Shigaraki Kyusu

[r.fowler]

the mini teapots are really impressive looking. Small and simple, yet it stands out amongst the others. Looks like it packs a punch despite its small size.amazing work.

[Ms Kita B]

I love my mini it's only 70 ml but it's great for gong fu. I normally drink alone so the size is perfect. I was a little put off by the price because I assumed it would be a little cheaper than the bigger ones. It was definitely worth the investment.

[Victoria]

I love my mini it's only 70 ml but it's great for gong fu. I normally drink alone so the size is perfect. I was a little put off by the price because I assumed it would be a little cheaper than the bigger ones. It was definitely worth the investment.

Mini pics please!!

[debunix]

Oh my oh my oh my love those tiny minis.....want want want the 40-50 mL pot.....

[Ambrose]

+1 on mini pics !

[David R.]

I have always been puzzled about bulbous filters for japanese green teas. I have a Watanabe Tozo teapot from Hojo with such a filter, which I usually use for oolongs, but when I try it with japanese greens, I find that getting rid of the last drops is rather difficult, compared to a flat filter, which I have on my everyday kyusu.

I don't know if there are different qualities of bulbous filters, but do you find that this one performs well ?

[Tead Off]

I have always been puzzled about bulbous filters for japanese green teas. I have a Watanabe Tozo teapot from Hojo with such a filter, which I usually use for oolongs, but when I try it with japanese greens, I find that getting rid of the last drops is rather difficult, compared to a flat filter, which I have on my everyday kyusu.

I don't know if there are different qualities of bulbous filters, but do you find that this one performs well ?

Personally, I don't like the standard bulbous filters that appear on most Tokoname and Banko kyusu. I much prefer the direct filters which are much easier for gyokuro and sencha teas which tend to glop up and not drain completely. Why this became popular is not clear to me.

[Tead Off]

Seems like Hojo just got some new stock of this.

Shigaraki Clay Mini Teapot
Shigaraki Minipot is very small that you can even carry it inside your palm. Miuni teapot series were specially design by Masaki Tachi for thoese who wish to brew premium tea.

http://hojotea.com/item_e/available.htm

Thanks for the link to these new kyusu at Hojo's. I want to point out the Tokoname red kyusu by Gisui, which Hojo says is the last supply of old Tokoname pure red clay. This is rare according to Hojo. He told me a couple of years ago that all of the Tokoname kyusu he carries is not made from natural clay as opposed to Banko clay. So these kyusu from Gisui should be very special.

[Chip]

I have always been puzzled about bulbous filters for japanese green teas. I have a Watanabe Tozo teapot from Hojo with such a filter, which I usually use for oolongs, but when I try it with japanese greens, I find that getting rid of the last drops is rather difficult, compared to a flat filter, which I have on my everyday kyusu.

I don't know if there are different qualities of bulbous filters, but do you find that this one performs well ?

Personally, I don't like the standard bulbous filters that appear on most Tokoname and Banko kyusu. I much prefer the direct filters which are much easier for gyokuro and sencha teas which tend to glop up and not drain completely. Why this became popular is not clear to me.

Oddly the bulbous screen is pretty common on higher end kyusu. Strange since they do not usually work as well as sasame or others IMHO for Japanese greens, especially more steamed ones.

I had many a pot of Japanese tea/leaves turned bitter by these ... and all I could do was sit holding the pot as bitter tea drippppppped out.

As my skill in pouring improved with these, it was less of an issue, til I would forget and repeat the bad experience.

Since I brew mostly Japanese greens, each time I see a stunning and $$$ kyusu with these screens, I have held off buying.

[Tead Off]

I have always been puzzled about bulbous filters for japanese green teas. I have a Watanabe Tozo teapot from Hojo with such a filter, which I usually use for oolongs, but when I try it with japanese greens, I find that getting rid of the last drops is rather difficult, compared to a flat filter, which I have on my everyday kyusu.

I don't know if there are different qualities of bulbous filters, but do you find that this one performs well ?

Personally, I don't like the standard bulbous filters that appear on most Tokoname and Banko kyusu. I much prefer the direct filters which are much easier for gyokuro and sencha teas which tend to glop up and not drain completely. Why this became popular is not clear to me.

Oddly the bulbous screen is pretty common on higher end kyusu. Strange since they do not usually work as well as sasame or others IMHO for Japanese greens, especially more steamed ones.

I had many a pot of Japanese tea/leaves turned bitter by these ... and all I could do was sit holding the pot as bitter tea drippppppped out.

As my skill in pouring improved with these, it was less of an issue, til I would forget and repeat the bad experience.

Since I brew mostly Japanese greens, each time I see a stunning and $$$ kyusu with these screens, I have held off buying.

I was also talking about the sasame filters. I feel they don't work as well as direct filters but they look very cool. Maybe they are fine for other teas besides fukamushi and gyokuro.

[iannon]

I have always been puzzled about bulbous filters for japanese green teas. I have a Watanabe Tozo teapot from Hojo with such a filter, which I usually use for oolongs, but when I try it with japanese greens, I find that getting rid of the last drops is rather difficult, compared to a flat filter, which I have on my everyday kyusu.

I don't know if there are different qualities of bulbous filters, but do you find that this one performs well ?

Personally, I don't like the standard bulbous filters that appear on most Tokoname and Banko kyusu. I much prefer the direct filters which are much easier for gyokuro and sencha teas which tend to glop up and not drain completely. Why this became popular is not clear to me.

Oddly the bulbous screen is pretty common on higher end kyusu. Strange since they do not usually work as well as sasame or others IMHO for Japanese greens, especially more steamed ones.

I had many a pot of Japanese tea/leaves turned bitter by these ... and all I could do was sit holding the pot as bitter tea drippppppped out.

As my skill in pouring improved with these, it was less of an issue, til I would forget and repeat the bad experience.

Since I brew mostly Japanese greens, each time I see a stunning and $$$ kyusu with these screens, I have held off buying.

I was also talking about the sasame filters. I feel they don't work as well as direct filters but they look very cool. Maybe they are fine for other teas besides fukamushi and gyokuro.

I have one kyusu with a sesame that doesnt work too well with Fuka but another that has a finer sesame screen that I have found works quite fine with very deep steamed teas. Cant say i've ever had an issue with Gyo tho..

[Chip]

I was also talking about the sasame filters. I feel they don't work as well as direct filters but they look very cool. Maybe they are fine for other teas besides fukamushi and gyokuro.

OK.

There are finer and larger holed sasame. The Kikumare from Rishi will clog with Fuka pretty easy (well the 3 year old version I bought anyway). Others with larger holes seem to have much less problem pouring fuka. One I got from Iannon has the largest holes and pours fuka beautifully.

It is like you want the smallest particles to pass through versus clogging an ultra fine holed sasame.

I also begin each pour with the handle slightly angled downward, then as the tea drains, I raise the handle. It is a rhythm that I hardly think about, but it solves the clogging problems with almost any sasame and fuka.

Also the shape of the pot is big with fuka. Flatter cloggers, taller pourers

[the_economist]

i think i was hypothesizing that. is it safe to say that for taller models, the leaves get `stuck' to the bottom half of the pot (from friction) and hence not as many make it to the filter?

[iannon]

I was also talking about the sasame filters. I feel they don't work as well as direct filters but they look very cool. Maybe they are fine for other teas besides fukamushi and gyokuro.

OK.

There are finer and larger holed sasame. The Kikumare from Rishi will clog with Fuka pretty easy (well the 3 year old version I bought anyway). Others with larger holes seem to have much less problem pouring fuka. One I got from Iannon has the largest holes and pours fuka beautifully.

It is like you want the smallest particles to pass through versus clogging an ultra fine holed sasame.

I also begin each pour with the handle slightly angled downward, then as the tea drains, I raise the handle. It is a rhythm that I hardly think about, but it solves the clogging problems with almost any sasame and fuka.

Also the shape of the pot is big with fuka. Flatter cloggers, taller pourers

My other one must have REAALLLy big holes cause it passes too much thru! my little green one really works wonderfully with most everything ive tried in it. its more barrel shaped than flat
but yea the pics ive seen of the rishi looks very very finely screened

[Chip]

i think i was hypothesizing that. is it safe to say that for taller models, the leaves get `stuck' to the bottom half of the pot (from friction) and hence not as many make it to the filter?

Exactly. 90% of the leaves collect before the screen even begins.

The opposite is true of course for flatter pots. The leaves are in the screen as soon as you begin pouring. This can be partly avoided if you pour as I mentioned above. Fools the pot so to speak and the leaves collect along the side of the screen.