If by chemical you mean additives no. It’s just a pattern I’ve observed but maybe someone with greater expertise will chime in.
Your day in matcha
Hadn't heard of that seller before. Checked out their site and it looks great. Watched a cool video of the seller showing different sifting devices. My wife helped me track down the one he favors:
https://item.rakuten.co.jp/honjien/003-191-18-2/
Pricey, but really cool!
I originally bought a sifting device from O-Cha, not the type with the metal balls but the one that sifts the matcha into a closable container. I only use it now for very lumpy matcha. Instead I follow the cold water technique in the Thes-du-Japon video. Tyas Sōsen identifies as an instructor in a particular tea ceremony technique so he might not be open to skipping steps that are a part of the ceremony he teaches.
What dismayed me was the Intimidating number of steps he recommended for cleaning the chasen. I’ve just been whisking mine in warm water in the clean chawan and then setting it on the chasen stand to dry.
What dismayed me was the Intimidating number of steps he recommended for cleaning the chasen. I’ve just been whisking mine in warm water in the clean chawan and then setting it on the chasen stand to dry.
Well, I have been drinking matcha for a good while even though I do not own either a chawan or chasen, so you can rest assured that there are poor souls far lower than you are on the scale of observance of the dogmas...
That guy talks a lot when the day is long... personally I’m really put off by the pretentious way he paints himself as a semi-monk all the while showing off on social media in a not very zen way.Janice wrote: ↑Wed Apr 08, 2020 10:28 am. Tyas Sōsen identifies as an instructor in a particular tea ceremony technique so he might not be open to skipping steps that are a part of the ceremony he teaches.
What dismayed me was the Intimidating number of steps he recommended for cleaning the chasen. I’ve just been whisking mine in warm water in the clean chawan and then setting it on the chasen stand to dry.
I haven’t been following Sōsen on social media but the contrast between his presentation and that of the tea “sommelier” at Thes-du-Japon would then be even more striking. For example, in the Thes-du-Japon video on preparing matcha all you see are the hands - the focus is on the tea.
In any case, I’m continuing to purchase tea locally as the USPS is still dependable when Asia isn’t involved. The matcha I purchased from Ippodo is good, but not so good for the price that I didn’t look elsewhere. There’s a tea shop in the East Village in NYC, Setsugekka, that I would love to visit in person. They serve a 3 matcha tasting menu and teach brief classes in matcha prep, and I was planning a spring visit. Since the quarantine prevents me from going to them I ordered some matcha to be sent to me.
In any case, I’m continuing to purchase tea locally as the USPS is still dependable when Asia isn’t involved. The matcha I purchased from Ippodo is good, but not so good for the price that I didn’t look elsewhere. There’s a tea shop in the East Village in NYC, Setsugekka, that I would love to visit in person. They serve a 3 matcha tasting menu and teach brief classes in matcha prep, and I was planning a spring visit. Since the quarantine prevents me from going to them I ordered some matcha to be sent to me.
I finally got a proper chawan, and it is so much easier to whisk properly! I had to be very careful to not splash it everywhere with the previous bowl and couldn't make a thick froth.
The chawan is from 'The Japanese Shop' who sell on UK Amazon - wanted to get something that was already in the country and I liked the glaze on this one.
I finished my Kiri-no-Mori matcha and am now on the Japan Wazuka Samidori matcha from What-Cha (borrowing the empty canister). I'd say it was slightly more robust and slightly less sweet (though by no means bitter) compared to the Kiri-no-Mori.
The chawan is from 'The Japanese Shop' who sell on UK Amazon - wanted to get something that was already in the country and I liked the glaze on this one.
I finished my Kiri-no-Mori matcha and am now on the Japan Wazuka Samidori matcha from What-Cha (borrowing the empty canister). I'd say it was slightly more robust and slightly less sweet (though by no means bitter) compared to the Kiri-no-Mori.
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Haven't had matcha in a long time. Decided to fix that
Speaking of matcha, what ratios are y'all using? I used 3 scoops of matcha powder for 8 oz of water (160F). First stirred the matcha in 1 oz of room temp water to dissolve the powder, then added 7oz of 160F water.
Speaking of matcha, what ratios are y'all using? I used 3 scoops of matcha powder for 8 oz of water (160F). First stirred the matcha in 1 oz of room temp water to dissolve the powder, then added 7oz of 160F water.
I prepare sencha every now and then, but I really do not have a good grasp of the range of parameters others use and am curious to know too. I am slowly working down a matcha for which I use something around 1.2g to 1.5g for about 60ml (2oz) of water. I used 75C water at the beginning, but have now switched to 70C.
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I've read that 1.5 scoops is 2 g so 3 scoops should be around 4 g but I'll measure next time.
I'm more curious whether I use too much water (8 oz) for my ~4 g of matcha...
I guess there are no hard guidelines, so "too much water" is probably mostly a matter of preference. You can try with more water, less water, and see what difference it makes. You preference might very well vary depending on what matcha you are having.OhThatNinja wrote: ↑Sat Aug 01, 2020 5:51 pmI'm more curious whether I use too much water (8 oz) for my ~4 g of matcha...
It still is interesting to hear from others, though, sometimes it gets you to pay attention to things you were overlooking, or try things from a very different angle.
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I agree to the role of personal preference and even mood, in matcha/water ratio. But recently I tried seeing how thick I could make some (really high quality) matchas before they tasted bitter. I cheated with a cheap electric hand whisk to do it and the answer was, I couldn't make them bitter! Some I made so thick they weren't even a liquid but rather, a pudding-like consistency that was possible sip, but not as effective and satisfying as eating with a spoon! And they tasted great! Had no idea that was even possible.faj wrote: ↑Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:09 pmI guess there are no hard guidelines, so "too much water" is probably mostly a matter of preference. You can try with more water, less water, and see what difference it makes. You preference might very well vary depending on what matcha you are having.OhThatNinja wrote: ↑Sat Aug 01, 2020 5:51 pmI'm more curious whether I use too much water (8 oz) for my ~4 g of matcha...
It still is interesting to hear from others, though, sometimes it gets you to pay attention to things you were oquaverlooking, or try things from a very different angle.