Japanese Matcha Whisk / Takayama Chasen - Kohchosai Kosuga

Regular price: £48.00
Sale price: £48.00

Tax included.

"Takayama Chasen" x Kohchosai Kosuga collaborate Japanese Matcha whisk

Handcrafted in Takayama, Japan
70 to 80 prongs

The Chasen “tea whisk” is the beautifully intricate implement used to mix powdered tea with hot water. The making of great matcha requires an equally great chasen, crafted by hand from meticulously selected bamboo.

The Chasen is skillfully hand-carved from a single piece of bamboo so that it won't warp or break easily. The peerless functional aesthetic of the tea whisk is a reflection of the Japanese soul. A whisk made in the town of Takayama is the genuine article, with a delicate finish and suppleness in its bamboo fibers that are not even remotely matched by cheap imported whisks. The secret to producing exceptional, dainty yet resilient whisks is to make maximum use of the most pliable Japanese bamboo.

Takayama Chasen has a history of over 500 years, first created in the late Muromachi period (1333-1573) in Ikoma Takayama, Nara. During the 15th century, Takayama Sosetsu came up with a new type of bamboo whisk appropriate for the new style of Japanese tea ceremony.

A handcrafted chasen is feels extremely different from factory made ones the moment you hold it – they feel right and light on the hand; the intricate design and attention to detail of a chasen master is impossible to miss. Made to last, a Takayama Chasen will stand the test of everyday whisking with proper care. On the other hand, mass produced matcha whisks are machine made – lacking in quality with brittle materials and no craftsmanship.

Made with 70 (to 80) prongs – each tine carefully carved with a small knife – this is the only tool you need to whisk matcha to perfection and create an even, frothy layer. Investing in an authentic chasen is one the most rewarding things you can do in your matcha journey. It’s more than just a tool - it’s a piece of artwork with centuries worth of culture, tradition, and hard work.

Incense and handicrafts made from bamboo

Specialized in bamboo crafts for 5 generations, the house Kohchosai Kosuga has been supplying the imperial family and families of the Japanese court since 1898.

The craftsmen of the Kyoto-based factory of the house manufacture objects essential to the three major performing arts in Japan: tea ceremony, floral arrangement and incense ritual.

Incense, originating from the island of Awaji, Hyogo, is associated with bamboo charcoal and natural aromatic essences.

(ki:ts) London shop

31A Duke St, London, W1U 1LS, UK