Differences between Japanese and Chinese tea whisks...

The vast majority of tea whisks seen on the market are made in China, not Japan. This particular whisk is Chinese made and we offer it as an economical choice for our customers. There is no market for whisks within China itself, nearly all are exported abroad and many, surprisingly, to Japan. Japanese craftsmen start the whisk making process using a sharp knife to chip the end of the bamboo, giving it a clean sharp break, whereas in China it's tend to be done with a file. Because of this, the tip of the whisk prongs of Japanese whisks are known to last longer. The bamboo used in Japanese whisks is superior and is dried for well over a year before use. While this whisk will suffice and will last for quite some time, an authentic Japanese whisk should last longer.