Tuesday TeaDay 10/06/09 Teaware grows eyeballs?

[Chip]

Good TeaDay everyone. I hope it is a great one. Please share what is in your cup.

Yesterday we discussed "new teas" and whether they were worth recommending to others. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Is there a certain piece of teaware you are currently eyeballing? Please share with us!

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[Maitre_Tea]

when I saw the poll title, I thought this was some sort of early Halloween poll or something. I'm not eying anything exactly, but I'll know it when I see it. Since I've managed to have most of my bases covered, I'm passively looking for tea ware, which means if I see something that catches my eye, I'll buy it...

I'm also passively looking for a pot for adolescent sheng, but that's not really imperative at this time.

Feeling a bit sick, which is a serious hamper on enjoying tea. The only good thing about having congested sinuses is while you're drinking tea, you completely sever out any aroma of a tea, and all you're left with is the flavor and mouth-feel

[chamekke]

Yes. I'm going to Kyoto later this month, and while there I'm hoping to buy a furo and kama (brazier and kettle) for tea practice at home. Not sure how I'm going to muscle those pups home, though... may have to ship 'em!

Aside from that, I'm content with what I have at the moment. My Hagi splurge (both Biwa and Seigan Blue) has left me feeling satiated. Ordering two lovely pieces and getting them "all at wan-s" - what luxury

In my late-night yunomi, some rapidly cooling fukamushi. Yum.

[Drax]

No, not really. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure I could find something, but at the moment, I don't need anything, and I have other things I need to spend $$ on.

Continuing with some Rou Gui this morning. I have heard people in the past mention that this tea has cinnamon notes. I'm not really getting any of that, although I suppose that could be a variation in tea source. . . still a very enjoyable taste, though.

[olivierco]

Yes, but they are sold in Japan by a shop that doesn't ship to France and they are quite expensive so I guess I will have to eyeball them for a while:







Kaboku sencha right now

[Trey Winston]

Those are some lovely things, Olivier.

I've so far been able to avoid the teaware symptoms of our shared affliction, and in an untypical bout of frugality I have been able to make do with a ragtag collection of things I already had. But I know what I'll buy when I finally break down, and that is a set of Bodum cups and a matching teapot. I like transparent stuff, I guess.

Drinking sencha from a non-transparent cup today.

[Chip]

when I saw the poll title, I thought this was some sort of early Halloween poll or something.

Feeling a bit sick, which is a serious hamper on enjoying tea. The only good thing about having congested sinuses is while you're drinking tea, you completely sever out any aroma of a tea, and all you're left with is the flavor and mouth-feel

Heh, I must be getting in the mood for Halloween?

That is a very positive spin on feeling sick! Get well soon anyway.

[Chip]

Yes. I'm going to Kyoto later this month, and while there I'm hoping to buy a furo and kama (brazier and kettle) for tea practice at home. Not sure how I'm going to muscle those pups home, though... may have to ship 'em!

Aside from that, I'm content with what I have at the moment. My Hagi splurge (both Biwa and Seigan Blue) has left me feeling satiated. Ordering two lovely pieces and getting them "all at wan-s" - what luxury

I am picturing you lugging this through the airports ... I hope you will have access to a computer while you are away, so you can enlighten us on your journey!!!

I continue to explore Hagi, I do not see this letting up anytime soon. Working on the Hagi Special Offers has given me the opp to look into a world not often seen by us mere Westerners. As I see more glazes, styles ... the list grows.

Being able to share these jewels and the excitement they bring with others is almost as rewarding and enjoyable as receiving them myself ... almost!

[brlarson]

Is the little pollster sitting on our right shoulder or our left as he whispers this poll question into our ear? Is it from `innocent' Chip or from Hagi-Chip?

Maybe? I'm not looking for any new pieces seriously, but a few have caught my eye and I have started looking at chawan. However, the small collection that I have seems perfectly adequate ...

There is a blend of Hosen and Surugawase in my cup this morning.

[Chip]

Continuing with some Rou Gui this morning. I have heard people in the past mention that this tea has cinnamon notes. I'm not really getting any of that, although I suppose that could be a variation in tea source. . . still a very enjoyable taste, though.

Interestingly, I have been enjoying a sencha with cinnamon notes, Zuiko asamushi from Den's this AM with DW. This is not a light and airy asamushi, but is quite full flavored, viscous, and quite aromatic. I pick up not only the cinnamon, but also floral and veggie in the aroma. I am preparing to share this in a tasting.

I have had Rou Gui that definitely had a pretty assertive cinnamon character.

[Chip]

Yes, but they are sold in Japan by a shop that doesn't ship to France and they are quite expensive so I guess I will have to eyeball them for a while ...

Those canisters have left a lasting impression on many of us since you first showed them to us some time ago.

Glad to see you are back of the "good stuff" aka, tea!

[JBaymore]

Yes. I'm going to Kyoto later this month, and while there I'm hoping to buy a furo and kama (brazier and kettle) for tea practice at home. Not sure how I'm going to muscle those pups home, though... may have to ship 'em!

chamekke,

I picked up a nice old kama in Japan this summer and managed to pack it into one of my checked bags. I was flying JAL out of / into the USA so the weight limits were a bit higher than some travel legs.

I wrapped some small pots (yunomi sized) in bubble wrap and stuffed them into the kama, and then secured them in there by PACKING the interior totally full with additional bubble wrap to the point of absurdity. This had the double effect of protecting the small pieces (from the gorillas that handle the luggage) and also of creating a "damping" effect fro any vibration shock that the kama might experience from the typical "gentle handling" of airline baggage.

The lid got wrapped heavily in bubble wrap separately, and packed elsewhere in the suitcase wrapped in a towel over the bubble wrap.

Then the kama itself first got wrapped in a soft towel. Then the whole thing got wrapped in bubble wrap which was so thick that it was close to the maximum diameter of the suitcase. Then that taped up unit got put into the soft side suitcase with every bit of the area in the case around it on all sides was stuffed to almost bursting with every soft piece of clothing I had. Then the suitcase had a luggage strap around it to make sure it did not burst.

Then I had to check the weight to makle sure that I was under airline limits for the whole suitcase. Just. All arived home in perfect condition.

A metal furo likely would work the same way. But a ceramic furo might be more of an issue. This is because of the structural implications of that cut out in the side for the air flow into the charcoal area and how that cutout affects the way such a clay piece would surcvive impact and vibration stresses. A bit "iffy" I think. I'd FedEx that one back.

If you need to forward luggage (and your kama/furo) from one place to another within Japan while you travel........ do you know about using takkubin?

best,

..............john

[Chip]

Is the little pollster sitting on our right shoulder or our left as he whispers this poll question into our ear? Is it from `innocent' Chip or from Hagi-Chip?

or

[gingkoseto]

Not currently. But I wasn't looking hard, otherwise I am sure there are some

In a more general term, I expect to get more 60ml or so gaiwan. I love the one from jing tea shop (the little fishman).

[depravitea]

Very seriously!
I've been using the same gaiwan for awhile now, and I just chipped the lid last week
I'm going to retire it before it's totally destroyed, so I've been looking around.




I really like this one, but I'm not sure what it says lol

Also, I'm going to get these ->