Chashaku (Bamboo Scoop)
A chashaku is a slender bamboo scoop, about 18 cm long, used to measure and transfer matcha from its caddy to the tea bowl.
Definition
The chashaku (茶杓) is a narrow strip of bamboo with one end bent into a shallow scoop. Most have a node (fushi) of the bamboo near the middle, a feature associated with the 16th-century tea master Sen no Rikyū, though earlier ivory and node-less forms also exist. Scoops are also made from wood and, rarely, ivory. In the Japanese tea ceremony the chashaku is one of the host's most personal tools. Tea masters traditionally carved their own scoops and gave each a poetic name (mei), and historic scoops carved by famous masters are kept and displayed as treasures alongside letters and tea bowls. During a ceremony, guests may ask to examine the scoop and learn its name and maker. For everyday use the chashaku is a practical measure. Matcha is light and clumps easily, so a narrow scoop that lifts a small mound and drops it into a sieve or bowl is more accurate than a teaspoon. It also avoids pressing the powder, which would make it harder to whisk smooth.
In Depth
Measuring: one heaped chashaku scoop holds very roughly 1 g of matcha, though it varies with the scoop and how much is heaped. Two scoops for usucha and three to four for koicha are common rules; weigh a few servings once to calibrate a particular scoop.
Care: wipe the chashaku with a dry cloth after use. Do not wash it in water routinely; bamboo that is repeatedly soaked can warp or lose the bend of the scoop.
A metal teaspoon is not a substitute when measuring by eye. A level teaspoon of matcha holds about 2 g, so using one in place of a scoop roughly doubles the intended dose and makes the tea bitter. A small digital scale reading to 0.1 g is the most reliable alternative for anyone without a chashaku.
See Also
- Japanese Tea Ceremony
- Matcha Tools
- Sen no Rikyu