If you’ve ever wondered how to use a matcha whisk, you have come to the right place! 🍵
In this article, we are going to learn step by step how to use a bamboo whisk, how to whisk matcha with proper technique and how long to whisk matcha.
We’ll also show you some additional pro tips for whisking matcha so you can prepare your own beautiful bowls of matcha at home.
Without further ado, let’s get started! 🎉🙌
How to Use a Matcha Whisk - Video
How to Use a Matcha Whisk explained step by step
The question of how to use a matcha whisk can be answered in 4 simple steps:
1) The first step to how to use a matcha whisk is soaking it, to make sure the bristles are pliable and less likely to break
Next, after the water has been added, scrape the sides of the bowl to combine it with the water.
2) Then, when it comes to how to use a matcha whisk with proper technique the key is the whisking technique, which we will show you.
3) After learning how to use a matcha whisk, you’ll then learn how to clean and dry a matcha bamboo whisk like a tea master 🧼
4) The final step is how to store it properly. In addition to learning how to use a matcha whisk, this is also important when it comes to maintaining your bamboo whisk.
Step 1 - Prepare your Matcha Bamboo Whisk in water
Before we get into how to use a matcha whisk, you will want to learn how to prepare a matcha whisk.
But how would you do that? 🤔
How to prepare a matcha whisk?
The technique of how to prepare a matcha whisk is used in the Japanese tea ceremony, but it is also important when it comes to how to whisk matcha at home.
First you fill up a cup of warm water and put your matcha whisk inside of it. Let the whisk sit inside the water for about 1 minute. You have just learned how to prepare a matcha whisk and now we are ready to learn how to use a matcha whisk!
Why is soaking so important?
When you use a bamboo whisk for matcha, you need to soak it to make it more flexible. The small bristles on the bamboo matcha whisk are incredibly fragile, particularly when dry.
When you soak the bamboo in water, it makes the bristle more pliable and less likely to break.
Learning how to use a matcha whisk won’t do you much good if your whisks keep breaking!
Step 2 - Start Whisking Matcha
Now that we’ve learned how to prepare the whisk, it’s time to learn how to use a matcha whisk. Part of how to use a matcha whisk is mastering the matcha whisking technique, which we are going to share here.
How to whisk matcha
Once the water and matcha powder have been mixed together, you can put your matcha whisk into the water and begin to gently scrape off the sides and the bottom of the tea bowl. This will ensure all the tea has been mixed evenly into the water.
Once you have finished scraping, you can then practice how to whisk matcha. For this, you will want to follow a rapid zigzag motion using mostly your wrist. These small movements may be difficult at first, but you will master them over time. An experienced tea master will be able to whisk the matcha very quickly while barely moving their arm. The key is all in the wrist!
How long to whisk matcha
So you now know how to whisk matcha, but you may not know how long to whisk matcha. It generally takes about 30 seconds to get a nice thick foam on top, but this foam will start to appear after just a few strokes. If the foam doesn’t appear, you may be using a low quality matcha or not enough powder.
When it comes to how to use a matcha whisk, one of the keys is knowing when you are done. Take a look at the size of the bubbles and use them as a guide. They will start out large, but then turn into smaller “microfoam” over time. This is how you know how long to whisk matcha.
Step 3 - How to clean a matcha whisk
Learning how to wash your whisk is even easier than learning how to use a matcha whisk 🧼
After you are done whisking matcha, it is important to clean off the bamboo matcha whisk before you put it back on the matcha whisk holder so it doesn’t grow mold or mildew.
All you have to do is rinse the bamboo matcha whisk in water, but occasionally you may want to use a toothbrush to clean off some of the staining in between the bristles. When your whisk has been rinsed off, you are ready to continue to the next step.
How to dry a Matcha Whisk?
How to use a matcha whisk is not just about the whisking itself, it’s also about maintaining the whisk overtime. If you follow these next techniques, you should be able to keep it in tip-top shape.
After using the whisk for matcha, it will pretty much dry on its own, it just needs to be in the right circumstances. Make sure it has some breathing room (ie: not in a container or zipped bag) and keep it in a drier place. You can blot it with a dry cloth or paper towel after rinsing but just don’t apply too much pressure on the bristles.
Step 4 - Put it back on the Matcha Whisk Holder
The final step of how to use a bamboo whisk for matcha is storing it. This is really important when it comes to retaining the proper shape of the matcha and also ensuring that it doesn't grow mold.
If you do not have a matcha whisk holder, make sure you put the matcha whisk upside down with the bristles up in the air. This is the best way for it to dry and it also allows it to maintain its shape.
Congratulations, you’ve just learned how to use a bamboo whisk for matcha, how to whisk matcha, how long to whisk matcha, how to clean it and store it! 🏆
