The traditional way to make matcha is using a bamboo whisk, but do you actually need one?
Despite how much I love matcha, I saw no need for a traditional matcha bamboo whisk for a really long time.
The reality is that there are so many alternative ways to make matcha using household items, and some that you probably already own.
Here are 5 bamboo whisk matcha alternatives that are great to use, especially when you’re just starting out making matcha.
Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!
How To Make Matcha At Home The Traditional Way (With A Bamboo Whisk)
Matcha is a part of a traditional Japanese ceremony known as The Way of Tea. The ceremony showcases the proper preparation and presentation of matcha.
The ceremony uses several tools to prepare the matcha, like a traditional bowl and bamboo whisk, or rather, a chawan and chasen respectively.
You’re also going to need to use ceremonial grade matcha… yes there are different grades of matcha, you can read about them in my post here.
Add 1/2 tsp of matcha powder to a chawan with 60 ml of warm water (175 degrees). Using a matcha bamboo whisk, quickly whisk the water in an M or a W motion until a nice froth begins to appear. Then you enjoy it straight from the bowl.
This is how matcha was meant to be made and enjoyed.
What You’ll Need To Make Matcha The Traditional Way
This set from Teanagoo comes with everything you need to get starting making matcha the traditional way.
It comes with a chawan, chasen, even a bamboo measuring spoon and tray as well as ceremonial grade matcha. You can order it on Amazon – see it here.
- ☕ PREMIUM MACHATA CEREMONY SET. It is 7 pcs / set, Contain:: 1* Bamboo Whisk, 1* Bamboo Scoop (Chashaku), 1*Ceramic Bowl (Chawan) 510 ml/18 oz, 1*…
- 💪 HIGH QUALITY BAMBOO WHISK: Our pronged whisk handcrafted about 76 fine tines (百本立）, engineered to create optimal agitation and it’s…
The Problem With Matcha Bamboo Whisks…
The reality is, if you aren’t interested in making matcha the traditional way, there’s no need to buy a bamboo whisk to make matcha.
Making matcha with a bamboo whisk takes a lot of practice to perfect. It’s really an art!
You also probably don’t already own a bamboo whisk. So if you want to make matcha at home, you’ll have to invest in one.
A matcha bamboo whisk also only has one use – to make matcha. If you aren’t sure that you even like matcha yet, the bamboo whisk isn’t exactly something that you can repurpose for anything else.
Even though they’re not too expensive (around $10), and today, you can even find them on Amazon (like this one here), it’s a bit of a waste if you don’t end up even liking matcha!
5 Bamboo Whisk Matcha Alternatives
Household kitchen items make just as delicious matcha as a bamboo whisk does. And as a bonus, they can be used for more than just making matcha!
Keep in mind, some methods work better than others but it’s all about what you already have or need at home.
How To Make Matcha Without A Whisk – Overview
| Description | Where To Buy | |
| Bamboo Whisk | Traditional way to make matcha. Takes practice to perfect. Tiresome. Read more. | Amazon |
| Regular Whisk | Whisks the same way as a bamboo whisk, but it’s less frothy. Read more. | Amazon |
| Milk Frother | Perfect for lattes, but also works with water too. Gets the best foam and takes zero effort at all. Read more. | Amazon |
| Blender | Similar to using a milk frother, but more annoying clean after. Read more. | Amazon |
| Mason Jar | Shake up matcha powder with water in a mason jar. Great to use if you already have mason jars at home. Works best for iced matcha drinks. Read more. | Amazon |
| Matcha Flask | A specific product with a whisk inside to constantly shake up your matcha on the go! Read more. | Amazon |
| Bonus! Matcha Mate Electric Powered Bamboo Whisk | Expensive but you get the benefits of a bamboo whisk without the troubles! Read more. | Amazon |
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1. Use A Regular Whisk For Matcha Tea
Everyone has a whisk in their kitchen (and if you don’t, you probably should… I mean how are you going to make pancakes otherwise?).
If you invest in a smaller whisk, like this one on Amazon, you can whisk matcha as you would using a bamboo whisk. I would use a bowl instead of a mug though to do this!
Add 1/2 tsp of matcha to 60 ml of hot water (175 degrees) and whisk in an M or W shape for the best results. Your job is done once you start to see foam forming at the top.
A regular whisk makes a decent bamboo whisk matcha alternative.
Of course, it’s larger than a bamboo whisk so it’s a bit harder to maneuver and not spill outside the bowl. The foam won’t be as thick and bubbly compared to using a matcha bamboo whisk.
But it will do the job nonetheless!
Regular whisk matcha tip: when using a regular whisk, I find it easier to tilt the bowl and whisk on an angle (kind of like if you’re making scrambled eggs).
2. A Milk Frother (My Favourite Matcha Bamboo Whisk Alternative)
This is my favourite alternative method for how to make matcha at home without a whisk. It works for more traditional matcha (with only water) AND matcha lattes!
I used the Nespresso milk frother (see it on Nespresso here), but you can also use an electric milk frother which is quite a bit cheaper (see it on Amazon).
To make matcha in the Nespresso milk frother, simply add milk or water to the second fill line. Then, add 1/2 tsp of matcha powder (don’t forget to sift it first!). Then cover it and turn it on!
It’s as simple as that! Let the frother do all the hard work to whisk your matcha into shape! And then top it off with more hot water.
Make sure to put your liquids in to the frother first, before adding your matcha powder. If you put the matcha powder in first, it might stick to the bottom during the frothing process.
As I mentioned, you don’t just have to use milk in the milk frother to make matcha. I actually find I get THE BEST matcha foam with the milk frother when I just add water.
Even though the Nespresso milk frother is one the pricer side of matcha whisk alternatives, keep in mind, it can also be used for coffee lattes. And, it’s a worthwhile investment if you do like matcha lattes because now you can make it in one simple step.
Nespresso typically also sells their milk frother in a bundle with their Nespresso coffee machines if you are interested in coffee too – that’s how we got ours.
3. How To Make Matcha At Home With A Blender
Using a blender is the same idea as the milk frother to make matcha. So if you already have a blender, this is a great alternative!
Add a cup of hot water (175°F ) and 1/2 tsp sifted matcha powder directly to your blender. Blend until frothy! You can also add warmed milk to turn it into a matcha latte!
The reason I don’t love this method to make matcha is because my blender is a hassle to clean. But perhaps if you have a smaller blender, like this one on Amazon, it might be more convenient to use daily.
P.S. A blender is also perfect if you want to make an iced matcha cappuccino! Just add ice when blending! See the full recipe here.
4. Shake Matcha In A Mason Jar (Perfect For Iced Matcha)
The mason jar method takes a bit of manpower, but it’s another simple matcha bamboo whisk alternative, and one that you might already have at home.
P.S. I love these mason jars with handles from Amazon!
Fill the mason jar with 60 ml of cold water and add 1/2 tsp of matcha. Make sure to cover the mason jar – tightly – and then get ready to shake! Stop shaking when you have a nice foam at the top.
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Whatever you do, do not add hot water to the mason jar! Mason jars are not meant to hold hot liquids and especially not to shake hot liquids. The pressure from shaking the hot water might cause the glass to break, or worse, explode!
I particularly like using a mason jars to make iced matcha in the summertime. Simply add ice when you’re shaking it and as much water as you want (leaving room at the top to shake it).
You won’t be able to get a small traditional hot matcha from this method because you can’t put hot water in the mason jar.
If you do want to enjoy a hot matcha, simply pour out the shaken matcha into a mug and add hot water to it afterwards. Use boiling water instead of 175°F because it will cool down once it mixes with the cold water.
The mason jar method also works great if you want to take iced matcha on the go, especially with this nifty lid.
P.S If you don’t have a mason jar, you can also use a cocktail shaker!
- Mason jar lids are tightly sealed with leak-proof airtight seal and turn mason jar into a drinking…
- Reusable regular mouth mason jar pour spout lids use with regular mouth mason jars to take some food…
- Mason jar lids with pour spout built in silicone gasket provides a secure seal to leak proof, cover…
- The canning jar lids replacement your old jar lids is securely attached on mason jars, will never…
- Mason jar drinking lids are designed for regular mouth mason jars only, not for wide mouth canning…
5. Buy A Matcha Flask To Keep Your Matcha Hot On The Go
Instead of investing in a matcha bamboo whisk, I originally bought a matcha flask (from T2 Tea). I thought it was the better investment – it’s a whisk for matcha tea and a travel mug all in one!
The way it works is pretty simple – add 1/2 tsp of matcha to 80 ml of water (175°F) and shake. It’s easier to shake than the mason jar method, and you can actually put warm water in it without any risk.
Once it’s well mixed, open it up to add more water or even milk to turn it into a matcha latte. It’s ready to go with you on your daily adventure.
The matcha flask keeps your matcha warm and you can constantly whisk it so you don’t end up with any leftover matcha powder at the bottom.
So Do You Need A Matcha Whisk – Does It Beat Them All?
At the end of the day these matcha bamboo whisk alternatives faired pretty well against the traditional method of making matcha.
It really depends on what kind of matcha you enjoy drinking.
Nothing really beats using a bamboo whisk to make traditional matcha, not even the regular kitchen whisk.
Bu if you’re interested in making matcha lattes, iced matcha drinks, or taking your matcha to-go, then a milk frother, mason jar, or matcha flask actually does a better job.
- HEIGHTEN YOUR MATCHA TEA EXPERIENCE: Whisk up a delicious cup of frothy lump-free matcha with our 100% Bamboo Matcha Tea set and enjoy the authentic ceremonial matcha experience. The handcrafted pronged whisk produces the best crema and froth. The scoop measures the perfect amount of powder. The spoon is for stirring your matcha when it settles.
- MATCHA TEA AT ITS BEST: Taste the difference. Conventional metal whisks leave you with bitter-tasting tea. Comparatively, our bamboo whisk provides a much better, more delicious flavored tea. Our pronged whisk is engineered to create optimal agitation and crafted in the perfect shape to whisk up a frothy cup of tea effectively.
How To Avoid Clumps In Your Matcha?
Whichever method you choose, whether traditional or not, you can end up with clumps in your matcha.
You may avoid this when making matcha the traditional way because you finish it in a few sips and the matcha powder doesn’t have time to settle.
In order to avoid those unwanted clumps, you should sift your matcha powder beforehand. You can do this in two ways.
You can buy a storage tin that comes with a built-in sifter (like this one on Amazon). With this tin you’ll sift all your matcha at once and it’s ready to use!
Or you can simply sift your matcha before adding it to your cup. This is the method I use, with this sifter from Amazon.
Shop Matcha Whisk Alternatives
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Related Posts To Read!
- The Matcha Basics
- 5 Delicious Summer Matcha Recipes
- Matcha Vs. Green Tea: What’s The Difference?
- Understanding The Different Grades of Matcha: Culinary Vs. Ceremonial
- The Best Matcha Flavoured Snacks You Need To Try
Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API