Paper tea whisk

Abstract

To provide a paper-made tea whisk capable of deliciously serving powdered green tea similarly to a conventional bamboo-made tea whisk, and excellent in portability and distributivity.SOLUTION: The shape of the tea whisk is formed by assembling two sheets of the water-resistant and heat-resistant paper coping with the addition of the foods, flexibility is generated by infiltrating hot water into a tip, and a function equal to that of the bamboo tea whisk is realized. By using paper which can be mass-produced as a material, it can be provided at a low price and a supply amount can be secured. In addition, since the tea whisk is disposable, it is easy to manage, and since the three dimensional object is assembled, the volume is reduced, so that it is possible to provide a container more widely and easily than before.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tea whisk made of paper for making matcha tea. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, chasen (tea whisks) used to prepare matcha have been made from bamboo, and craftsmen's handwork is required to create their complex shapes. The material must be high-quality, resilient bamboo from well-managed bamboo forests, and the structure is divided into a handle and a bristles at the node. The bristles are made by splitting the bamboo into a middle bristles and an outer bristles, and thread is threaded between them to form the inner bristles and the outer bristles, which spread out in a cone shape. Shaving the bristles thinner towards the tips creates flexibility while maintaining their strength, making it easier to prepare matcha. The thread woven at the base of the bristles also prevents the tea from dripping when the chasen is set aside after use.

[0003] Bamboo chasen need to be washed after use, dried thoroughly, straightened with a straightener, and stored in a place with low humidity. As an alternative to bamboo, resin tea whisks (Patent Document 2) and simpler ones made of resin or resin laminate to make them easier to handle (Patent Document 1) (Patent Document 3) (Patent Document 4) have also been proposed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2013-70987 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2015-136592 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2018-126419 [Patent Document 4] Jikko Showa 63-68929 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Currently, bamboo chasen are expensive and in short supply for the following reasons, and this trend is getting worse. (1) As the use of bamboo as a building material has decreased, the number of bamboo forests has decreased, making it difficult to obtain high-quality bamboo material from managed bamboo forests that can be used to make tea whisks. (2) It takes three years to grow the bamboo and another three years to dry it before it can be used to make a tea whisk. (3) To achieve the rigidity and flexibility of the tip of the bamboo spout needed to properly prepare matcha, high-quality bamboo and a craftsman with special skills are required. (4) Due to factors (1) and (2) and rising material and manufacturing costs, profitability has declined, and the number of craftsmen making tea whisks as their profession has decreased. (5) Supply shortage due to increased overseas demand for Japanese culture.

[0006] Bamboo chasen require careful maintenance, which is one of the hurdles to their adoption. If left unused for long periods, they can become moldy and the tips can harden and break easily, raising hygiene concerns, and they are expensive for people who don't use them often. They require special plastic cases to maintain the delicate tips during distribution, making them unsuitable for carrying around. Matcha can only be made in places where a chasen is available, limiting the circumstances and locations. For these reasons, traditional bamboo chasen are expensive, in short supply, require maintenance, and are not suitable for carrying around, which are barriers to the spread of "brewing matcha."

[0007] For this reason, chasen made of resin or resin laminate have been proposed, which are mass-producible and easy to manage. (Patent Document 2) While the shape of a chasen is achieved, it does not have the flexibility of the tip, and the price is almost the same as that of a bamboo chasen, making it difficult to distribute. (Patent Document 1), (Patent Document 3), and (Patent Document 4) are readily available, but do not fully fulfill the functions of a tea whisk. These resin whisks drip and get dirty when you place the handle down after brewing. They also do not fit with the trend toward eliminating plastic.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tea whisk that has the same functions as a bamboo tea whisk and is easy to distribute and carry. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A chasen (chasen) for making matcha green tea needs to have a straight inner tip that extends from the handle, a cone-shaped outer tip, and a flexible tip. This invention consists of an inner bristle part (Fig. 1) and an outer bristle part (Fig. 2) made of two or more sheets of food-safe, water-resistant, and heat-resistant paper. By assembling and combining these parts, the inner bristle is connected straight to the handle, and the outer bristle is shaped like a hexagonal pyramid (Fig. 4). By permeating the tip of the bristle with hot water, it becomes flexible (Fig. 5), achieving the same functionality as a bamboo chasen.

[0010] By using mass-produced paper as the material, the price can be kept low and the supply can be secured. In addition, the disposable design makes it easy to manage, and the modular design reduces the volume, making it possible to provide chasen more widely and easily than ever before. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] Compared to conventional chasen, the new chasen has advantages in terms of price, production capacity, supply capacity, ease of use, and small size, making it possible to distribute chasen more widely and creating unprecedented opportunities to make matcha, which will ultimately lead to the expansion of the matcha market, the promotion of Japanese tea, the promotion of traditional industries, the promotion of the tea ceremony, and the introduction of Japanese culture. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are development and assembly views of the center part according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a development view and an assembly view of the outer ear parts according to the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention when combined. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the present invention when the components are combined and fixed. [Figure 5] 1 is a diagram showing the completed paper chasen according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] This invention uses water-resistant and heat-resistant paper that complies with the food additive standards of the Food Sanitation Act, which was developed as a substitute for bamboo and plastic, and consists of parts cut into the shape of the inner ear part (Figure 1) and the outer ear part (Figure 2). Bamboo chasen are circular, but the paper they are made of is hard, so polygonal shapes are desirable for assembly. In the case of polygonal shapes, odd-numbered corners mean that the holes will not be evenly spaced when the whisk is put together, so even-numbered corners are preferable. The more even-numbered corners there are, the more perforations there are, and the whisk will be weaker. A square shape would not be able to release the force when held by the handle, so a hexagonal shape was adopted. The inner part is designed to be a 14-point hexagonal prism, and the outer part is designed to be a 16-point hexagonal pyramid.

[0014] The central bristles (Figure 1) are a plug-in joint (plug 1, jack 2), and are folded along perforations 3 to form a hexagonal prism 14. The trapezoidal window 4 is folded inward beforehand to form the insertion hole 15 when the bristles are assembled. A space 5 is provided so that the bristles do not get in the way when they are inserted and assembled. The bristles 6 taper toward the tip, and are designed so that hot water penetrates from the tip, keeping the base rigid and becoming more flexible toward the tip. The tip 7 softens and will not scratch the bowl.

[0015] The outer ear part (Figure 2) is a plug-in joint with a plug 8 and a jack 9, and is folded at the perforations 10 to assemble into a hexagonal pyramid 16. The non-perforated portion 17 is designed not to fold, and to maintain strength during use while keeping the tip round. The folding margin 13 is used when combining the two parts. The ear 11 becomes thinner towards the tip, and is designed so that hot water penetrates from the tip, keeping the base rigid and becoming more flexible towards the tip. The tip 12 becomes soft and will not damage the bowl.

[0016] Insert the handle side (upper side) of the middle ear part into the ear side (lower side) of the outer ear part (Figure 3), and insert the three fold margins 13 of the outer ear part into the joining holes 15 of the middle ear part. If you shorten the tip of one of the three places so that the fold margin can be inserted smoothly, you can hook the two longer places first, making assembly easier. Folding allowance 13 is combined with the middle part. Insert the whisk until it stops at 15 19. The inserted folds 13 are folded back one by one and fixed in place 20 to complete the paper chasen 21 (Figure 4). The angle of the conical outer bristles is designed so that after the bristles have absorbed hot water and become flexible, the tips do not get in the way of the inner wall of the tea bowl when making matcha, and they maintain a distance from the middle bristles, so there is no need to straighten them.

[0017] In order to create the degree of rigidity of the tip required for proper tea brewing, the tip 22 is immersed in 90-degree water for 10 seconds, about 2 cm deep, and then the whisk is passed through (a tea ceremony procedure that checks the tip, softens it, and warms the tea bowl). This makes the tip flexible 23, and the difference in strength between the inner and outer tips is due to the difference in density of the tips, with the outer tips becoming more flexible (Figure 5). By making the middle tip a few millimeters longer,24 it is possible to thoroughly stir the matcha in the teapot, where clumps tend to form. After making the matcha, even if you place it with the handle facing downwards, the paper absorbs the liquid and prevents dripping.25

[0018] To make delicious matcha, it is important to stir quickly to preserve the flavor and to keep the temperature low even with a small amount of water.The above structure allows for stirring functions equivalent to those of bamboo chasen, making it easy to distribute and portable.

[0019] It can make about five cups of tea per use, but after that, it absorbs too much water and the stiffness at the base of the tip weakens, making it difficult to make tea. After use, it can be reused by washing it with water and letting it air dry for about three hours, but after repeating this about three times, the tip will weaken and it will no longer be usable. [Example]

[0020] A QR code is printed on the packaging to show how to assemble, use, and prepare the tea, allowing consumers to watch the video. Unlike words or text, videos can be viewed around the world in any language, so they can more directly promote "brewing matcha." They are particularly useful in introductory situations, as they are the first step for people who have become interested in matcha, and can create a drinking scene similar to that of coffee or tea. Taking advantage of its ease of distribution and portability, it can be used as a gift that is unique to Japan and its producing regions, as a souvenir or book supplement, or for making matcha for large groups, creating a new market for matcha that has never existed before. [Industrial Applicability]

[0021] [Beginner's starter kit] People can now easily try matcha, which has been difficult to try due to its traditional image and high price. [Matcha tea cafe use] It can be used for hotel welcome drinks, lounge services, and showroom hospitality services, allowing customers to enjoy matcha, a drink unique to Japan. [Developing the matcha gift market] Matcha would not be a valid gift unless the recipient had a chasen. When giving matcha to someone who doesn't have one, a domestically produced chasen costs at least 3,500 yen, making it more expensive than matcha and unsuitable as a gift. This invention dramatically reduces the cost of chasen, and because they are postcard-sized and not bulky, they also make a valid gift. This will open up a new market for high-quality matcha gifts, such as souvenirs for visitors to Japan and souvenirs from matcha-producing regions. [Lighting for a large group of people at the same time] Until now, it has been difficult to prepare matcha for a large number of people at the same time due to financial and physical constraints, but this can create opportunities for tea ceremony events and school tea ceremonies. It will also be possible to incorporate matcha and Japanese tea, which are unique to Japanese culture, into school lessons. [Developing the market for high-quality matcha] The tea ceremony, a part of Japanese culture, is gaining attention from around the world, and in recent years, matcha, which was primarily used in tea ceremony, has spread independently around the world, and the concept of "matcha" has become recognized worldwide. However, currently, most matcha is used as an additive to food and drinks without using a bamboo whisk. Demand for high-quality matcha made using traditional methods such as hand-picking is low compared to the production costs, making it unprofitable and leading to a decline in producers. Now that attention is being paid to Japanese culture, it is an opportunity to popularize high-quality matcha that can be prepared and drunk, rather than just added. This invention will create new opportunities to prepare matcha, thereby stimulating demand for high-quality matcha and helping to improve the business viability of Japan's unique traditional industry. [Conveying Japanese culture] It is an ideal item to simultaneously promote Japan's traditional culture, the high quality of its agricultural products, and its plastic-free technology to an overseas audience, and will be used at events introducing Japan, such as the World Expo. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 1 Joint plug, 2 Joint jack, 3 Perforated fold trigger, 4 Combining hole window, 5 Combining space, 6 Middle ear part, 7 Middle ear part tip, 8 Joint plug, 9 Joint jack, 10 Perforated fold trigger, 11 Outer ear part, 12 Outer ear part tip, 13 Combining fold margin, 14 Middle ear part after assembly, 15 Combining hole, 16 Outer ear part after assembly, 17 Non-folding part of outer ear part, 18 How to combine, 19 Insert all the way, 20 Fold back and secure the fold margin, 21 Completed paper chasen, 22 Paper chasen tip, 23 Tip after passing the chasen, 24 Middle ear part tip, 25 Drip prevention part

Claims

[Claim 1] This tea whisk is made up of two or more pieces of water- and heat-resistant paper, which are assembled and fixed together to form an effective shape. By allowing hot water to penetrate the tip of the whisk, it is possible to create variations in rigidity, and it is designed to achieve rigidity and flexibility equivalent to that of a bamboo whisk.

Images