
The chasen, or tea whisk, is an essential tool for preparing matcha, a powdered green tea with unique characteristics that are not soluble in water. Whether you’re practicing the art of traditional matcha preparation or creating a luscious matcha latte, using a chasen is crucial for ensuring the tea fully blends with hot water. Neglecting this step can lead to clumps and compromise the delightful flavor of matcha. With a long history and various forms, selecting the right chasen based on your needs is essential for an enjoyable matcha experience.
Historical Significance of Chasen: In the Song Dynasty, the process of preparing matcha was referred to as “diancha,” and the chasen was the tool of choice for this method. Emperor Song Huizong even described the ideal chasen in his work “Daguan Chalun” as follows: “The chasen should be made from strong, mature bamboo. Its body should be thick and heavy, while the whisking ends should be sparse and flexible, akin to the back of a sword. When whisking, it should not produce excess bubbles.”
Different Types of Chasen: Chasens come in various types, distinguished by the type of bamboo, the shape, the number of tines, and the thickness and length of the bamboo. Different tea schools and traditions may prefer different chasen types. Commonly found variations include flat tine (16 tines), aracha (36 tines), wild point (54 tines), standard (64 tines), real number (72 tines), eighty-point stand (80 tines), hundred-point stand (100 tines), and hundred and twenty-point stand (120 tines). Each type can produce matcha of varying thickness and quality.
For Thin Tea (Usucha): For preparing thin tea, chasens with finer tines, such as hundred-point stand or hundred and twenty-point stand, are recommended. The fine tines encourage the creation of a dense foam, akin to that of milk, resulting in a rich and delicate texture.
For Thick Tea (Koicha): For thick tea preparation, chasens with fewer tines, such as aracha, standard, or real number chasen, are preferred. Unlike thin tea, thick tea preparation focuses on “rehearsing the tea” rather than “whisking the tea,” achieving a smooth, non-grainy consistency without emphasizing a foamy texture.
Tips for Chasen Use:
- Preparing the Chasen: Before use, warm the chasen by soaking the tines in hot water. This softens the tines and ensures a smoother tea preparation process. Additionally, this step helps to protect the chasen, as dry bamboo can be prone to breakage or deformation.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: After use, do not clean the chasen using a dishwasher or dish soap. Instead, rinse it with water and let it air dry in a shaded and well-ventilated area. For storage, place the chasen on a chasen holder to prevent deformation.
- Lifespan: Chasens are consumable items and typically last around one year, even with careful use. Daily usage may shorten the lifespan to about 3-4 months, depending on the user’s strength, technique, storage, and preparation habits.
In Conclusion: Whether you prefer the velvety smoothness of thin tea, the rich creaminess of thick tea, or the delightful harmony of a matcha latte, using the right chasen is essential for an enhanced matcha experience. Even if an electric frother can replace a chasen for daily latte preparation, manually whisking and refining matcha with a chasen still provides a superior texture. Embrace the art of matcha with the perfect chasen, and unlock the full potential of this captivating green tea.