Kyusu purchasing

[Proinsias]

Surely there is somebody out there who thinks it's made of fake, crammed full of lead and I need to spend at least twice as much otherwise I'll regret it forever

no?

[Salsero]

No.

I don't consider a $40 kyuusu to be at all unworthy. Half of O-Cha's cost less than that and I don't think of O-Cha as a discount shop at all.

Now if you aim to have a piece of expensive, breakable artwork ... that's different story. But if you want to brew tea, I would say $30 to $50 is about average.

[Dreamer]

Gyokko FTW!
...
I am actually considering a Special Offer for TCers of his kyusu-s. Something a little different and below market value priced. If I can swing it.

Oh, yeah!

-Dreamer

[tingjunkie]

Surely there is somebody out there who thinks it's made of fake, crammed full of lead and I need to spend at least twice as much otherwise I'll regret it forever

no?

What are you yix-ing on about now?

[Proinsias]

No.

I don't consider a $40 kyuusu to be at all unworthy. Half of O-Cha's cost less than that and I don't think of O-Cha as a discount shop at all.

Now if you aim to have a piece of expensive, breakable artwork ... that's different story. But if you want to brew tea, I would say $30 to $50 is about average.

Thanks Sal.

Just checking in light of a few comments about what a decent handmade kyusu would cost and this one being a bit cheaper with a rather impressive sounding story attached.

On the plus side it's less than I was going to spend, should be shipped from Japan by a vendor specializing in organic Japanese tea and I've never tried organic Japanese tea, I don't think.

hmmm, there's a plan in there somewhere

[Oni]

Try banko teaware from artistic nippon, or horaido, I am satisfied and content with my banko, I have two kyusu, one for deep steamed and one for light steamed, fukamushi teapot is tokoname with metal strainer at the sprout, and the smaller banko for lightsteamed tea, and a houhin for gyokuro, so I am equipped for all japanese loose leaf tea.

[Proinsias]

Been having a look around but really just kidding myself on, I want that pot.

Got an email from Dan at Yuuki-Cha a few hours ago to say that it is back in stock and out came the credit card, the plan was to wait until this year's student loan arrived but knowing the speed those people go at it'll be out of stock again.

I've not bought any decent teaware in ages and I'm now more excited than an excited thing's excited bits.

So one of these, all 120ml of it:


with some Organic Kumamoto Sencha Yabe Supreme, Organic Asahina Gyokuro Yabukita and Organic Uji Matcha Yuuki Konjo. Mainly so I can say "yeah, of course I've had organic sencha/gyokuro/matcha before"

[Intuit]

What a dainty and nicely made teapot! It has a wonderful texture and shape! As much as I like my shiboradashi and matching cooling cup, I probably should have purchased either a houhin or a sweet little number like this one.

Wise purchase, good selection of tea to go with it. EMS shipping from Japan is insanely quick, even with a day's delay for the dreaded US port inspectors. I received my order in just 5 days, much faster than had I ordered from an East Coast domestic vendor and not that much more expensive to boot.

The USPS could learn a thing or two from the Japanese postal authorities.

[Proinsias]

Thanks Intuit,

This is my first order from Yuuki-Cha but even beyond the exceptional postal service is the packaging, in my experience of ordering from Japan. As much as I love Chinese and Indian teas the Japanese really do put them to shame when it comes to presentation. I should probably take some notes for preparing this year's Christmas presents.

I find Chinese and Indian tea vendors tend to chuck in a few freebies and the Japanese vendors don't, but the joy in opening a package from Japan more than makes up for it.

[Tead Off]

What a dainty and nicely made teapot! It has a wonderful texture and shape! As much as I like my shiboradashi and matching cooling cup, I probably should have purchased either a houhin or a sweet little number like this one.

Wise purchase, good selection of tea to go with it. EMS shipping from Japan is insanely quick, even with a day's delay for the dreaded US port inspectors. I received my order in just 5 days, much faster than had I ordered from an East Coast domestic vendor and not that much more expensive to boot.

The USPS could learn a thing or two from the Japanese postal authorities.

SAL from Japan is quite fast in most cases. To Bangkok, 2/3 days. From Bangkok to America, usually 6 days and vice versa. The savings is significant especially when buying tea and teaware.

[Salsero]

... even beyond the exceptional postal service is the packaging, in my experience of ordering from Japan.

Couldn't agree more. That pot really is stunning. Congratulations!

[kymidwife]

Gyokko FTW! I really need one. Well, want one ... I actually find it hard to believe I still do not own one.

I am actually considering a Special Offer for TCers of his kyusu-s. Something a little different and below market value priced. If I can swing it.

+1!!! And maybe a Kenji?

[gingkoseto]

So one of these, all 120ml of it:

I love my 120ml kyusu which is similar to this! I think $40 is a very fair price, since it looks so well-made and so put-together like a proud soldier Yixing will fit my oolong routine better, but I don't think I can get yixing in the same price range that is so well-made - partially because yixing clay has more unpredictable shrinkage rate so commercial grade yixing can hardly have everything fits together as tightly as this cute kyusu. And partially because yixing market is a bit crazy, and few yixing craftsmen would hold as much integrity and perfectionism when making a pot of "merely" $40.