Does 大さじ always mean 1 Tablespoon, even for tea?


Jim Breen's edict translates 大さじ simply as (American) tablespoon, but I'm
reading directions on a green tea package that says 一人大さじ一杯 and it seems like
a lot of tea for a single 湯のみ. I know there are special utensils used to
measure tea for the tea ceremony, but this is normal green tea and not matcha.
Might 大さじ have a different meaning in the context of tea? Teaspoon sounds more
reasonable.

For example, weblio.jp gives the following definition for 大さじ:

> 容量15ミリリットルの計量スプーン。または、ティースプーンのような比較的大きな匙。大匙。

which I translate as:

> A 15 mL measuring spoon. Or, a fairly large spoon (匙) such as a teaspoon.

Now that second definition is nerve-wracking. Does common sense dictate that
when measuring tea, you reach for a teaspoon as your 大さじ?




This question is more related to culture rather than language. Normally used
measures are as following:

  * 茶さじ according to various sources varies from 2.5 cc to 6cc so it is quite unreliable measure.
  * 小さじ is 5cc
  * 大さじ is 15cc which equals to about 6 grams of tea.
  * カップ is 200cc

Regarding the amount used for this particular tea I would guess this is not
green tea but kind of 麦茶 or, possibly, ほうじ茶 for which using larger amounts is
common. "normal" green tea will be too saturated if used in such amounts.

Some reference found on internet: [measures and
weights](http://www.eurus.dti.ne.jp/~kae-/pan/meyasu.html)

