How to prepare delicious Maccha ( instructions are for Usucha of superior quality )

Necessary items: Maccha ; 1 Maccha cup, Chasen ( whisk ) , chashaku ( bamboo spoon )

1.	Place the chasen ( whisk ) into the macchawan ( cup ). Next pour hot water into the cup to warm up the cup and the whisk. ( 10-20 minutes will be sufficient ) Stand the chasen ( whisk ) in it.
2.	Discard the hot water that was used to warm up the whisk and cup. Fill maccha ( green powder tea ) into the cup. Use about two chashaku of powdered tea ( about 2g ). Of course, the amount may vary according to your taste. 2g sounds like very little, but it is sufficient since it is powdered tea.
3.	The picture shows what 2g of superior maccha should look like in the bowl. The fresh green color of maccha is very beautiful!
4.	When you look very closely, do you detect any lumps? If so, do not yet pour hot water into the cup, since this might cause the lumps to stay. First use a very small amount of cold water on the powder and stir it with the whisk. Use only as much water as is necessary to stir the powder into a thick paste.
5.	Cold water, mixed with the whisk By producing a paste first you will destroy all lumps and by doing so even an amateur will be able to prepare a smooth and delicious maccha successfully.
6.	Pour the hot water into the cup The amount of hot water used should be around 60-70ml and the temperature of the water about 80-90 degrees celsius. Now use the whisk to stir. The handle of the whisk should be held firmly with your hand while your wrist causes your hand to make rapid ' jerking ' movements. Move the whisk as if you were writing the letter 'm' into the cup. The tip of the whisk should never touch the bottom of the cup.
	Proper way of holding the whisk The dominant hand should hold the whisk with the index, middle and ring finger firmly gripping the bamboo handle while the other hand should be supporting the cup to prevent it from slipping. Rather than sitting down on a chair when you whisk the tea it might be easier to do so in a standing position so your arm may be straight.
7.	Ready to be served!
	When the surface of the tea looks like a creamy broth with foam on top that consists of many tiny bubbles ( similar to Cappucino) your maccha is ready to be served. Though you may now think that it is quite difficult to prepare maccha,please enjoy the mellow sweetness of maccha in a relaxed attitude. Eating some sweets with the tea might enhance the flavor of your maccha.

Maccha (Matcha)	Gyokuro	Sencha
Serving Tea (Animation)

Back to front page

Top of page