Chasen Cream No. 6 · Golden Bamboo, 54 Tines · Usucha

Warm golden bamboo · black thread · around 54 tines · tall, slender bell · one of a kind

Honey-gold bamboo bound in black thread, its around 54 outer tines drawn into a tall, slender bell rather than a wide dome. The upright form concentrates the whisking action, making it well suited to a narrower bowl and a dense, fine-bubbled usucha (thin matcha).

Hand-cut and tied from a single piece of bamboo in Takayama, Nara — the district that makes more than 90% of Japan's chasen, where fewer than twenty artisans still practise the craft. From one of four independent makers we work with; out of respect for them, we don't share names or workshops. One of a kind — we have only this piece.

Care: rest on a whisk holder (kusenaoki) to keep its shape, rinse in warm water only, and air-dry. Never soak or machine-wash.