By now I’m sure all of you have seen pictures of videos of people preparing bowls of matcha tea.
You may be wondering, what’s that Matcha Whisk they are using called? It’s called the chasen or bamboo matcha whisk, and in this article, we’re going to teach you all about it.
We’re going to start by briefly discussing the design and advantages of the whisk, then we will go into more detail about how to use it.
By the time you finish this article, you should be able to prepare your own perfect bowl of matcha tea, just like they do in the Japanese tea ceremony.
Everything You Need to Know About Matcha Whisks Video
What is the matcha whisk?
The matcha whisk is the ultimate tool for whisking matcha. It’s made out of a single piece of bamboo and the 80-100 small bristles are individually carved in painstaking detail. If you look at the handle of a matcha whisk, you can see that it clearly resembles a stalk of bamboo, and as you go up the length of the whisk, you will notice the stalk of bamboo is split and divided many times over.
The second thing you may notice when you look at the matcha bamboo whisk is the thread which is carefully weaved in between the bristles. This alternates to separate the interior bristles and the exterior bristles of the matcha whisk.
If you look even more carefully, you will notice there is a difference in thickness between the base of the bristle and the top of the bristle. These bristles are carefully carved into a thinner shape towards the top so they are delicate enough to curl.
A brand new matcha whisk will have these curls on top of the bristles, but these will soon disappear after they are exposed to hot water. The matcha bamboo whisk is incredibly light and easy to move even with small wrist movements.
What is the benefit of using the matcha bamboo whisk
Although this matcha bamboo whisk seems to be old fashioned, there still is no better tool when it comes to whisking a bowl of matcha. When it comes to matcha, what you really want is this light green foam on top of the tea.
This can only be achieved by quickly aerating the tea, and creating these small bubbles very quickly. The foam gives the matcha a smoother and creamier taste and makes it almost like a latte, but without any milk or sugar. The bamboo whisk appears to be a much better tool when compared to a metal whisk.
We have tested this chasen whisk side by side with other tools and it produces more foam. When it comes to whisking a matcha, it’s not just about mixing the matcha into the water, it’s also about creating that smooth foam on top that can really enhance the drinking experience. A metal whisk can mix the powder into the water, but it struggles to accomplish the same level of foam you get with a matcha bamboo whisk.
Another benefit of the matcha whisk is that it is completely silent. A lot of people like to whisk up their bowl of matcha in the morning, and the sounds of this delicate bamboo whisk moving through the foam can be quite soothing in the morning. Contrast that to the sound of a metal whisk scraping against the sides of the bowls, and you will get a picture of just how different these two tools are.
A third benefit to using the bamboo whisk is that it allows you to properly practice some of the steps and principles of the Japanese tea ceremony. A big part of the Japanese tea ceremony is learning how to use and maintain these tea utensils properly. These tea utensils need to be carefully cleaned or purified before use and some like the bamboo whisk need to be presoaked. This represents one of the core concepts of the tea ceremony which is “purity”. In addition to helping you learn more about the Japanese tea ceremony, the chasen also teaches you patience. It may not be the fastest way to prepare tea, but it certainly makes you appreciate the bowl of matcha even more when you make it yourself.
After learning the art of using the matcha whisk, you will be able to invite friends over and treat them to their very own tea ceremony. The value of this experience is signified by the use of these traditional utensils, and some of the experience may be lost if you just use an egg whisk to mix up some matcha in a bowl.
What is the history of the matcha whisk
The Chasen matcha whisk was carved as far back as 600 years ago, during the Muromachi period. Originally, the tea ceremony was reserved for the elite societies in Japan, and was inaccessible for most of the common people. A man known as Murata Juko wanted to change that, and laid forth principles of Wabi-cha or the simple tea ceremony. As part of this tea ceremony for the people, he had to commission the design of matcha whisks that could be used by people all over Japan to whisk beautiful bowls of matcha tea on their own.
Takayama Minbunojo Nyudo Sosetsu was chosen to craft these chasen matcha whisks for the Japanese tea ceremony. These whisks turned out to be so well crafted that in addition to being used for this tea ceremony, they were also gifted to the emperor who was impressed by their quality. He gave it the name “Takaho” and this became the gold standard for the matcha whisk in Japan. This chasen overtime became known as the Takayama Chasen because of the area it was produced in, and still to this day the village of Takayama has the reputation for producing the best quality matcha whisks.
What other matcha utensils are used alongside the matcha whisk
In addition to the chasen or matcha whisk, there are several other important tools used in the tea ceremony. Just like with the chasen, the use of all these tools reinforces certain behaviors that enhance the experience of the tea ceremony, and help to promote a stronger bond between the host and their guest.
Chawan Matcha Bowl
This is the clay tea bowl used to prepare the matcha. It is usually designed with a colorful pattern on the side. It is considered polite to turn this decorated side to the other guests during the tea ceremony as a sign of respect.
This allows them to view the most beautiful side of the bowl as you drink. The bowl is heavy and conveys a sense of importance. It is meant to be held with two hands and it is preheated before use. This warms up the clay, and allows the matcha tea to stay warmer for longer.
If you want to learn more about the bowl, we made a full guide 👉 Everything You Need to Know About Matcha Bowls
Chashaku
This is the bamboo spoon used to scoop the tea powder into the bowl. It has a much simpler design compared to the chasen, but it actually does have some notable features to it. The scoop is designed to be used vertically so it can dip into a cylindrical container and pull out the perfect amount of matcha powder. In the tea ceremony, the tea master will use 2 large chashaku scoops for a bowl of matcha which comes out to about 2 grams of matcha powder.
Furui
This sifter is not typically used in the japanese tea ceremony, but it is recommended if you are making matcha at home. Matcha powder is incredibly fine and therefore it is sensitive to humidity. Once the matcha powder is exposed to the air it will begin to form clumps and not mix as evenly into the water. You can remove these by running the powder through a sifter before you prepare your matcha bowl.
Fukusa
This is a cloth really only used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It’s used to clean off the dry tea utensils and symbolically “purify” them before beginning the tea ceremony. This is purposefully done in front of the guests to show them the objects have been purified before they are used to prepare tea. The cloth can be kept around the belt of the tea master and it is folded and unfolded in a particular way each time it is used.
Chakin
This is a different cloth used in the japanese tea ceremony. This is used to clean off the wet tea utensils, such as the chawan. After the chawan has been preheated with warm water, it is wiped dry with the chakin.
Kama
This is the iron pot that heats water for the Japanese tea ceremony. Inside the tatami mat, there is a perfect square carved out and surrounded by a heat resistant material. This is where the iron pot is kept and heated during the japanese tea ceremony.
Hishaku
This is the long bamboo ladle used to scoop water out of the kama and pour it into the matcha bowl. The tea master carefully tilts this ladle to pour it, so that it trickles down slowly into the bowl and cools off on the way down.
Natsume
This is the so-called “tea caddy” that is used to store the matcha powder in the short term. The matcha powder will be sifted into this natsume and then brought into the tea room to be prepared.
Kensui
This is the waste water bowl where the extra water used in the tea ceremony can be discarded. An example of this is when the matcha bowl is preheated and then the water used is discarded once it has transferred some of its heat to the clay bowl.
How to Whisk Matcha and How to use the Bamboo Matcha Whisk
The question of how to use a matcha whisk can be answered in 4 simple steps:
- The first step to how to use a matcha whisk is soaking it, to make sure the bristles are pliable and less likely to break Next, after the water has been added, scrape the sides of the bowl to combine it with the water.
- Then, when it comes to how to use a matcha whisk with proper technique the key is the whisking technique, which we will show you.
- After learning how to use a matcha whisk, you’ll then learn how to clean and dry a matcha bamboo whisk like a tea master 🧼
- The final step is how to store it properly. In addition to learning how to use a matcha whisk, this is also important when it comes to maintaining your bamboo whisk.
Which matcha whisk should you get?
There are a few different designs of matcha whisks you may be looking at. The first thing to consider is how many bristles you want on your whisk. The higher bristle count will often be accompanied by a higher price tag but some tea masters swear it makes a difference. When you are just starting out, it is fine to go for the 80 bristle matcha whisk and you can reassess after you’ve had some experience whisking matcha tea.
Another category you might look into is the matcha whisks that have an elongated handle. These can be good if you plan on whisking matcha in a glass and not in the traditional tea bowl. If you would like to make the experience as close as possible to the Japanese tea ceremony, we recommend you go for the matcha bamboo whisk and whisk the tea in a matcha bowl.
Where can you buy a matcha whisk
If you are looking to get your own matcha whisk, you can find them on our website. You can pick one up individually, but what is even more fun is getting one included in a bundle. With this bundle of the 21 matcha sampler, you can try 21 different types of matcha tea and get the matcha bamboo whisk added in, allowing you to prepare all these matcha teas the proper way. We’ll also throw in the chashaku bamboo matcha spoon, to enhance your tea making experience even further, making every day feel like you are in a Japanese tea ceremony.
Taking care of your matcha whisk
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to taking care of your matcha whisk. The first is that you want to protect the fragile bristles and prevent them from breaking. The second is that you want to try your best to maintain the general shape of your matcha bamboo whisk so that it serves its intended purpose.
When it comes to preventing the whisk from breaking, one thing you can do is make sure you soak the matcha bamboo whisk for just 1-2 minute before using it. When wood becomes wet, it also becomes more pliable and less likely to break. These bristles are very brittle when dry but they can be quite pliable when they are wet. When whisking the matcha tea, also make sure to keep the whisk from hitting the bottom of the bowl. You should just need a series of light wrist movements towards the surface of the matcha in order to produce the foam.
When it comes to maintaining the shape of the tea whisk, what you may want to invest in is the chasen-tate or matcha bamboo whisk stand. This is just a small ceramic whisk stand that you can place your matcha whisk in after use to help maintain its shape. This is definitely not something you need, but it may pay off in the long run, as it can help to maintain the shape of your whisk for years. If you decide not to get one of these whisk stands, what you can do instead is just keep the matcha whisk standing up straight on the circular handle, and not put any pressure on the bristles. If the whisk lies face down for extended periods of time, eventually the bristles will become misshapen.
