Today, chasen (茶筅) – a bamboo whisk – is undoubtedly one of the most indispensable parts of Chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony). You might walk into a modern coffee shop or tea cafe and see baristas preparing your matcha by shaking or blending it with hot water (and possibly milk), but to many matcha lovers, this is simply despicable. If you are present at a Japanese tea ceremony, you will not expect your matcha to be whisked with anything but a chasen.
A chasen (茶筅) is a hand-carved bamboo whisk used to prepare matcha in the Japanese tea ceremony, traditionally made from a single piece of bamboo with anywhere from 80 to 120 prongs.
History of the Chasen
In fact, it wasn’t always like this. The same way that back in the day tea in China used to be boiled for an extended period of time in powdered form, matcha wasn’t always whisked using a chasen.
Tea ceremonies have existed in Japan since the late 12th century, following the monk Eisai's reintroduction of tea and Zen Buddhism in 1191. Wabicha, the tea ceremony closest to what we know of today and created to emphasize simplicity, originated around 500 years ago.
Wabicha was founded by Juko Murata. Before wabicha, matcha was stirred using wooden spoons. Murata wished to have a tool made for whisking matcha that would match the simplistic style of wabicha. Thus the chasen was created.
After the chasen, tea connoisseurs no longer went back to wooden spoons. After all, a bamboo whisk, thanks to its curved ends, has the advantage of creating the iconic matcha foam and froth we all love. This foam is known to reduce the bitterness matcha may naturally have, producing a much smoother and sweeter experience. Even today, students of the Japanese tea ceremony spend time mastering the perfect way to whisk matcha and achieve the best froth!
Nowadays, chasen are designated as one of the Traditional Crafts of Japan, with almost all of them produced in Nara Prefecture, home to abundant bamboo forests. There are many types of chasen, depending on the tea school, the type of tea ceremony, and the type of matcha being served. A standard chasen is always hand-carved from a single piece of bamboo and has anywhere from 80 to 120 prongs.
Taking care of your chasen:
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Always allow your chasen to air dry standing upright or on a chasen kusenaoshi (chasen holder)
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Never store it in its original plastic packaging after first use
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Never use soap. wash with hot water
