Included in the mailer:
- mailing envelope with seal
- decorative interior envelope that doubles as a fold-out "tatami mat"
- decorative paper obi
- notecard with preparation instructions and space for a message
- single-serving matcha packet
- foldable chasen (tea whisk)
The only item you will need is a chawan.
Assembling the chasen was remarkably easy and with just a few back-folds, the mat was laid flat to hold my chawan (tea bowl). Since not everyone has a chawan, a comparable-sized bowl will also work.
The single-serve matcha portion was more than generous. Since I like a smooth bowl of tea, I did use a matcha sifter to remove any lumps. Any fine-mesh sifter will work for this purpose.
Though it lacked the finesse of a traditional bamboo chasen, the plastic chasen was surprisingly efficient and produced a lot of froth. The resulting tea was pleasantly flavorful and not at all bitter. Even someone who is new to matcha would likely enjoy it.
I had a lot of fun opening and assembling everything and the end result was a tasty bowl of matcha. This is definitely something I would send to tea-loving friends on special occasions or simply to brighten their day.
If this is something that would interest you, please send an inquiry to Chazen for more information.
I saw these at WTE a few years ago and found the idea so interesting. This would be a great way to introduce friends to matcha who might not have the tools on hand to make it for the first time.
ReplyDeleteI had fairly high hopes for it since Chazen is a well-known tea ceremony studio and I was not disappointed. The biggest surprise was how approachable the matcha blend was. It would make a great starter matcha for people who might be put off initially by the bold stuff we drink at tea ceremonies.
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