What is a chashaku? The bamboo tea scoop
By Mio.KShare
A chashaku is the slender bamboo scoop used to lift matcha from its container into the bowl. It looks like the simplest object in the tea room, a strip of bamboo bent at one end. But in tea it is one of the most valued tools, because so many of them were carved by tea people themselves, and each carries the hand of the person who made it.
The short answer: a chashaku (茶杓) is a bamboo tea scoop used to take matcha from the caddy and put it in the bowl. Two scoops make one bowl of thin tea, about 2 g. Most are bamboo, though some are made of ivory or of woods such as plum, pine and cherry. In the tea ceremony a chashaku is often kept in a bamboo tube and given a name, and many were carved by tea practitioners themselves.
I study tea in Tokyo, in the Urasenke school. Here is what the scoop does, and why such a plain thing is treated with care.
What it does
The scoop lifts matcha from the tea container, a caddy (natsume) for thin tea or a ceramic jar for thick tea, and puts it into the bowl. At home, two scoops is one bowl of thin tea, about 2 g. The measurements are in how many grams is a chashaku scoop.
What it is made of
| Material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Bamboo | By far the most common |
| Ivory | Used for some scoops |
| Wood: plum, pine, cherry and others | Also used |
Why a scoop is given a name
In the tea ceremony, a chashaku is usually kept in a bamboo tube, and many are given a name (mei). Many scoops were carved by tea people with their own hands, so a scoop can show the taste and even the character of its maker. That is why it is counted among the most respected of the tea tools.
Caring for one
A bamboo scoop is the easiest tool to keep. Wipe it dry after use; do not wash or soak it. Kept dry, it lasts for years. Details are in how to clean a chashaku.
Questions I get asked
What is a chashaku used for?
To lift matcha from the tea container into the bowl. Two scoops make one bowl of thin tea.
What is a chashaku made of?
Mostly bamboo. Some are ivory or wood, such as plum, pine or cherry.
Why do chashaku have names?
In the tea ceremony many scoops are given a name, and many were carved by tea practitioners themselves, so the scoop carries something of its maker.
Can I use a teaspoon instead?
Yes, to start. A chashaku makes the two-scoop measure easy to repeat, but a teaspoon will do while you learn.
Where this fits
The bamboo tea scoop I sell is white bamboo, made in Japan. It also comes in the starter set with a 100-prong bamboo whisk made in Takayama, Nara, and a Mino-yaki bowl.
Written by Mio.K, who chooses everything in this shop by hand in Japan.