Kurotake Chasen

Creamy micro-foam, fast. This hand-made black bamboo whisk has a slightly wider crown with fine, flexible tines—great for usucha, lattes, and daily use.

Why we picked it

• Beautiful: hand-made from black bamboo.
• Functional: wide crown, thin handle, 60 fine tines which catch clumps and build foam quickly.
• Durable: holds its shape with proper care. Our daily-use test (3 months) led to zero broken tines.
• Honest & accessible: made in China by a specialist workshop. Most whisks sold globally are China-made; traditional Takayama workshops can’t meet demand. This is the best quality we’ve found at a fair price.

How to use

1. Soak the tips in warm water for 30–60 sec before whisking.
2. Sift matcha, add 70–80 °C water.
3. Whisk in quick M/Z motions (not circles) for 15–25 sec until glossy with fine foam.
4. Rinse, shake off water, and air-dry on a whisk stand (or handle-up in a ventilated spot).

Care

• Do not dishwasher or boil.
• Avoid storing wet in closed containers.
• A new whisk may release a faint natural color on first rinse—this is normal.
• Replace when the inner core loosens significantly or tines lose spring.

Good to know

• Material: Black bamboo (kurotake).
• Finish: Natural, no lacquer, no odour
• Works well in both chawans and katakuchi / whisking pitchers.