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Jan 13th, '09, 19:35
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by tenuki » Jan 13th, '09, 19:35

chamekke wrote:On a completely frivolous note, I have always wanted - NOT needed, just wanted - a tea cosy designed expressly for a kyusu:


Of course, Japanese tea isn't steeped long enough in a kyusu to warrant using a tea cosy.

I'm just saying... a cosy for a kyusu would be cute as a button.
You probably put sweaters on pets too don't you?

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Jan 13th, '09, 20:11
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by chamekke » Jan 13th, '09, 20:11

tenuki wrote:
chamekke wrote:I'm just saying... a cosy for a kyusu would be cute as a button.
You probably put sweaters on pets too don't you?
Heh, no. I don't go that far :)

And I wouldn't actually USE a kyusu cosy. It would be more an objet d'art. Or possibly an objet de dérision.
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Jan 13th, '09, 22:31
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by pb2q » Jan 13th, '09, 22:31

Beidao wrote:There is teacups that change colour when you pot hot water in it. Could the colour be different based on the water temperature?
ok that's cool, but what about a teacup that changes color based on what type of tea is inside?

Jan 14th, '09, 02:32
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by howiep » Jan 14th, '09, 02:32

It seems storage is pretty popular. Perhaps a variation on this sort of container would be usefull

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product ... u=15023457

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Jan 14th, '09, 07:35
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by Beidao » Jan 14th, '09, 07:35

Yes, that would be nice. Just remember that it should not let any light through and it would be nice if it looked nice too. And I know some people don't want to store tea in plastic containers.
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Jan 14th, '09, 13:46
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by ABx » Jan 14th, '09, 13:46

Yup, the thing about plastic is that a.) it can impart an odor, and b.) most of it is oxygen permeable.

The ideal would be ceramic, as it additionally protects from temperature fluctuations and won't impart any kind of odor, followed by opaque glass and then metal. If it's metal then something seamless would be ideal :)

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Jan 14th, '09, 13:58
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by ABx » Jan 14th, '09, 13:58

Here is a very simple idea (sorta).

These kind of ceramic tea canisters are pretty common:
Image

One problem with them, however, is that nobody really knows how much the seal can be trusted. So when someone wants to really make sure it's sealed (such as when they are aging tea in one) then they'll seal it with wax.

So I've always thought that someone should make some sort of wide stretchy band to go around the seal (the gap where the lid touches the body) that would accommodate a wide range of sizes and shapes, while not imparting any sort of odor and being completely airtight. Make it so that it readily conforms to the curves, but is easy to take off and put on something much bigger.

I know that probably wouldn't score you much points unless you invented your own material, though :)

Jan 14th, '09, 16:46
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by Intuit » Jan 14th, '09, 16:46

Ceramic vessel seal could be as simple as disposable latex (thin) or silicone (thicker) bands. Dirt cheap, commonly produced. Instant remedy for the thousands already owned that don't achieve an airtight seal.

Idea #1

Two-in-one digital temperature pen and timer. Could be easily programmed to accept a range of times. Probably already produced for the medical community - these had disposable tips when first introduced about a decade ago. Should be easy and cheap to adapt for this market, presuming it's not already patented.

Could be printed with store logos and given away for a few bucks as a promotional item. Yup, that cheap.

Idea #2

A better storage container: displace the air passively.

Ceramic cylinder. Floating inner lid with silicon gasket. Lid has small central stopcock, with a small hole to allow air release. Micro stopcock acts as grab point to pull up inner lid to open vessel.

These stopcocks are already made for microextraction equipment - specialty chemistry companies carry them. They are chemical resistant and inert.

Outer casing of the tea cannister can be anything from metal to plastic or natural materials (grass, bark paper, handmade paper) on heavy cardboard.

Simple, expedient. Cheap to make.

These design can and probably would be quickly illegally manufactured overseas. Patent violations would be very difficult and expensive to fight in World Court.

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