Wanting a new Kyusu, don't know what to get

[JD]

I've had my little $19 Den's Tea kyusu for a couple years now, and it's served me well, but I think I'd like to get an un-glazed one and possibly one with a clay strainer instead of a metal mesh one. Though I've heard good things about this new 'sweep' strainer in the new pots.

I never knew I was supposed to remove the wrap-around filter on my pot, and so it went 2 years without being cleaned back there. I was using it the whole time too. Who knows what kind of disease and bacteria I was drinking. I eventually cleaned it, and wow, what a mess it was back there. This is partly why I don't want a mesh filter anymore. But then a clay strainer is probably more difficult to clean.

As for having it un-glazed.. well, they just seem to absorb the flavor of the tea and make future brewings much better. *shrug* I own 4 yixing teapots, each for different teas (oolong, yunnan black, pu shu, and pu sheng), and every brew is a little better than the last. So why not an un-glazed kyusu too?

I've looked around and just haven't found a pot that really speaks to me. I'd love to get a blue colored one. I saw a green and blue one that looked spiffy, but I'd prefer all blue.

Also, as for size, I like them small. I brew for just myself, so anything between 4 and 8 ounces is probably fine.

So if you guys got any ideas, or know where I can find a really good, and hopefully blue, un-glazed kyusu between 4 and 8 ounces, with either a clay strainer, or just a mesh strainer basket ('cause they're easier to clean), I'm all ears.. or eyes.

[Chip]

Yeah, blue in an unglazed kyusu is a challenge. I am sure there is something out there ... but it will likely not be blue clay like the blue Yixing you may have seen. It will have a blue "slip" I would think.

BTW, a small bottlebrush will help clean out the spout between major cleanings.

[plant partaker]

You're supposed to take the wrap around strainer out of the pot?

[Chip]

You're supposed to take the wrap around strainer out of the pot?

You can ... and if you do, pretty infrequently. The more you remove it, the more it is likely to lose its shape, and they are hard to replace.

[plant partaker]

Would it be better not to ? I haven't removed mine since I've had it.

[laura99]

I have the Den's kyusu as well, and had no idea you could take the filter out to clean!

[plant partaker]

I bought mine from yuuki cha. I think I am just going to leave it in. It's only used for greens anyway. Plus I was told its a desirable thing not to clean the pots. Of course I rinse them out though.

[JD]

The obi-ami mesh filter has a seam in it where it overlaps and attaches to itself to keep from slipping around in the pot. Find the seam and pry it open there. As far as losing shape, I don't see how. It's pretty tough stuff. Getting it back inside the pot is tough, but usually I just push it up against the inside of the pot, then re-attach the seam. Just make sure not to put it back in upside-down.

My tea's tasting much better now that I cleaned under the filter. I need to make sure to wash the pot out with boiled water, and let air-dry with the lid off.

And I still haven't found a new kyusu yet.

[JD]

Found the teapot for me:

http://www.yuuki-cha.com/Japanese+Teapo ... aki+Teapot

I read up on Banko, and the creator of the pot, japanese clays, and felt this pot, at this price, was the right pot for me. I know I said I wanted a blue one, but blue just ain't gonna happen unless they put blue-colored glaze on it, and I didn't want a glazed pot.

I also like the design along the sides and lid of the pot. It tells me the creator spent some extra time in making the pot, instead of just quickly slapping one together. So what I'm paying is going towards quality and attention to detail, the "love" put into the work and skill.