Art of Matcha Bowls

During a Japanese tea ceremony, all eyes are on the Matcha bowl which holds the Matcha green tea. It’s a tradition for all the guests to sip the Matcha tea directly from the bowl after the Matcha powder has been whisked in it. So much thought goes into the selection process of the Matcha bowl, for example, the colours, patterns, and designs which represent the season are taken into consideration. The design will also vary depending on the style of the potter. This includes the shape, the slopes and straightness of the sides. It is important that the Matcha bowl blends well with the other utensils, which include the scoop, sifter, and whisk.

There are some skilled Japanese potters who specialise in the art of making Matcha bowls. The main process of making a Matcha bowl includes sourcing the perfect clay, shaping the bowl and ensuring that a consistent form is kept throughout the bowl. The next phase is to dry the bowl and then fire it in a wood, gas or electric kiln. The bowl is usually fired after it has been formed and then again after the glaze is applied.

A Matcha bowl is created with the specific purpose of serving Matcha green tea and is not used for black tea. As the Matcha bowl is fired at a lower temperature than other types of serving tea ware such as porcelain tea sets, it makes it less durable. However, cracks that appear in the outer glaze do not weaken the bowl and actually bring great approval, as these marks are seen as part of the art. The master craftsmen always aim to give unique characteristics to the bowl to make their pottery stand out from the rest.