There's something different about drinking matcha from a bowl you shaped with your own hands. The weight of it. The way your thumbs settle into grooves you pressed into wet clay weeks ago. It turns a daily ritual into something personal.
If you've been looking for a matcha bowl workshop in Toronto, here's what it actually involves — and why making your own chawan is easier (and more satisfying) than you'd expect.
What Is a Chawan?
A chawan is the Japanese word for the wide, open bowl used to prepare and drink matcha. Traditionally, each chawan is handmade and intentionally imperfect — the uneven lip, the thumb marks, the slight wobble are all part of the beauty. In Japanese tea culture, the bowl is as important as the tea itself.
You don't need to know any of that to enjoy making one. But it's nice context for why this isn't just "making a bowl" — it's making something with centuries of intention behind its shape.
What Happens in a Matcha Bowl Workshop
At The Mini Pottery Studio's Matcha Bowl class in the Willowdale neighbourhood of North York, you build your bowl entirely by hand using a technique called pinching. No pottery wheel. No prior experience needed. The studio is a short walk from Sheppard-Yonge station, right on the Yonge corridor.
Step 1: Shape Your Bowl
You start with a ball of clay and hollow it out using your thumbs, rotating and pinching to build up the walls. The instructor, Angel Ng, walks you through every step — how to keep the walls even, how to widen the opening, how to shape the base so it sits flat.
Angel is a former social worker who relocated from Hong Kong and fell into pottery in 2022. She's enthusiastic, patient, and genuinely good at keeping the room relaxed — especially for people who are convinced they'll mess it up.
Step 2: Add Texture and Character
Once your bowl is shaped, you add texture. Press patterns into the surface with tools or your fingers. Carve lines. Leave thumbprints. This is where your bowl becomes yours — no two ever look the same.
Step 3: Paint Your Design
You paint your bowl with underglazes — coloured ceramic paints that survive the kiln. Want earthy tones? Bold colours? A minimal look with just the raw clay showing through? It's your call.
After Class
The studio takes your bowl from here. They apply a layer of food-safe clear glaze over your design and fire it in a kiln. The whole process takes 3 to 4 weeks. When you pick it up, the chalky painted surface has transformed into something smooth, glossy, and ready to hold hot liquid.
Curious about what happens during firing? Our beginner's guide to glazing and firing walks through the full process.
Class Details at a Glance
Class | Handbuilding: Make and Decorate a Matcha Bowl |
Technique | Pinch method (handbuilding — no wheel) |
Price | $79 CAD per person (all materials included) |
Duration | 2.5 hours |
Class size | Max 10 people |
Age | 12+ |
Experience needed | None — completely beginner-friendly |
What you keep | 1 matcha bowl (glazed, fired, food-safe) |
Pickup | 3–4 weeks after class |
Location | 4909 Yonge St, Unit 2, North York (near Sheppard-Yonge station) |
Why Make Your Own vs. Buying One?
You can buy a nice matcha bowl for $30 to $80 online. So why make one?
Handmade (Workshop) | Store-Bought | |
|---|---|---|
Cost | $79 (includes the experience + materials) | $30–$80 for the bowl alone |
Uniqueness | One of a kind — shaped and painted by you | Mass-produced or batch-made |
Food-safe | Yes — studio applies food-safe clear glaze | Varies — check labelling |
The experience | 2.5 hours learning a craft, meeting people | 2 minutes on Amazon |
Gift potential | A story to tell — "I made this" | A nice box to unwrap |
Connection to your ritual | Every sip reminds you of the afternoon you shaped it | Functional but impersonal |
The math isn't really about saving money. It's about the difference between owning a bowl and owning your bowl.
Who This Workshop Is For
Matcha lovers. If matcha is already part of your morning, making the bowl you drink from adds a layer that no store purchase can match. It's functional art that you'll use every day.
Complete beginners. Pinching is the most intuitive pottery technique — you're literally just pressing clay with your thumbs. No wheel to wrestle, no spinning to master. If you can squeeze a stress ball, you can make a matcha bowl.
Gift givers. A handmade matcha bowl is a genuinely thoughtful gift for anyone who loves tea, coffee, or ceramics. You shaped it yourself, it's food-safe, and it's something they'll actually use — not just display.
Couples and friends. The class fits up to 10 people, and making bowls side by side is a relaxed way to spend an evening together. Not sure if you'd prefer a wheel-throwing experience instead? The studio also runs a Clay Date for 2 on mini pottery wheels.
People who prefer handbuilding over wheel throwing. Not everyone wants to throw on a wheel — and that's fine. Handbuilding is meditative, slower-paced, and gives you more control over the final shape. We compared both techniques in our handbuilding vs. wheel throwing guide.
Want to Go Deeper? The Matcha Set 2-Week Course
If one bowl isn't enough, the studio offers a 2-week Matcha Set course ($159 CAD). Over two sessions, you build a complete matcha set: bowl, whisk holder, and cup. In the second session, you learn to glaze your pieces yourself — choosing from the studio's full range of food-safe glazes.
It's the most popular class by fill rate (it sells out every time) and has a 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio. If you loved the single bowl workshop and want more, this is the natural next step.
How to Use Your Handmade Matcha Bowl
Once you pick up your fired bowl, it's ready to use immediately. A few tips:
Pre-warm it. Pour hot water into the bowl, let it sit for 30 seconds, then pour it out. This keeps your matcha warm longer.
Use a bamboo whisk (chasen). Sift 1-2g of matcha powder into the bowl, add 60-80ml of hot water (not boiling — around 80°C), and whisk in a W or M motion until frothy.
Hand wash gently. Your bowl is kiln-fired and durable, but hand washing preserves the glaze longer than a dishwasher.
Display it when not in use. A handmade bowl looks good on a shelf. That's half the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need pottery experience to make a matcha bowl?
No. The class is designed for complete beginners. Pinching is the simplest pottery technique — your instructor guides you through every step. Most people in the class have never touched clay before.
Is the matcha bowl food-safe?
Yes. The studio applies a food-safe clear glaze and fires the bowl in a kiln. You can drink matcha (or any hot liquid) from it daily.
How big is the bowl?
A standard chawan is roughly 4.5 to 5 inches wide and 3 to 4 inches tall — wide enough to whisk matcha, comfortable to hold in both hands. Your exact dimensions will depend on how you shape it.
What if I don't drink matcha?
The bowl works for anything — cereal, soup, snacks, a jewellery dish, a small planter. It's a versatile piece. But if you'd rather make something else entirely, the studio also offers a mini pottery wheel class and a mug-making workshop.
How long until I can pick up my finished bowl?
3 to 4 weeks. The studio trims, glazes, and fires your bowl after class. You'll get a notification when it's ready for pickup at the studio (4909 Yonge St, Unit 2, North York).
Can I bring my kids?
The Matcha Bowl class is for ages 12 and up. For younger kids (8+), the Taster Class on mini pottery wheels is a better fit.
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a little clay on. Handbuilding is less messy than wheel throwing, but clay dust happens. It washes out easily.
Is this a good gift idea?
One of the best. A matcha bowl workshop makes a great birthday, anniversary, or holiday gift — especially for someone who loves tea, cooking, or anything handmade. The studio can accommodate small groups if you want to bring friends.
Book Your Spot
The Matcha Bowl workshop runs regularly with spots for up to 10 people per session. All materials, glazing, and firing are included in the $79 price.
Want to browse all available classes, including mini wheel throwing, mug-making, and couples date nights? See all classes.
