thank you so much !!!! i couldn't figure out why my matcha wasn't getting a nice foam .... now i know..!!! great explanation..you are a great teacher !
It's important to know that ALL matcha products are good from a health viewpoint. The ratings 'better' or 'best' are about artistic values --taste, fragrance, appearance.
This is wonderful- thank you for sharing the art of tea-ceremony with all of us (and allowing comments). I am looking forward to talking with you this morning at 9am on the #seekingsustainabilitylive talkshow. Even after many years living in Japan, I am still fascinated and impressed by people who do tea ceremony so gracefully and beautifully as you do!
Hi! I'm sorry I haven't replied earlier. It was great talking to you on your podcast. I'm actually shy but it encouraged me to do more videos. Happy new Year! -Atsuko
Just wanted to say thank you. I've lived in Japan for years and I also watched a lot of videos on youtube about this beautiful process. I found yours very informative and you have a contagious smile. I really enjoyed this video.
Hi, I have just drank my first cup of matcha tea and it was a bit rough, so here I am watching how this tea should be prepared I noticed you heated the bowl, then dried it, could one just micro wave the empty cup to warm it before adding the tea? I will need to purchase a Bamboo whisk. Thank you so much for this video!
Awesome vid thank you! A question; i love the taste of matcha but it's still a bit too bitter for me. Any advice on how İ can make the matcha tea naturally taste sweeter?
Very graceful presentation. But I wished you explain more on the spirit behind the nuances so others can truly appreciate. Like is facing the design of the cup towards you is a moment of taking in the pleasure of the vessel's design and craft, and turning to the side is a way to preserve the vessel's integrity to last? And is there like a lost meaning to give oneself a specific prayer/will to each sip, as in wishing the tea will heal body, mind, soul, etc?
Hi drummerruss, I'm sorry it took long to reply. How's your matcha making going? I hear hard-water is more difficult and also the temperature is important. 80C hot water and 2g matcha. Thank you!
My matcha tea is from Mountain Rose Herbs in Eugene, Oregon. I own an exquisite collection of tea bowls made by David Hergesheimer, glazed by his wife Keiko, purchased at Yellow Springs Pottery in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
SevenDeMagnus That will work as a guide but you’ll want to double the weight & volume. For example, it seems that 1.5-2 grams for 70 ml of water. Although 90° C is suggested in the video, many very experienced tea drinkers have come to favor a lower temperature for Japanese green teas. Bitter compounds go into solution at higher temperatures and are generally undesirable. While it may not be orthodox for usu-cha, it is perfectly acceptable for all other Japanese green teas to be steeped at 80° C or lower (down to 50° in some cases!). Considering how close the tencha for matcha is to gyokuro, a lower temperature for matcha makes sense for reducing bitterness and extracting the most flavorful elements of the tea. For this reason I suggest a temperature around 80° C.
I would like to taste Japanese emerald Matcha tea, but we can not buy it at a reasonable price. This tea will overpayment 6 times.. It is very overpriced! And Chasen is bad quality!
Sean Michael Although 90° C is suggested in the video, many very experienced tea drinkers have come to favor a lower temperature, especially for Japanese green teas. Bitter compounds go into solution at higher temperatures and are generally undesirable. While it may not be orthodox for usu-cha, it is orthodox for all other Japanese green teas to be steeped at 70° C or lower. Considering how close the tencha for matcha is to gyokuro, a lower temperature for matcha makes sense for reducing bitterness and extracting the most flavorful elements of the tea. For this reason I suggest a temperature around 70° C. But use 90° C if it is a formal affair. ;-)
i saw in another video that, even if there is no beautiful pattern on the cup like there is on this one, i believe when the host places the bowl in front of you, they place it with the most beautiful view of the tea facing you. so to be respectful and show appreciation to the consideration of the host, you turn the cup to the side to not drink directly from the "beautiful side" of the tea. im not 100% sure this is the exact reason, but i think this may be why.