Preparing Matcha Tea: Simply Explained

Matcha tea is refreshing, gives you a gentle energy boost in the morning, and also contains numerous health-promoting ingredients. However, you can't brew matcha tea like any other tea, as you buy matcha as a fine powder that is then mixed with hot water. The tea bag or tea leaves aren't removed afterward—you drink the powder that you mix with water.

What utensils do you need to prepare matcha?

If you're a beginner and this is your first matcha tea, you don't need to worry too much. While the right utensils can influence the flavor of a tea and help create the perfect matcha tea, you can also do without some of the utensils the first time.

Chasaku (spoon)

A Japanese wooden spoon makes it easier to measure the fine green tea powder. You can rely on one spoon to hold approximately one gram of powder. This measurement lets you know exactly how much powder you've used and allows you to adjust the amount of water accordingly.

If you don't have a wooden spoon handy, you can also use a teaspoon. Half a teaspoon yields about the same amount as a whole chasaku—though the measurement is a bit inaccurate.

Chawan (bowl)

In addition to the spoon, the right bowl is also important for preparation. A matcha tea bowl has a high rim, which prevents spillage. In addition to the high rim, the bowl is also wide enough to allow for easy maneuvering of the bamboo whisk.

If you don't have a hand-thrown chawan bowl on hand, a regular bowl will do. Just make sure it has a slightly higher rim to prevent spillage when whisking the powder.

Chasen (bamboo broom)

The small bamboo whisk is the perfect tool for mixing the fine matcha powder with water. The original matcha whisk, called a chasen, is made from a single piece of carved bamboo. Its many bristles allow it to mix the powder more effectively. The chasen creates the many small bubbles that form the beautiful foam.

We definitely recommend using a chasen, as it's crucial for mixing the matcha powder correctly. Traditional matcha tea preparation also requires you to have all the necessary utensils at hand. However, if you don't have a chasen handy, you can of course improvise. Here are a few unconventional tips that might help you out: You can use a blender, a shaker (and stir any remaining lumps of powder yourself), or even a milk frother.

And what ingredients do you need?

Now you have all the utensils ready, but the most important thing is still missing: matcha powder! To properly prepare matcha tea, you'll need high-quality matcha powder—which you can buy from us—a splash of cold water, and then some hot water.

Matcha preparation done right – step by step

Now it's time: All the utensils and ingredients are ready, and you can begin preparing your matcha tea. After five simple steps, you can enjoy your frothy matcha and relax.

In five simple steps, we explain how to prepare a delicious Matcha tea:

Heat water

First, heat the water for your matcha tea. Add a few milliliters more water to ensure you have enough water ready to prepare the whisk and bowl.

For a cup of tea, you need water that's approximately 80°C. You can either set this automatically on your kettle, or you can heat the water to 100°C and then let it cool for a few minutes. If you want to be extra precise, you can measure it with a thermometer.

Prepare the broom and bowl

To ensure everything goes smoothly during preparation and a fine foam is created when stirring the powder, it's important to prepare the bamboo whisk. Before use, you can pour hot water over it or place it in hot water. This will make the bristles more flexible and increase the longevity of the whisk.

You should also pour hot water into the bowl to preheat it.

Sift matcha powder

Now, pour 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder (approximately 1.5-2 grams of matcha) through a sieve to prevent the fine powder from clumping. Sifting the powder first will create a homogeneous powder that's easier to mix.

Mix matcha powder

Now you can pour the sifted powder into the empty tea bowl and pour over a splash of cold water. Use the bamboo whisk to mix the powder into a thick paste. Make sure the paste is lump-free.

Pour water

Once the thick paste is mixed, you can pour in the warm water. About 50 ml of water should be sufficient—but add more if you prefer a milder flavor.

Now, using the chasen, stir the water and powder in a W-shaped motion. A fine head of foam will form on the tea. When foam has formed on the surface of the tea and there are no other lumps, the tea is ready to enjoy.

Enjoy the beneficial effects

Now it's time to enjoy. You've successfully prepared your delicious matcha tea and can now put your feet up!

Now you can clean the utensils. It's best to simply rinse the chasen with clean water and then place it on a broom holder. This way, it won't deform and can dry properly.

Conclusion

You can easily prepare fresh matcha tea because there aren't many steps and the preparation is quite simple.

If you're a passionate matcha tea drinker and want to try something new, check out our matcha recipes. How about a delicious matcha latte, a portion of matcha in a smoothie, or even some matcha with fruit in your next dessert? Be amazed by the variety of matcha recipes and discover the vibrant green world of matcha!

This green pick-me-up can be used almost anywhere, so you definitely shouldn't miss out. If you're still looking for high-quality green powder, then you've come to the right place at matcha-pulver.com! We supply you with the best matcha powder directly from Japan!