Whether you are a first-time matcha drinker. Or an experienced Koicha (strong, thick) or Usucha (thin) matcha drinker. The one thing you will all have in common is your matcha whisk and bowl. A matcha whisk is referred to as a Chasen in Japanese.
The matcha whisk is an important part of the matcha-making process. Without it your matcha is going to be lacking in taste and appearance. There are important factors of a matcha whisk. How you pick your good matcha whisk will show all the difference in the world.
Things to consider before buying a matcha whisk
For many people drinking matcha is a new introduction to their love of tea. This article takes the guessing out of the need and the importance of the matcha whisk. Like most things, not all matcha whisks are made the same. We look at the make, quality, design, care, and maintenance of the matcha whisk.
Creating a cup of matcha is a work of art. The whisk is the biggest part of that work of art. Without the whisk, you will never achieve the desired quality. Without the matcha bowl, you have nowhere to put your matcha.
The matcha drinker that strives for perfection. Perfection of drink and ceremony is looking for the perfect matcha whisk. While it would be easy to mix a powder with water. The matcha creator wants the entire experience. That experience creates a perfectly prepared beverage.
Some of the things you need to think about when preparing to be the matcha aficionado
- Quality
- Size
- Material
- Design
- Care
Other Considerations
- Bowl
- Ladle
- Towel
Our bamboo Matcha Tea Whisk (sometimes called a chasen) will add the proper froth and air to your favorite cup of healthy matcha tea. 
The matcha whisk
The single most important tool in making matcha is the Matcha Whisk or Chasen. The Matcha Whisk is made out of bamboo and its design is made to blend matcha.
The matcha chasen was first created in a small town in Japan called Yuwa Takayama. The history of the matcha whisk goes back over 5Buts. But, there is evidence that a tea stirrer similar to a chasen was created in China and other parts of Japan. This happened before being created in Yuwa Takayama. Today approximately 90 percent of the chasen created are created in Yuwa Takayama. The bamboo of these select chasen is about three years old and then it is aged a few years before it’s even made into a chasen. The matcha whisk is one of the symbols of Japan. The tea ceremony that uses the chasen originates and continues to this day in Japanese culture.
Pros
- If the bamboo whisk is made well it will not affect the taste of your tea.
- Bamboo is durable.
- If cared for will last for many many whiskings.
Cons
- Bamboo whisks do wear out.
- If not cleaned or dried the whisk can contain mold.
- The quality of your whisk is important. The material must be bamboo.
The design of the matcha whisk allows you to blend the perfect matcha. Combining the powder, water, and air to make a beautiful frothy drink. The aeration of the chasen also releases the fragrance of the matcha powder into the air.
Handmade
Matcha Bowl , Matcha whisk, Matcha Bowl , Matcha Scoop and Matcha Whisk Holder
Features and benefits
I am sure there are machine-made whisks for matcha available. I am also sure that these machine-made whisks are not of the same quality as the handmade chasen from Japan. There is nothing greater than a whisk made by the hands of a tea master. This master has an experience that has been passed down for generations. For you to use a whisk will take about 30 seconds to learn. What you hold in your hand took generations to create. You will feel the difference.The bamboo-created Chasen is perfect for matcha. Besides a great design, the dried bamboo does not give off an odor or color to change the way of the matcha. The design along and bamboo make it perfect. It bends and gives enough flexibility to mix the matcha perfectly. Despite being whisked vigorously the whisk stays intact and does not lose its shape.
Material – Bamboo is the material of choice. Bamboo is a durable material and flexible. This is important and needed in the whisking of matcha. Something too stiff won’t allow for the air to blend with the matcha. Something too soft will not allow for perfect mixing. The perfect material is bamboo, dried, cut, and shaped to perfection.
Prongs – According to the internet, there are only 15 certified Chasen craftsmen in Japan. Some of these artists can create 6-7 a day. The bamboo tube is crafted into 80-120 prongs. Each prong is around 0.1mm in circumference. The average whisk length is 10.5 cm. The Head diameter is 6 cm. The matcha whisk is made from one solid piece of bamboo. The prongs are cut from or into that one piece of prepared bamboo. One stalk of bamboo can allow for 12-20 pieces of bamboo.
Design – The design of the matcha whisk is similar to a shaving brush. The design is made to fit into the cup and the prongs are set apart to mix the matcha into a paste. Once a paste is created more water is added. The matcha whisk goes into action adding air and stirring up the matcha to a perfect finish. There can be different sizes of the matcha whisk. The difference in size is the difference in the number of prongs.
Now it is possible to mix matcha and water together without a whisk. But, you will never get the desired results. You may also end up with more matcha on the counter or table than in the cup. Using a Matcha Whisk is the only way to get a perfect cup of matcha. The whisk also makes the whisking very easy.
How to care for your Matcha whisk
Clean with cool water. Use a sponge to remove any stubborn matcha stuck to the Chasen. Because the chasen is made of bamboo you want to ensure that the catchen is getting dry. Packing it in plastic or its original container can cause mold to form. Purchasing a whisk holder is the perfect way to care for your treasured catchen. The whisk holder comes in various colors and can be displayed beautifully in the open.
Whisk up a delicious cup of frothy lump-free matcha with our 100% Bamboo Matcha Tea set and enjoy the authentic ceremonial matcha experience.
Don’t take my word for it
It does not take a lot these days to find information about a subject or product. I scoured the internet to find some user reviews. I found some interesting and positive things about the matcha Chasen.
Here is what people are saying about using the Matcha Whisk for their matcha:
“It is so delicate looking yet feels very well made. It frothed my tea into a nice, fluffy foam”
“It really makes the matcha I drink much smoother and I don’t have to worry about big chunks in my tea”
“Even though I drink my matcha with a small cup instead of the traditional bowl, this chasen is great for stirring.”
- Metal whisk – I consider myself a pretty fast whisk user. I’ve had to use a metal whisk at home before with an egg mixture. Using it with matcha is possible. The metal may leave a slight metallic taste in your matcha. To get the air into the mixture you will have to really work that metal whisk. Matcha will be flying out of your bowl everywhere.
- Frother – A frother can work pretty well. It will bring a good amount of air into the matcha. The matcha will be well mixed. Depending on the blades used the metal may have had an unpleasant flavor to the matcha. The cost difference is also something to consider. The cost of this frother is much higher than that of a good quality bamboo chasen.
Conclusion
While there are alternatives. There is nothing that gives you the foamy frothy matcha drink than the bamboo matcha whisk. We learned a whisk is called a chasen in Japanese. Picking a good matcha whisk is the importance of a matcha beverage.
