We assume you are a matcha lover and want to make a cup of matcha yourself. We’re glad to share the tools that make up a matcha tea set and the techniques you need to start preparing matcha with you. You don’t have to prepare all the tools at the beginning. The good news is you can substitute many of them! Let’s make it fun and get started!
We’ve listed the tools you need to prepare matcha besides matcha powder. Ultimately, you can enjoy making matcha if you prepare a Chawan (tea bowl) and the chesen (bamboo tea whisk). Even you can substitute the Chawan for a bowl you already have. Let’s consider other tools you may want to collect and prepare for a more proper setting of the tea ceremony later. Our focus is to have you started with a simple setting now!
Matcha Preparation Tools – Matcha Tea Set
- Chawan (Matcha tea bowl)
- Chashaku (Bamboo tea scoop)
- Chasen (Bamboo tea whisk)
These three tools are fundamental to your preparation for matcha. We’ve listed the other tools you don’t need to prepare now, but they would be pretty helpful if you could prepare them. The tea preparation tools are considered to be some art as well. You can enjoy collecting and using them for different gatherings and seasons.
Chawan (Matcha tea bowl)
The Chawan is for drinking tea. “Cha” means tea, and “wan” means a bowl. It comes in a variety of materials and shapes. Usually, we use different types of Chawans for other seasons. In winter, the Chawan with height is used to keep the matcha warm, and the one with a shorter height is used in summer. You can substitute with a (Café Au Lait) bowl!
When we drink Koicha (strong tea), we use the Chawan without any pattern, and the one with a pattern for drinking Usucha (weak tea). It should be fun to choose your favorite from the wide selections.
Chashaku (Tea scoop)
Chashaku is a small tea scoop. It’s usually made of trees such as bamboo and rarely made of ivory. The plum, pine, or cherry trees are used as material. Most of them are about 20 cm in length, and there is a signature of a creator. It’s one of the most important tea preparation tools.
After use, you must wipe clean with a dry cloth to prevent deterioration. Never wash it with water.
Good news! You can substitute it for a teaspoon. Be careful with the amount you scoop since it tends to be too much. Half or less matcha powder with a teaspoon scoop will do. You can explore your preferred amount of matcha powder, which can vary for seasons, too.
Chasen (Tea whisk)
Chasen is usually used to make tea that is made of bamboo. This is something you can’t substitute for anything. Koicha (strong tea: using a large amount of matcha powder that turns out to be sticky kind of quality) is used, and Usucha (weak tea: using relatively less amount of matcha powder that turns out to be watery compared to Koicha) is used. The thicker whisk is used, while the less thick one is used for Usucha, which is suitable for beginners.
Always handle it with care not to damage the Chawan or chasen itself by hitting the inside of the Chawan. It is very delicate, so try not to scratch the bottom.
Make sure you wash it with water or lukewarm water after use. Never use the washing detergent which damages the chasen. Also, let it completely dry so it does not produce mold before storing it on a shelf.
There are many varieties of Chasen depending on each occasion and school of tea ceremony.
The three tools shown above are essential and can be substituted by other stuff except the Chasen. So basically, all you have to prepare to start matcha is matcha powder and Chasen. Below we will introduce you to some other tools used in the tea ceremony, but you don’t need them unless you perform in an official tea ceremony.
Tea whisk holder
Perhaps you might want to have this since the chasen can rest well on this one after use and it helps the chasen to keep its shape for a longer period of time.
Tea strainer
It’s not absolute, but comes very handy that makes the end product quality higher for sifting matcha powder in advance.
Yuzamashi (a wastewater bowl, also known as “Koboshi”)
It is also called “Yukoboshi” that is used for containing the discarded water after rinsing the chawan or chasen. It is made of bronze, copper, ceramics. The kensui is considered to be a lower-rank tool so it is placed where the guests really can’t see it.
Chakin (a piece of white cloth)
Chakin is to wipe off the Chawan and another piece of cloth used to wipe off Chasen and Natsume (container for powdered tea) is called “Fukusa”. But as a beginner, you don’t have to worry about them. They are used in a tea ceremony that is sort of performing arts to entertain guests.
Fukusa (a piece of cloth)
Fukusa is another piece of cloth that cleans the chasen and chaki (tea tools). It’s made of “Shioze” (the type of silk material), the purple ones are for the males and the red ones for females.
Where to Buy Matcha Tea Set
There are several excellent stores where you can buy your first matcha starter kit online.
Ippodo Tea Store is one of Japan’s most trusted and popular tea stores. If you are lucky enough to be in Japan, you can stop by their physical stores, especially in Kyoto or Tokyo. The store staff will help you choose the best tea tools for you and how to prepare tea as well.
Well, quite frankly, if you go to Amazon and type in ” Matcha tea set”, you can get loads of selection of them. As long as they have a decent bowl and tea whisk, any of them will do for a starter. If you already have matcha powder and a tea bowl, you just need to order a Chasen (tea whisk) that gets you started immediately.
Also, you can visit other physical tea stores if you happen to be in Tokyo.
Where to Buy Best Matcha? 5 Established Matcha Stores in Japan
How to Prepare Matcha – Matcha Tea Set
Here’s a good video which shows you how to prepare matcha yourself. You’ll figure out it’s not really difficult.
１. Sifting matcha powder
Scoop up the amount for one cup of matcha. You can use a teaspoon or measuring spoon to scoop up.
Sifting matcha powder in advance makes the process go smoothly.
２. Preparing warm water
If you are in a country where soft water is attainable, use it for your matcha. When you buy water from stores, make sure you choose soft water. Purified water is preferable. If you don’t have a water purifier, boil it without a lid and let it simmer for a while to remove chlorine odor.
Whatever water you use, you need to boil it before use.
３. Preparing matcha powder (To your preference)
Amount of matcha powder… 1 teaspoon (spoonful) or 2 chashaku (bamboo tea scoop) = 1.5g
Amount of warm water… about 70cc
The Water Temperature… 70-80℃ You can achieve this by transferring hot water into the other cup (one time in winter and two times in summer).
４. How to make a matcha tea
You start stirring at the bottom very slowly to disperse matcha powder, raise the Chasen (tea whisk), and shake your hand back and forth. Once you made some foam, you take the Chasen to the top of the foam and slowly stir it to make it finer. At last, carefully raise the Chasen after you made a nice foam risen in the center.
Have you ever wondered why you have to make froth? Well, you don’t have to. Making froth makes the matcha tastes milder, however, no foam makes you taste the original matcha that is totally up to your preference.
We recommend you eat some sweets before you enjoy your matcha since it can be extreme on your empty stomach. A piece of sweet makes your matcha even better due to the contrast it makes on your palate. What kind of sweets make your matcha experience even better? Wagashi is it! They are not too sweet and let you enjoy their texture and beautiful appearance, reminding you of the season you are in. They are a perfect match.
Wagashi: Traditional Japanese Sweets of Four Seasons
If you have ever prepared to join a tea ceremony, you know that it gives you meditative moments and clears your mind. Japanese tea house architecture is made for that reason, detaching you from the outer world to a relatively small room that enables you to concentrate on whatever happens in that room or your mind. Once you are hooked on preparing matcha yourself, there is no end for you to learn about and enjoy practicing. As of 2019, an increasing number of people have begun to make matcha themselves, which gives their daily life a nice rhythm.
Chado: History of Japanese Tea Rituals with Zen Spirit
Japanese Tea House: Architecture of Ultimate Spiritual World
How do you enjoy your matcha? Any music you play along with preparing or drinking matcha or any ritual goes with your matcha preparing? Let us hear from you about your own unique experience of preparing matcha yourself.