea (optional)
✔ Silent takedowns amidst the ceremony

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