Hello, tea lovers! I’m Mami.
I love Japanese tea so much that I even have a certification as a Japanese Tea Advisor.
In this article, I will introduce how to prepare matcha with a bamboo whisk at home for my friends who love matcha overseas.
Is this your first time making matcha?
Don’t worry. I will show you how to prepare matcha with a bamboo whisk at home.
With a little practice, you can make delicious matcha, and you’ll find it easier than you thought.
What You Need To Prepare
- matcha powder
- chasen (bamboo whisk)
- matcha bowl
- hot water
- clean paper towel or cloth
- chashaku (matcha spoon) or teaspoon
- cold water (optional)
- strainer (optional)
An Easy Way To Prepare Matcha
Step 1
Pour hot water into a matcha bowl with a chasen in it.
This will warm the matcha bowl and soften the chasen, to prevent it from snapping.
Step 2
Discard the hot water and wipe the inside of the matcha bowl with a clean paper towel or cloth.
Step 3
Put two scoops of matcha powder with a chashaku (approx. 1.8g) into the matcha bowl.
If you don’t have the chashaku, put a scoop of matcha powder with a teaspoon into the matcha bowl.
1st tip
If you strain the matcha powder in advance it will dissolve more easily.
Put the desired amount of matcha powder into a strainer.
Use either the chashaku or the teaspoon to press the matcha powder through the net of the strainer into the pre-warmed dry bowl.
2nd tip
Pour a small amount of cold water（approx. 10ml) into the matcha bowl to prevent the matcha powder from becoming lumpy, and mix the matcha powder and the cold water gently with the chasen to make matcha paste.
Step 4
Pour 50 – 60ml of hot water into the matcha bowl (pour in gently down the side of the bowl).
The appropriate temperature of hot water is 70 – 80℃ (158 – 176℉).
It is important to prepare hot water which is brought to the boiling point at least once and then cooled to the desired temperature.
To reduce the water temperature, pour the water into another vessel and back again.
This should cool the temperature by 5-10 degrees centigrade.
Step 5
Mix the matcha paste and hot water with the chasen gently.
Step 6
After mixing, raise the chasen a little from the bottom of the matcha bowl and whisk the chasen back and forth very quickly using the wrist.
Support the matcha bowl from the side as shown in the picture, or from above, to avoid spinning the bowl.
Step 7
When the matcha is sufficiently aired and has turned into a fine creamy foam, slow down and move the chasen over the surface to remove the larger bubbles and smooth the surface.
Finally, turn the chasen slowly around the bowl and lift it carefully from the center to produce a little mound.
How was the taste?
Now you know the basic way to make matcha.
Then, the concentration and temperature depend on personal preference, so use this as a guideline and adjust as needed.
Enjoy to make matcha!