Finding A Cute Kyusu

[Ymryl]

Hi all,
I want to buy some teaware (and some tea) to my fiancée for next birthday, Could you help me out bit ? I'm very new to the world of tea, and I lack the expertise to understand what is best.

- So, I'm looking for a kyusu exclusively (she likes the shape best).
- It needs to be big (300/400 ml) because she likes getting one big cup at a time and then do other things. She will nearly never do gong fu cha.
- It needs to be versatile : she will drink mostly green tea (especially tamaryokucha), genmaicha, but also oolong and white tea. (no pu-erh though). She will not bother changing teapot at every tea.

That being said, the only matter remaining is aesthetics and an ok quality/price ratio. My budget is flexible.

What do you advise me ? Tokoname, banko, sado clay ? Tin ? Glazed ceramics ?
Where should I buy online, too ?
Thanks for your help !

[betta]

Would recommend artisticnippon for authentic teaware from Japan. They have quite large selection of kyusu.
From my experience, the price of items is the same as in case you buy directly in Japan; of course with first class customer service, too.

[Chip]

However ... and as much as I love AN ... their kyusu are not glazed. Based upon the criteria that it must be versatile to brew many types of teas, a glazed kyusu would be better, IMHO. Especially since she is also brewing toasty and/or grainy teas like genmaicha which will impart flavor to an unglazed kyusu over time.

Even w/o the genmaicha, the clay will absorb flavors and aromas of teas and will eventually begin to impart this conglomeration to every tea brewed in it. This I know from experience.

[NOESIS]

This kyusu is quite well made, but a bit pricey:

http://shop.ippodo-tea.co.jp/kyoto/shop ... d=utensils

[Ymryl]

Hi,
thanks for your advice.

So, I think I want to go with two different kyusus, in order to at least separate the very strong teas from the rest.
Brewed teas will be :
- Tamaryokucha
- Gyokuro
- Chinese green teas
- Jamsine tea
- Oolong
- Phoenix Oolong
- Genmaicha

Where would you split into two categories ?
Also, I was thinking of a sado black mumyoi kyusu (from hojo) and another kyusu.
To which batch would you dedicate the black mumyoi ?
What should the other kyusu be made of ? Glass (it exists !) ? Or clay (which clay ?) ?

[teaisme]

A thinner, unglazed banko would be my first want for brewing the gyo and tama, maybe chinese green depending on the type (though this is rough guidelines, sometimes two senchas/gyo/tama from different places just won't play well in same banko, that's just the way it is)

Everything else you mentioned could be lumped into one thicker, glazed kyusu

BUT

Considering your friends situation/drinking style, and assuming she is knowledgeable but still new to tea (as most of us here are), maybe it would be better to just get one nice decently thick glazed kyusu and allot some of the money you would have spent on a second pot to get some stellar tea to go with it

This seems well made and functional + is is purple and nice glaze/detail
http://zencha.net/c04505.php

This also fits the needs well and is very attractive and fairly priced, I like this one a lot.
http://zencha.net/tk-k01.php

**as long as she remembers to rinse well with hot water after each use and dry it properly I don't see much issue in using either of these for all the teas mentioned**

[debunix]

That first one is really a cutie.

[aeflo]

i also thought about ordering the second one
a lovely kyusu

[gargoylekitty]

I have that first one, recent gift, and quite adore it. Definitely a decent size for drinking with a few others, though the holes are a little large for smaller leaf teas. That is, brewing fuka in it has been so-so so far, but everything else does alright.

Also, mine at least, it's lovely in person.