Matcha Chasen Care Tips
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What is a chasen?
Chasen are bamboo whisks used to prepare matcha, hand-carved from a single piece of bamboo. They come in various shapes and string counts that can range from 16 to 120 tines. The curved ends and bouncy spring of the whisk is what makes the matcha whisk the easiest tool to whisk matcha powder and water together.
While there are several factors that can affect the taste of your matcha tea, the condition of your matcha bamboo whisk or chasen also plays an important role. A broken or a thinning matcha whisk prong may not be able to blend or remove the clumps in your matcha smoothly. As the matcha bamboo whisk is made from a natural material, it is also susceptible to deterioration. So how long exactly before we have to get our matcha bamboo whisk replaced?
In our experience, a matcha tea bamboo whisk can last up to about 2 years if maintained properly. To help you prolong the longevity of your bamboo bamboo whisk, here’s our guide on how to care for matcha bamboo whisk properly from using to cleaning and storing it.
Soaking your chasen before use:
Once you’ve received your new bamboo whisk, we recommend soaking it before use. Soak it in a bowl (any bowl can work, but a chawan bowl is best) of hot water for about 2 minutes. This makes the tines at the core of the bamboo whisk loosen and unfold a little, which is helpful in blending matcha and getting a rich layer of foam.
It is also a good practice to soak your bamboo whisk in warm water for a few minutes before every usage as it helps to soften up the bristles and also improve the elasticity of the bamboo whisk.
Using your whisk:
When you’re whisking your matcha tea with the bamboo whisk, always move in a soft yet quick W- or M-shaped motions and avoid touching the bottom of your chawan bowl. You do not want to be hitting or scraping your bamboo whisk against the bowl as this could break the bristles of your bamboo whisk easily. Always whisk your matcha with your bamboo whisk slightly suspended in the liquid.
A great tip to ease your whisking effort is to always put the matcha powder in the bowl first before adding water as this will naturally kick off the mixing of water and matcha powder.
Cleaning your chasen after use:
Remember to never use dish soap, detergent, or a dishwasher, as bamboo is porous and will absorb chemicals. Place it on a dedicated whisk holder to air dry and keep its shape.
Drying and storing your whisk:
After cleaning the bamboo whisk, it should be dried quickly and properly. The best way to dry your bamboo whisk is to put it on the bamboo whisk holder as this will help to maintain its original shape. If you do not own a matcha whisk holder, you can leave the bamboo whisk to dry on its handle, although this may not be ideal as the excess water may collect in the handle and lead to the development of molds.
You can store your bamboo whisk as you dried it on the bamboo whisk holder and this helps maintain its shape and prevent the prongs from breaking. Hence, we strongly recommend that you get a bamboo whisk holder to prolong the lifespan of your bamboo whisk. Never store your bamboo whisk back into its original plastic packaging. Doing so will force it into its initial shape.
During the winter months, we recommend patting the damp bamboo whisk with a cloth before leaving it to dry. This will help dry the bamboo whisk a little faster. Once it’s properly dried, store it in a cool, dry place to prevent molds from growing.
If dampness is not something you can avoid, here’s another solution. Soak the bamboo whisk in a non-toxic food citric acid solution like vinegar for a few seconds, before pat-drying it with a clean cloth and then leaving it to dry.
Why care about your whisk:
With all the above steps taken to properly care for your bamboo whisk, you will be able to enjoy using your bamboo whisk without losing its effectiveness of whisking for about one or two years long. If your bamboo whisk prong begins to thin or break, that is when it’s time to purchase a new one!