Tea Incense Burner / Cha Kouro

[hooksie]

Has anyone every actually used a tea incense burner (Cha Kouro) before, such as the one that recently showed up in teaswap?

If so, how well do they work? I would imagine they are nowhere near as strong as traditional incenses, but how do they compare? Is the aroma noticeable, or does it tend to be overtly subtle?

For example,



(I found a thread about this from two years ago, but it was noticeably short on answers.)

Edit: Also, if anyone is aware of a domestic supplier (in the USA), I would love to know.

[rdl]

Has anyone every actually used a tea incense burner (Cha Kouro) before, such as the one that recently showed up in teaswap?

If so, how well do they work? I would imagine they are nowhere near as strong as traditional incenses, but how do they compare? Is the aroma noticeable, or does it tend to be overtly subtle?

Edit: Also, if anyone is aware of a domestic supplier (in the USA), I would love to know.

hooksie,
i have been in many shops that used it. it seems, and this may be my imagination, that the cooler months were when i noticed the use more than in summer. i would say that once you enter a shop, a room, that has the scent from roasting tea, you notice it immediately. not overpowering, but not subtle either. on a scale or 1 - 10, about 7 is my feeling of its presence, partly due to the warmth it omits on a cold day. since i don't own one i am not sure if you can control the presence of the scent by putting out the flame after you feel it's at the level you like. in public shops i think it burns all day. to get a sample of how it will smell, just roast a bit of tea on your stove top or a makeshift Cha Kouro (some foil over a candle). if you like that scent then a crafted Cha Kouro is for you.
i don't know of any domestic supplier in the USA, sorry.