How I Fell in Love with Matcha (and Ended Up Making Handmade Matcha Bowls)

I didn't get into matcha because of a trip to Japan or because someone introduced me to it. It actually started in college when I ordered a matcha frappuccino at Starbucks. I was bored with my usual order and wanted to try something different.

At the time, I didn't think much of it. But after that, I found myself ordering matcha drinks whenever I saw them on a menu.

Over time, I started noticing that some tasted way better than others. Some were smooth and naturally sweet, while others were bitter or grassy. That got me curious, so I started learning more about matcha and the different grades and ways it's prepared.

What started as an occasional drink turned into a hobby.

As I got more interested in matcha, I started collecting the tools that go along with it. First a whisk, then a scoop, then a few bowls. Before I knew it, I had a small collection.

The bowls were always my favorite part.

I spent a lot of time looking at different chawan online, but a lot of them felt a little too perfect for me. They all looked the same. I kept coming back to the handmade ones because they had more personality. No two were exactly alike.

At some point, I started wondering if I could make my own.

That question is what led me to pottery.

When I made my first matcha bowl, I immediately appreciated how much thought goes into a piece that most people use every day without thinking about it. The shape, the weight, the texture, the way it feels in your hands. Every small detail matters.

Now I make handmade matcha bowls and whisk holders for other people who enjoy the ritual of preparing matcha as much as I do.

I'm not trying to make every piece look identical. In fact, that's the part I enjoy most. The slight variations, the marks left by hand, and the little details that make each piece unique are what drew me to handmade pottery in the first place.

It's still funny to think that all of this started with a random Starbucks order during college.

What began as curiosity about matcha eventually led me to pottery and to connecting with other matcha lovers through something I make with my own hands.

Thanks for reading my story.

If you'd like to see the bowls and whisk holders I'm currently making, feel free to take a look around the shop.