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| 1. | Place
the chasen ( whisk ) into the macchawan ( cup ). Pour hot water into the cup to
warm up the cup and the whisk. ( 10-20 minutes will be sufficient ).
Stand the chasen ( whisk ) in it. | |
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| 2. | Discard
the hot water that was used to warm up the whisk and cup.
Fill Maccha ( green
powder tea ) into the cup. Use two chashaku of powdered tea ( about 2 g ).
Of course, the amount may vary according to your taste.
2 g sounds like very little, but it is sufficient since it is powdered tea. |
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| 3. | The
picture shows what 2 g of superior Maccha should look like in the bowl.
The powdered green tea has a fresh green color.
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| 4. | When
you look very closely, you might detect tiny lumps in your Maccha powder.
If so, do not yet pour hot water into the cup, since this might cause the lumps
to stay.
First use a very small amount of cold water on the powder and stir
it with the whisk.
Use only as much water as necessary to stir the powder
into a thick paste. |  |
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| 5. | By
producing a paste first you will destroy all lumps and by doing so even an amateur
will be able to prepare a smooth and delicious Maccha successfully.
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| 6. | Pour
the hot water into the cup
The amount of hot water used should be around 60-70 ml and the temperature of
the water about 80-90 degrees celsius.
Now use the whisk to stir. The handle of the whisk should be held firmly with
your hand while your wrist causes your hand to make rapid ' jerking ' movements.
Move the whisk as if you were writing the letter 'm' into the cup.
The tip
of the whisk should never touch the bottom of the cup. |  |
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Proper
way of holding the whisk
The dominant hand should hold the whisk with the index,
middle finger and thumb firmly gripping the bamboo handle
while the other hand should be supporting the cup to
prevent it from slipping.
Rather than sitting down on a chair when you whisk the tea it might be easier
to do so in a standing position so your arm may be straight. |
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| 7. | Ready
to be served! |  |
| When
the surface of the tea looks like a creamy broth with foam on top that consists
of many tiny bubbles ( similar to Cappuccino) your maccha is ready to be served.
Though you may now think that it is quite difficult to prepare Maccha, please
enjoy the mellow sweetness of Maccha in a relaxed attitude.
Eating some sweets
with the tea might enhance the flavor of your maccha. |
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