Why Soaking, Cleaning, and Proper Storage Matter
Matcha tea culture has spread far beyond its Japanese origins. Today, many coffee shops serve matcha beverages, and matcha tools are easy to find online and in specialty stores. Even so, preparing and caring for your bamboo matcha whisk is essential to getting the best texture and flavor from your matcha.
Why You Should Soak Your Matcha Whisk Before First Use
Before you whisk matcha powder into water, you should soak your matcha whisk (chasen) in warm water. Soaking softens the fine bamboo tines and helps them separate, allowing the whisk to froth the powder evenly instead of breaking or clumping. On Slow Pour Supply’s YouTube channel, the video Preparing your Matcha Whisk shows this step as the first part of proper whisk preparation.
This simple step primes the whisk for use and helps prevent breakage by making the bamboo more flexible and resilient when it first enters warm liquid. Many specialty tea resources recommend a similar method as the best way to prepare a new chasen for first use.
Cleaning Your Whisk After Use
After every matcha session, gently rinse your whisk with warm water to remove residual matcha powder. Avoid using dish soap or abrasive cleaning tools because bamboo is porous and can absorb soap odors or suffer surface damage. Hand washing and warm water rinsing is the safest method and is also recommended in Slow Pour Supply’s care instructions.
Let the whisk air dry upright or on a whisk rest. Do not put the whisk in a dishwasher or leave it soaking for long periods beyond the initial soak. This preserves the natural bamboo and prevents warping.
Keeping Your Whisk in Shape With a Whisk Rest
A matcha whisk rest (chasen kusenaoshi) is a simple tool used to help maintain the curve and spacing of the whisk tines as the whisk dries. After rinsing your chasen, placing it on a whisk rest lets the bamboo dry evenly without bending the tines out of shape. This prolongs the life of your whisk and helps you maintain consistent froth and texture each time you prepare matcha.
Matcha in History and Today
Traditionally in Japan, matcha whisks were sometimes used only once as part of formal tea ceremonies, where every tool and gesture is part of a precise ritual. Today, matcha culture has expanded worldwide, and whisks are used more regularly at home and in cafés. This broader access means more people enjoy matcha while caring for their tools in ways that balance tradition with everyday use.
Matcha has been growing in popularity in recent years, expanding beyond traditional tea ceremonies to specialty coffee shops and the ready-to-drink sector. A notable example of its mainstream appeal is Anita Tam’s appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. As the founder of Slow Pour Supply, she demonstrated to Drew Barrymore and the audience how to prepare a specialty matcha drink, highlighting both the ritual and enjoyment of matcha in a modern setting.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are new to matcha or have brewed it for years, caring for your whisk by soaking it before first use, cleaning it gently after each session, and storing it properly on a whisk rest will help you enjoy smooth matcha foam, maintain the shape of your whisk, and extend its useful life. With these steps, you honor both the tradition and the modern enjoyment of matcha tea.
