Why You Need a Bamboo Whisk for Making Matcha

Matcha is an age-old tradition dating back to ancient China and Japan, but it has recently become a global phenomenon. The earthy, finely-ground green tea powder is so popular, in fact, that it’s on the brink of a shortage. Whether you enjoy it by itself or in a trendy latte, matcha is relatively easy to prepare at home using specialized tools that have been around for centuries.

Recently, the brand Poda launched matcha paste in a tube, promising an easier way to prepare the beverage. Its founder is taking heat online for implying that the new product is superior to the ancient preparation method, so we asked matcha experts to weigh in on the controversy. They explained why traditional matcha tools — namely, the bamboo whisk — are still essential.

AprikaLife Bamboo Matcha Whisk

In a now-deleted video, Poda’s founder, Mujtaba Waseem, encouraged viewers to make matcha without traditional tools. “Let’s make matcha, but we don’t need any of this crap,” he said while pushing a matcha bowl, bamboo whisk (also called a chasen), and matcha powder aside in favor of a single tube of his squeezable matcha.

The video has garnered plenty of backlash online and in the matcha community. “I’m all for product innovation and trying something different, but when you call certain tools [crap] that have been used in tea ceremonies for centuries, it comes off a little tone-deaf,” Joe Lee, owner of a Vancouver cafe specializing in matcha, said in a TikTok video.

According to Shen Chen (known as Mr. JOC), founder of Just One Cookbook, “nothing compares to the traditional chasen when it comes to achieving the perfect texture, flavor, and froth.” Susannah Lee, owner of Thistle & Sprig Tea in Atlanta, added, “The bamboo whisk is a highly effective tool that has been perfected over centuries.”

She said whisking close to the surface introduces tiny air pockets into the matcha, creating a foamy texture that “no other method can achieve.” She noted that you can use different bamboo whisks to personalize the texture of your tea: “A lower number of tines is generally used to make a thicker matcha, while a higher number of tines is better for making a more foamy matcha.”

When we asked matcha pros if a metal whisk or a standard fork could stand in for a traditional chasen, we were met with a resounding “no.” According to Chen, “because matcha is so finely ground, standard kitchen whisks (flat or balloon-style ones) simply don’t work. “Their wide gaps can’t break up clumps effectively, making it hard to fully dissolve the powder or create the signature froth.”

If your goal is to make the best possible matcha at home, Susannah Lee recommends sticking to tradition: “I understand the allure of innovative products promising fresher, cheaper, and easier. But a product like tube matcha is a gimmick; it's nothing like real matcha.”

Ready to make matcha like a pro? This traditional bamboo whisk has 100 prongs for the ultimate frothy matcha mixture, and you can grab it at Amazon for just $10 right now.

More Matcha Tools to Shop:

Jade Leaf Matcha Traditional Porcelain Tea Bowl

Restaurantware Dojo Chashaku Matcha Scoop

OXO Good Grips 3-Inch Mini Strainer

Tang Pin 4-Piece Matcha Set

Zulay Kitchen Milk Frother Wand

At the time of publishing, the price was $10.