First Matcha

[kymidwife]

OK, technically not my first... but the first that wasn't crappy, poorly made, low quality junk....

I got some samples from a tea friend here, and as I didn't have any proper teaware, I had to improvise on the whisk (I have this tiny metal one). I got two matcha samples, and this was the Ippodo sample. Thought I would share a few pics of my first attempt:

Here's the sample, along with the gift of a lovely white rice-pattern tea cup which I absolutely LOVE... I had already picked up the accompanying bowl at a 2nd-hand store for 3 bucks on Inauguration Day:



I wasn't sure if the rice-pattern bowl was large enough to whisk matcha in, but since my whisk was so tiny and the green color would look so gorgeous with the white bowl, I decided to go for it.

I prewarmed and dried the bowl (as carefully directed), and sifted the sample matcha into the lovely white bowl:




And whisked my heart out with that teeny little whisk:



Until I achieved a marginally respectable froth:



And then I drank it!



Those of you who are particularly observant may notice different dates on the series of pictures above... however, these were all taken in the same single session... it was just alittle before midnight when I started and alittle after midnight when I finished. Yes, I drank matcha at midnight... couldn't wait. Luckily, I am a night person anyway.

As of yesterday, I now own a real whisk and some nice matcha from O-Cha (see today's TeaDay post for a pic of last night's 10pm session... yes, I know, madness)... but the little white bowl may be too small for the new whisk. Now I guess I need a "real" matcha bowl.

THE END

[Shelob]

OK, technically not my first... but the first that wasn't crappy, poorly made, low quality junk....
I got some samples from a tea friend here, and as I didn't have any proper teaware, I had to improvise on the whisk (I have this tiny metal one). I got two matcha samples, and this was the Ippodo sample. Thought I would share a few pics of my first attempt:
Here's the sample, along with the gift of a lovely white rice-pattern tea cup which I absolutely LOVE... I had already picked up the accompanying bowl at a 2nd-hand store for 3 bucks on Inauguration Day:



I wasn't sure if the rice-pattern bowl was large enough to whisk matcha in, but since my whisk was so tiny and the green color would look so gorgeous with the white bowl, I decided to go for it.

I prewarmed and dried the bowl (as carefully directed), and sifted the sample matcha into the lovely white bowl:




And whisked my heart out with that teeny little whisk:



Until I achieved a marginally respectable froth:



And then I drank it!



Those of you who are particularly observant may notice different dates on the series of pictures above... however, these were all taken in the same single session... it was just alittle before midnight when I started and alittle after midnight when I finished. Yes, I drank matcha at midnight... couldn't wait. Luckily, I am a night person anyway.

As of yesterday, I now own a real whisk and some nice matcha from O-Cha (see today's TeaDay post for a pic of last night's 10pm session... yes, I know, madness)... but the little white bowl may be too small for the new whisk. Now I guess I need a "real" matcha bowl.

THE END

Thanks for sharing Sarah Matcha is just awesome, isn't it! Looks like you've been bitten by the Matcha Bowl Bug too

Just give in to the force and start shopping, you won't be happy until you buy one, soooo..... why prolong it .

Lovely pics , thanks for sharing them too, I always enjoy everyone's photos, even if I forget to mention them .

[Oni]

I improvised too when I first tried matcha, and I still enjoyed it, I finished two 40 g packs with no adecvate teaware for it, if you like matcha go ahead and buy authentic japanese teaware, simply matcha tastes better from a kuro raku, and whisked with 120 pon chase, the more uniform and thicker the foam the better the taste, because tea is mixed with air and water, and you drink the foam that instantly attacks your taste buds and you can identify great tastes.
If you want to buy a kuro raku check out horaido teashop, they sell the very same chawan that hibiki-an does but less than half the price, I know I bought one and the stamp on the bottom is the same and it looks the same, and do not cut your expenses on the whisk, you will pay more if you buy cheaper whisk (chinese whisks) they last less, my original japanese 120 pon whisk I own for a year now and still no flaws.

[Chip]

Thanks for sharing your first matcha with us. Heh, I used a wisk like that in a cereal bowl, what a difference actual teaware makes.

Something to be said for breaking out a chawan, etc ...

[Geekgirl]

My first couple of matcha tries, I used a shaker. It worked okay. Looks like you did better than I did. Glad you have good equipment on the way. Don't go chawan-mad like I have!

[Victoria]

I used a wire whisk to start with too. It does look lovely against the white
rice pattern bowl!!!

[olivierco]

No need to buy a kuro raku (why a kuro raku by the way? I don't think the color of the chawan would actually change the taste of the matcha).

Chamekke wrote a very detailed post about chawan here

A 120 pon chasen is effectively recommended for beginner but you can achieve a good foam with the chasen as the one sold by ocha (72 tines, if I remember well)

[Pentox]

No need to buy a kuro raku (why a kuro raku by the way? I don't think the color of the chawan would actually change the taste of the matcha).

My guess would be kuro because it's the most famous of all chawans from what I have seen. It doesn't affect the taste, but it's one of those notions like if you have one suit have a black suit, if you have two have a black and a navy, past that have fun.

But yet kuro raku have their own reasonings / uses / etc.

[tenuki]

KY, no indication what you thought about how it tasted. inquiring minds want to know.

[cherylopal]

Thanks for sharing- how much better was the O-Cha matcha? Your bowl is beautiful and you are right- the tea looks lovely in it.

I've got that whisk too! Picked it up for a quarter and find that I've used it quite a bit but I think it might have one more application...

[kymidwife]

When I was ordering from O-Cha, I saw they had the cheaper Chinese-made whisk, and the more expensive Japanese-made version... I opted for the Japanese one based on what I'd read here on TeaChat.

Regarding which was better... Ippodo sample or my O-Cha Kiri No Mori, I'm not sure my palate is sensitive enough to tell all the different nuances yet... they tasted very similar to me. What I did notice was, the Kiri No Mori was alittle creamier and more potent in flavor and aroma... but I think this may be more related to my technique than the matcha itself. I didn't have to whisk as long with the new whisk as compared with the little wire one... so I got a better froth more quickly, and the matcha temperature was warmer, having had less time to cool down with the shorter prep time.

Did I like it? Oh yeah! I've been craving green lately, and I really loved the way the matcha hits every sense... silky feel on the tongue, powerful aroma, creamy sweet complex taste, visually beautiful in that vibrant color... and even the sound of whisking... I thought it was the most enjoyable brewing experience I've had with tea.

On a funny note, I had to run in to the hospital to see a couple of patients last night, so I took my matcha with me in a clear glass cup... just so I could enjoy the reactions of the nurses. I got lots of OMGs and POND WATER comments, but they were quickly overshadowed by the comments on my battered face.

Sarah

[tenuki]

Did I like it? Oh yeah! I've been craving green lately, and I really loved the way the matcha hits every sense... silky feel on the tongue, powerful aroma, creamy sweet complex taste, visually beautiful in that vibrant color... and even the sound of whisking... I thought it was the most enjoyable brewing experience I've had with tea.

Awesome!

I got lots of OMGs and POND WATER comments, but they were quickly overshadowed by the comments on my battered face.

[danibob]

I bought a matcha set from o-cha as well. My poor box is stuck at the post office since no one was home when they delivered it today. I'm picking it up tomorrow! I can't wait to try this stuff.

That is indeed a lovely bowl Sarah. The green looks very nice against it.

[Oni]

Raku Yaki has wabi sabi feeling to it, it warm too touch, "The glaze made from Kamogawa river-stone which is kneaded and then melted down by heat, creates the traditional atmosphere", and the matcha doesn`t stick to the surface of the bowl, if I make koicha, after I drink I can wipe out all the green stuff with one motion, so I do not waste a drop of that green pleasure.

[olivierco]

Regarding which was better... Ippodo sample or my O-Cha Kiri No Mori,

Which Ippodo matcha did you taste?