hi guys!
i would like to start a discussion on japanese clay tea pots (tokoname, sado clay, reduction fire sado clay, banko clay, etc...) vs yi xing clay...
im new to japanse green tea (sencha in particular) and i got myself a banko clay tea pot... i have noticed that even just after finishing 100 grams worth of tea with that tea pot, i already notice a nice smell sticking to the tea pot. i dont notice this much from yi xing clay tea pots, although i must admit that i rarely use my yi xing tea pots...
could it also be that sencha is more fragrant than 5-12 years aged raw and ripe pu erh?
how about you guys... what are your experiences with clay quality? i know this topic has a very wide variable and each circumstance is very different from another... but how about clay quality in general...?
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
Although I'm not a Hojo disciple like some others here, when I think about a decent place for information about comparing all these clays, I think his website. But then again, if you're bringing up Sado clay, I'm sure you're already familiar with Hojo. 
Just remember to take the info with a grain of salt. He is a salesman intent on making money after all... not that there's anything wrong with that.
Just remember to take the info with a grain of salt. He is a salesman intent on making money after all... not that there's anything wrong with that.Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
P.S. nopeodarwin wrote: could it also be that sencha is more fragrant than 5-12 years aged raw and ripe pu erh?
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
thats exactly why i was asking about your opinions and experience about these clays in general... i would also like to get more info on other types of japanese clay before i buy a second pottingjunkie wrote:Although I'm not a Hojo disciple like some others here, when I think about a decent place for information about comparing all these clays, I think his website. But then again, if you're bringing up Sado clay, I'm sure you're already familiar with Hojo.
but i really do like creamic wares. i love its convenience when cleaning up.
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
If you rarely use your yixing pots, then why bother with Japanese pots?
I've been using a tokoname pot recently, and like it, but I have many yixings that I love as well. They do change your tea.
I've been using a tokoname pot recently, and like it, but I have many yixings that I love as well. They do change your tea.
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
well, japanese tea pots are new to me right now... hopefully i would be able to use them more often. im also hoping that with our house renovation over, i can bring out my yi xing pots and start to use them again. but not until i finish all the sencha i still have leftMarshalN wrote:If you rarely use your yixing pots, then why bother with Japanese pots?
I've been using a tokoname pot recently, and like it, but I have many yixings that I love as well. They do change your tea.
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
The only personal experience I have is trying to use a 4oz Gyokko Tokoname kyusu for oolongs. It muted far too much of the aromas and high notes, but it is a $40 modern Tokoname after all, not one of the older "real" ones.
Everything else I could say about Japanese clays for Chinese teas is second hand info, so I'll pass on the speculation and rumor spreading. Your general question is super broad though. What specifically are you really trying to figure out?
Some clays will be good for one type of tea, some will be good for multiple types of tea, and others will be good for nuthin'! It's all about learning to pair a particular pot with a particular tea until you find the right match. Sometimes a pot is just crappy and it won't do any tea particularly well. I'm not sure what else to add!
Everything else I could say about Japanese clays for Chinese teas is second hand info, so I'll pass on the speculation and rumor spreading. Your general question is super broad though. What specifically are you really trying to figure out?
Some clays will be good for one type of tea, some will be good for multiple types of tea, and others will be good for nuthin'! It's all about learning to pair a particular pot with a particular tea until you find the right match. Sometimes a pot is just crappy and it won't do any tea particularly well. I'm not sure what else to add!
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
I have a very decent banko-yaki kyusu that I use almost daily for sencha. I sometimes leave the leaves in the pot for hours while I'm at work, but I always rinse it with boiling water at end of the day. I can't say I really detect a smell clinging to it. I also do not perceive the superior taste enhancement proclaimed about this clay -- but I do like it very much.
I think the best thing to do to maintain neutrality, if that's what you want, is rinsing with boiling hot water in between uses. Dry the pot with either evaporation or a soft cloth.
I don't have a ton of experience with yixing so I'll differ to the most knowledgeable clan.
I think the best thing to do to maintain neutrality, if that's what you want, is rinsing with boiling hot water in between uses. Dry the pot with either evaporation or a soft cloth.
I don't have a ton of experience with yixing so I'll differ to the most knowledgeable clan.
Re: japanese vs chinese clay pots
There are so many variables to account for that a given teapot of one type will not brew the same tea with the same results you get from a similar one of the same type. For example, I own a few Banko teapots. All shaped differently, different sizes, different ages. Brewing the same sencha in them gives me different results using the same parameters. All my Yixing teapots do the same thing with oolongs.
Few people really know what kind of clay is used for their teapot unless they know the maker. Firing temp, atmosphere, etc., will affect outcome. So, what to think? Where to start?
For me, I've tried to place my 'knowledge' in the background and experiment with each teapot I use to see what tea is best in them. I think this is the only thing one can do. I constantly see that people don't have the same experience when drinking tea. It is a subjective experience. 'Experts' can guide you towards high quality products and make suggestions, but it is you who will ultimately decide what you like. Maybe you'll be drinking Puerh in Bizen yaki or Bohemian 19th century crystal.
A guy like Hojo is a source of information about the products he carries. He is way more knowledgeable about his things than the average vendor. Sure he wants to sell, but, I have found him very forthcoming with info and I have never bought a thing from him! One has to question everything and gain understanding through experience, then throw it all away. Ha, ha, not so easy! Have fun.
Few people really know what kind of clay is used for their teapot unless they know the maker. Firing temp, atmosphere, etc., will affect outcome. So, what to think? Where to start?
For me, I've tried to place my 'knowledge' in the background and experiment with each teapot I use to see what tea is best in them. I think this is the only thing one can do. I constantly see that people don't have the same experience when drinking tea. It is a subjective experience. 'Experts' can guide you towards high quality products and make suggestions, but it is you who will ultimately decide what you like. Maybe you'll be drinking Puerh in Bizen yaki or Bohemian 19th century crystal.
A guy like Hojo is a source of information about the products he carries. He is way more knowledgeable about his things than the average vendor. Sure he wants to sell, but, I have found him very forthcoming with info and I have never bought a thing from him! One has to question everything and gain understanding through experience, then throw it all away. Ha, ha, not so easy! Have fun.