🎁 Father's Day: Includes the bowl, whisk, scoop, ceremonial matcha, and Lisa's first-cup card. Ships in 1 to 2 business days from Costa Mesa, CA. Order by Wednesday, June 17 by 2 PM PT for Father's Day Saturday landing.
For the five minutes between waking up and the first email.
TL;DR
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Hand-cut Madake bamboo chasen with ~80 prongs — the prong count traditional tea masters recommend for daily usucha.
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Hand-pinched ceramic chawan sized for a single bowl (80–100ml water + 1.5g matcha).
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Six-week in-house tested with a panel of three baristas, two home users, and one tea ceremony instructor.
A bamboo whisk you'll keep for 8–12 months of daily use, paired with a bowl that earns its place on your counter. Designed and tested in California; ships from the United States in 2–3 business days.
What is a matcha whisk set?
A matcha whisk set is the minimum kit needed to prepare matcha in the traditional Japanese way. It includes a bamboo whisk (chasen) for foaming the matcha, a wide ceramic bowl (chawan) for whisking, and usually a bamboo scoop (chashaku) for measuring. Strabella's set includes the chasen and chawan; the chashaku is sold in our complete kit.
What's in the Box
- 1 × Bamboo matcha whisk (chasen) — Madake bamboo, hand-cut, ~80 prongs
- 1 × Ceramic matcha bowl (chawan) — hand-pinched, ~12 cm diameter, 350ml capacity
- Care instructions card — first soak, daily rinse, drying, storage
Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Whisk material |
Madake bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) |
| Whisk prong count |
~80 |
| Whisk height |
~10.5 cm |
| Bowl material |
Hand-pinched stoneware ceramic |
| Bowl diameter |
~12 cm |
| Bowl capacity |
~350 ml |
| Best for |
Usucha (thin matcha), daily ritual |
| Expected whisk lifespan |
8–12 months daily use; 18–24 months weekly |
| Country of origin |
Bamboo: Japan · Ceramic: handcrafted |
| Ships from |
United States |
How to Use Your Matcha Whisk Set
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Soak the whisk in warm water for 5 minutes before first use to gently spread the prongs.
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Sift 1.5g (~½ teaspoon) of matcha into the bowl to remove clumps.
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Pour 80ml of 175°F / 80°C water (not boiling — boiling water makes matcha bitter).
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Whisk in an M or W motion for 15–20 seconds until a fine foam forms on top.
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Drink within 30 seconds for the brightest flavor.
How to Care for Your Bamboo Whisk
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Rinse only with warm water after every use — never use soap or the dishwasher.
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Air-dry on a chasen-naoshi (whisk holder) to keep prong shape — sold separately.
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Replace when 3+ prongs break or splay outward without springing back, typically after 8–12 months of daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a matcha whisk to make matcha?
For traditional matcha (usucha or koicha), yes — a bamboo chasen creates the fine foam and emulsion that defines authentic matcha. A regular kitchen whisk leaves clumps and produces a watery cup.
How long does a bamboo matcha whisk last?
A bamboo whisk lasts 8–12 months of daily use, or 18–24 months of weekly use. Replace it when prongs splay outward, stop springing back, or when 3+ prongs break.
Can I use a regular kitchen whisk for matcha?
You can, but the result is noticeably worse — clumpy texture, no foam, and a watery flavor. The thin prongs of a chasen create thousands of tiny air pockets that a metal whisk cannot replicate.
How do you clean a bamboo matcha whisk?
Rinse under warm running water immediately after use, gently swishing the prongs. Never use soap, hot water, or a dishwasher. Air-dry on a chasen-naoshi holder or upright in a clean spot.
Why do I need to soak a new bamboo whisk?
A 5-minute warm-water soak before the first use gently spreads the prongs and prevents breakage during your first whisk. Skip this step and you'll likely lose 1–2 prongs in week one.
Why Strabella
Family-built since 2023, Strabella is a small US-based brand of considered matcha tools and quiet kitchen objects, run by Lisa in Newport Beach. We test every product through six weeks of in-house use before it ships. We're not the cheapest. We're not the loudest. We're the one you keep.
Shipping & Returns
- Ships from the United States — typically 2–3 business days
- Free US shipping on orders over $50
- 30-day return policy on all unused items
- US customer support: hello@strabella.org
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From the Strabella journal
Frequently asked questions
I'm a beginner — is this set for me?
Yes. The bamboo whisk plus the included sifter fix the two problems most beginners hit on day one: clumps and bitterness. Sift, water at 170°F, M-motion. That's the whole technique.
How do I care for the bamboo whisk?
Rinse with warm water after each use. Dry tines-up in the holder (never lay flat). Never dishwasher. With daily use, the chasen lasts 6–12 months before the tines wear — then replace just the whisk.
Can I use this for iced matcha?
Yes — the bamboo chasen works hot or cold. For iced, whisk first in 2 oz hot water, then pour over ice and cold milk.
