Matcha Magic, Bamboo Chasen for Matcha

Traditional broom used during the Japanese tea ceremony to froth matcha tea.

A broom, also known as a brush, is handcrafted from a single piece of bamboo. Precise cuts create a flexible mustache, which at the bottom are slightly bent and at the top are gathered together and finished with a special wooden handle.

Chasen will work best with the matcha preparation and drinking cup. The vertical walls of the bowl and the wide bottom allow you to easily and conveniently "beat" matcha in water and quickly obtain a foam layer on the surface. Remember that the temperature of the water in which matcha is prepared should not exceed 80 ° C.

Tips for whipping matcha: It's best to start whisking matcha slowly, gently scrubbing the bottom of the bowl with the chasenu mustache, this allows you to mix the whole matcha with water. Then we move the chasen higher, closer to the surface and start more vigorous movements resembling the letter W or M for about 10-20 seconds.

It is worth remembering to work with the wrist only while mixing, and not with the whole hand, which gets tired faster. A thin blanket of foam should appear quickly on the surface. Perfect foaming of the tea is possible thanks to the large number of flexible bamboo whiskers. The more mustache in the chasenie, the easier it is to obtain the so-called "Jasper mousse" or the perfect layer of foam.

For the best effect, the brush should be soaked in hot water before use and rinsed after use. Chasen shrinks when it dries, it becomes brittle and prone to damage, so it is a good idea to store it on a special naoshi stand.

Spoon the matcha into a ceremonial bowl

Add the water and gently scoop up the matcha from the bottom using the chasen

Stop scooping and instead rotate the chasen in a circular motion through the tea
After your matcha is ready
Clean your chasen properly. Do not place in the dishwasher but rinse in warm water
Tip: after you have drunk your matcha, fill the bowl with warm water and whisk your chasen through the water in the same manner as preparing tea.

Remove the chasen from the water when all bits of matcha are removed and shake off the excess water

Leave the chasen to dry on a chasen whisk holder.
Depending on how often you use your chasen, the bamboo tines will separate. The bamboo tines on an unused chasen are very close together, but the more you use the chasen the more the tines will part as a result of the pressure caused by whisking with the chasen. It is completely normal for your chasen to ‘open up’. Use the chasen whisk holder so that it dries properly and keeps its shape.

Storing chasen on a special stand helps to ensure its longer life and keep it in the right shape. However, do not close the chasen in a plastic package or any other sealed container, it may cause unintentional appearance of mold on the bamboo handle.