Suikaen (翠華園) Chasen & Chashaku Bundle Kit

Consists of:

1. Suikaen's ( 翠華園) Takayama Chasen "Kazuho" (茶筌 数穂), white bamboo whisk with black thread in traditional packaging box
2. Suikaen's ( 翠華園) Shiratake Chashaku (白竹茶杓目無), white bamboo scoop in traditional packaging box
3. Chasen Yasume (茶筌やすめ), whisk stand, in either black or white (due to limited stocks, colour cannot be chosen for now), handcrafted in Seto ( 瀬戸)

Due to the time consuming process, skills required (and thus manpower shortage) and bamboo shortage, Suikaen 翠華園 produces only about 4000 chasens per year. The waitlists are long and production lead times are usually more than 6 months.

Matsu Matcha is deeply honoured as one of few places to represent Suikaen 翠華園 and to distribute these beautiful works of art which are embedded with immaculate craftsmanship and history.

• Traditional Chasen and Chashaku are handcrafted in the small village of Takayama (高山) in Nara (奈良) prefecture, where the history of chasen making originated from
• Suikaen (翠華園) is only 1 of 14 chasen makers in Japan, and comes from a rich family history of chasen makers of more than 500 years.
• Currently helmed by 25th generation Chasen Master Yasaburo Tanimura and his son, 26th generation Chasen Master Keiichiro Tanimura (photo selfie with Keiichiro-san)
• Each chasen in this bundle kit is 6 years in the making:
  • Each bamboo is averaged 3 years old when they are harvested in winter 
  • Once harvested, these bamboo are boiled to remove natural oils within the bamboo
  • The bamboo are then placed outdoor in the sun for 1-2 months in which the ultraviolet rays change the colour of the bamboo from green to white. As a result, while time consuming, this colour bleaching process is all natural.
  • The sun bleached bamboo are then stored in the shed to cure, for another 3 years, going through 3 cycles of seasons, so as to better improve flexibility and durability.
  • The bamboo then goes through a 7-stage process before a chasen is born. Please refer to the attached video for the transformation.
  • The threads for each chasen are completed by a small number of artisans and are averaged 75 years old (how?!)
  • No chemicals are used, all natural imperfections of the bamboo are retained. Strictly no dessicants. This is because any use of chemicals and/ or dessicants can affect the taste of the matcha whisked.
• Due to the natural bamboo and handcrafting process, subtle imperfections can occur, making each piece truly one of a kind. 

We hope you can experience this beautiful heritage.