Consisting of 65-72 prongs, this whisk is handmade in Nara, Japan and should not to be confused with imports from China that you will commonly encounter from most tea shops. There are over 120 different types of Nara tea whisks that vary according to the type of material used, shape and number of splines which will vary  according to the school of tea, the kind of matcha (thick or regular thin type) which will be served, and various other factors. We chose this particular chasen for general purpose matcha drinking. 

About our bamboo tea whisk suppler (view detailed images) - Our whisks are made by the Kubo family located near Nara Japan. You can see them in action on this well made YouTube video making whisks here:

Differences between Japanese and Chinese tea whisks... The vast majority of tea whisks encountered on the market are copies made in China, not Japan. There is almost no market for matcha whisks within China itself, nearly all are exported abroad and surprisingly, even 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  tends 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, no fungicides are used when producing Nara tea whisks. A real Japanese whisk will cost 2 or 3 times more than a Chinese whisk, naturally. It certainly is possible to make matcha with a Chinese made whisk but for long term reliability, we recommend that you invest in the real deal.

This handy device is designed to store and keep your tea whisk in great shape. Made of ceramic, simply place your tea whisk on it to retain it's shape.

This 48 prong matcha whisk is handmade in Japan especially for thick style koicha matcha. Not to be confused with imports from China, this authentic hand-made tea whisk is made in Nara Prefecture. There are over 120 different types of Nara tea whisks, with the type of material, shape and number of splines varying according to the school of tea, and also on the kind of matcha to be used.

Note: This while you could use this whisk for other types of matcha, it was designed for use with thick "koicha" matcha. For general matcha brewing, we recommend this tea whisk instead.

About our bamboo tea whisk suppler (view detailed images) - Our whisks are made by the Kubo family located near Nara Japan. You can see them in action on this well made YouTube video making whisks here:

Differences between Japanese and Chinese tea whisks... The vast majority of tea whisks encountered on the market are copies made in China, not Japan. There is almost no market for matcha whisks within China itself, nearly all are exported abroad and surprisingly, even 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  tends 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, no fungicides are used when producing Nara tea whisks. A real Japanese whisk will cost 2 or 3 times more than a Chinese whisk, naturally. It certainly is possible to make matcha with a Chinese made whisk but for long term reliability, we recommend that you invest in the real deal.

O-Cha.com's private label organic matcha "Kaoru" - This is our middle grade of organic matcha. Grown in Kirishima district of Japan's Kagoshima prefecture with only natural organic fertilizers and no agricultural chemicals, Organic Matcha Kaoru is certified by JONA (Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association), meets JAS certification requirements, and also carries the USDA & European IMO seals (certificates on file.)  Extremely fresh, our matcha are ordered shortly before shipped to our customers and are always stored under refrigeration until shipment. Try some today!

Net weight 30gm, this product makes approximately (20) 1.5gm servings per can.

Although this is the lowest priced matcha we carry, the quality is nonetheless quite good for the price, making Uji Organic Matcha a great bargain. From Uji, located near Kyoto, this matcha is grown with only natural organic fertilizers and no agricultural chemicals. It is certified by JONA (Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association) and carries the JAS mark. Try some today!

Net weight 30gm, this product makes approximately (20) 1.5gm servings per can.

We didn't think we would ever be able to offer another matcha comparable to the famous Manten we currently carry; yet it has come to pass! Like Manten, we realize Uji Matcha Taiko-San is an expensive matcha and we make no bones about it - this is about as an exclusive matcha as you will ever find. If you are in search of the absolute best matcha available anywhere, however, then your search is over! Until O-Cha.com obtained this gem from Japan's oldest teashop, this matcha had never been sold outside of Japan.

A few words about this item...

The farm where Taiko-San is grown is known as "Taikou-tsutsumi" and is located not too far from our supplier Tsuen tea's shop in Uji Japan. The area is both a tea farm as well as an archaeological site. The matcha is produced in this small field by the river beside an ancient levee, which is being studied for its construction methods. The grower, Mr. Fukui, farms several strains of tea in this plot and he adjusts the blend every year according to the plants condition to create the specific flavor. As with Manten, the plot is small and the yield is limited.

This handpicked tea has an abundance of umami, which has been described by Tsuen as sweet with a hint of bitter and having a fresh green smell. The color is a rich and dark, very intense green froth. Compared with Manten, this matcha has a more masculine taste. Again, the grower has an extremely small production, and is currently supplying only the local market with this grade so the supply is extremely limited. O-Cha.com will have this item in stock as supplies are available, which may be very hit and miss. Because of limited space and the age of the tea plants used for this item the grower will never be able to increase his production. There is no competition for this grade - this is a connoisseur's class matcha. As with matcha Manten, O-Cha.com is the first to carry this matcha outside of Japan. Koicha (matcha which can be made thick) is sweeter, milder tasting than usucha (the normal matcha which is made in a thinner consistency). Because twice the amount of tea powder is used to make a thicker tea, a milder, less bitter product is required. While you can brew a thick matcha in the normal "thin" manner, the opposite is not true and there are really very few matcha green teas which one can make a true thick style matcha. Taiko-san, along with Manten, however, is one of those.

If you wish to brew this in a thick manner, you may want to consider obtaining a tea whisk made especially for koicha

Net Weight 30gm