Is A Matcha Whisk Necessary To Make Matcha?
- 5 min reading time
Do I need a whisk to enjoy and prepare my matcha at home?
One of the questions we often get asked is “How do I prepare my matcha at home?” and, “Is a bamboo whisk really necessary?” To answer that question, we need to understand more about our favorite, traditional Japanese matcha tool.
Understanding the traditional whisk
A traditional Japanese matcha whisk, called a chasen, is absolutely essential in preparing your matcha at home. Crafted from a single piece of bamboo, a chasen has dozens of springy tines specifically designed to whisk matcha into suspension. These beautiful tools last a long time (just rinse with warm water and fully dry after use), and are simple and elegant to use.
Why can't I just use a metal whisk?
Since matcha is made up of stone-ground green tea leaves, this finely ground powder tends to clump when added into water or milk. Unlike a standard metal whisk, a chasen will actually froth your matcha – and it won’t scratch the bottom of your bowl! These traditional bamboo whisks have many more prongs than a standard baking whisk. This helps suspend and separate the matcha quickly, without any clumping. Also, matcha never fully dissolves. Instead, the best matcha is whisked into a frothy suspension. Over time, the matcha will settle, but this is normal - just give your cup a quick swirl and you are good to go. We also recommend sifting our matcha before use, especially our ceremonial grade matcha to ensure the smoothest cup.
To use the chasen, vigorously whisk your matcha in a W-shaped pattern – W as in whisk! Or turn it upside down – M as in matcha!
Matcha Whisk Alternatives
Now, you're probably wondering... what if I'm on the go? What if I lost my whisk/don't have access to one? Are you saying I can't make matcha without one?
Although we always recommend using a chasen to make the perfect cup of matcha, we also understand that sometimes, you have to make matcha using only the resources you have. Whether you are on the go or don't have access to a traditional bamboo whisk, here are our recommendations:
- Milk Frother - If you love lattes, our battery-powered milk frother can work to "whisk" matcha too. We recommend adding the water first, then matcha, and using our handheld milk frother to whisk everything up. Note: With this method, any matcha that is stuck to the bottom of the bowl cannot be incorporated as well as using the bamboo whisk, since the frother stops momentarily when it hits the side of an object.
- Blender - In a blender, add water (or milk) with matcha and blend until smooth. Matcha is a great ingredient in your favorite smoothie recipe!
- Shake it - Add our sugar-free flavored (or unflavored) Japanese matcha into a mason jar, or any shaker cup that has a tight-fitting lid with some water (or milk) and shake vigorously until combined.
Remember, these are just some of the many ways that you can prepare and enjoy matcha at home without your own chasen. Because matcha doesn't have to be steeped, it's also great for just sprinkling on some fruit, yogurt, or oatmeal!
We want to ensure you have the best matcha journey possible - don't hesitate to email us info@threeleaftea.com with any questions, and make sure to check out our wide selection of naturally flavored, sugar-free, fresh Japanese matcha!