First Kyusu - Please Help me Choose

[bennygill]

I'm about to buy my first Kyusu.

I have drunk a lot of green tea previously, but never got into the tea world enthusiastically as I just drunk whatever my mum had at the time. Which was mostly loose leaf sencha brewed in normal teapot without regard to temperature or timing.

So this time I want to get it right (kyusu, water temp, timing, etc).

The Kyusu will be used for mostly Sencha and Fukamushi Sencha. So it needs be a bit of an 'all-rounder' teapot if one exists.

From what I can tell the main difference seems to be the filter types? Wrap around/belt filter, sasame filter, and swing filter.

I want to get it right first time around, so I'm wondering which would be better, and does it actually matter?

Further to that, are there any other features I should be worried about? How about glazed vs unglazed?

[Chip]

Hi Benny. Welcome to TeaChat.

A serious site for kyusu is artisticnippon.com. I believe all his kyusu have clay screens of one sort or another. Look at his tokoname and banko pages.

I would suggest figuring out a size needed (it can be somewhat oversized) and a budget and a look. There are other sites, but I have purchased most of mine there. A great place to start looking. If you have questions, use their contact page, Toru is prompt in replying unless he is out of town.

Then screens. There is no such thing as a consensus on this issue. I prefer clay screens as do most members ... it feels ... right. As you look at the different kyusu, you will see various forms. The traditional Sasame and what we call "ball screen" will be most prevalent and will likely be easy to use for fukamushi.

Pick ones out you like, post links here, and we will give opinions because ... wellll we are rather opinionated about kyusu-s.

There are also lots of kyusu topics on this forum with lots of photos and commentary. Simply search kyusu using the forum's search. Advanced search gives you more control.

... and most importantly ... have fun looking!

[Alex]

Here's my recommendations

http://artisticnippon.com/product/tokon ... small.html

http://artisticnippon.com/product/Banko ... tachi.html

Both of those are fantastic value for money and offer great clay and an ease to use filter.

[Chip]

I have one of those Hokujo kyusu linked by Alex. Great kyusu and very easy to use and rinse out after using (what goes in, must come out).

[bennygill]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm not exactly sure what size I need. I usually drink quite large cups so something on the larger side would be better. But does the kyusu size matter in regard to the type of tea I am brewing?

Also is the ceramic saseme filter good for both Sencha and Fukamushi Sencha?

I've actually done a fair bit of searching already. And I found that most people on these forums recommend http://www.tokoname.or.jp/, http://www.o-cha.com/ and http://artisticnippon.com/. So that's where I've been concentrating my search.

I'm a sucker for aesthetics, so in that regard I really like number 35 on this page: http://www.tokoname.or.jp/teapot/yubi15 ... yubi07.jpg. It has a saseme ceramic filter and it 320ml in size.

I also really like this one: http://www.tokoname.or.jp/teapot/se-16-01.htm. But it has a beltt/wrap around filter so I'm not so sure.

What do you think?

[Alex]

Sounds like you've done some good research. I'd go with whatever sings to your heart! If you like kiln change pots though may I suggest

Great for on a lighter budget
http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/t ... ebark.html

I know Toru (Owner of artisticnippon) himself personally rates the functionality of this potter and the price of what you get.

Or

http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/t ... yohen.html

If you feeling more flush. The master of kiln change

[JRS22]

A good place to begin with tokoname kyusu on Artistic Nippon if you have a low budget are the Gyokko pots, which are in the $40 range. The small ones are a generous size for one person drinking multiple infusions, the pots are well made with a variety of shapes available and all with sasame filters, and you'll have money left over for a porcelain fully glazed pot (I think that's what the original poster was looking for initially).

[djtanng]

Here's my recommendations

http://artisticnippon.com/product/tokon ... small.html

http://artisticnippon.com/product/Banko ... tachi.html

Both of those are fantastic value for money and offer great clay and an ease to use filter.

Nice teapots. I tried to buy one of those on 2 different computers and it seems impossible. The "contact us" button takes me to a broken order form that gives error messages when I hit submit. How do you order from these people?

EDIT: It just now worked. Very weird ordering method, but it finaly submitted. lol

[Chip]

Here's my recommendations

http://artisticnippon.com/product/tokon ... small.html

http://artisticnippon.com/product/Banko ... tachi.html

Both of those are fantastic value for money and offer great clay and an ease to use filter.

Nice teapots. I tried to buy one of those on 2 different computers and it seems impossible. The "contact us" button takes me to a broken order form that gives error messages when I hit submit. How do
you order from these people?

EDIT: It just now worked. Very weird ordering method, but it finaly submitted. lol

This type of method or similar is not uncommon when ordering teaware from Japan.