How to Choose the Right Chasen
There are different types of Chasen for making matcha tea. What should we look for when buying the right equipment?
Types and selection of Chasen
- Selection by form: The number of tips recommended (the bottom of the Chasen) depends on whether you are making a thin or thick matcha, as well as whether you are a beginner or an expert. For beginners, we recommend a Chasen with 80 or 100 tips. This Chasen is suitable for easily distributing matcha powder and for creating the characteristic foam on top of the tea. The Chasen with 120 whisks is suitable for stirring thick tea and is suitable for more advanced people.
- Selection by School: There are different schools of tea ceremony, and the tea chasen used in each school differ from each other. Below is a list of the types of tea chasen that belong to each school. Omotesenke: brown bamboo, Urasenke: light/white bamboo, or Mushanokoji Senke: black bamboo.
- Choice depending on the application: In addition to whether you are preparing thin tea or making thicker tea, the ideal tea whisk for the first tea ceremony should be made of ao-dake (green bamboo). This high-quality tea chasen is used in Japan for Hatsugama (New Year's Eve ritual).
- Selection by material: Bamboo Chasen are commonly used, but recently a novelty on the Japanese market is a Chasen made of polypropylene. Due to the difficulty of maintaining the bamboo Chasen in the right shape, a new polypropylene version was created. The advantage of this Chasen is that the whisk is difficult to deform, it does not absorb flavors and odors. What's more, it can be washed using detergents and even in the dishwasher.
How to care for your Bamboo Chasen
- Before use: Soak the Chasen whisk in water. This will soften the tip, making it more flexible and making it easier to prepare matcha tea.
- After use: After drinking matcha tea, wash the Chasen in lukewarm water and dry thoroughly. Do not use detergents or any rough scrubbing brushes that could damage the bamboo. It is also worth noting that bamboo Chasens tend to deform easily, so it is best to dry them on a suitable rack. This way we will be able to enjoy our Chasen longer.
By choosing the right Chasen, you can streamline the preparation of your favorite version of matcha tea at home.
Black Chasen with stand included
The black polypropylene Chasen, which can be disassembled and fully washed (even in the dishwasher), will not only be sterile, but will also last much longer than its bamboo version.
Moreover, it will be an ideal exercise option for children and beginners.
This black Chasen set also includes a stand for straightening and drying Chasen.
The key issue is that this Chasen does not absorb odors or flavors. Thanks to this advantage, you can safely combine your favorite matcha with juices, milk, beer, and other favorite products.