Question about Tokoname teapot

[Zubo]

Hi all, I'm new to teachat, and relatively new to green tea.

I've got a tetsubin teapot, which I'm not very satisfied with (I'm sure most of you know why, no space to expand leaves etc...).
Recently I have decided to go for a new teapot, but I would like answer to couple of questions before I buy it. It's mainly for gyokuro, sencha, gunpowder, but I don't know if it will be ok if I use it for some black tea?

This is the pot i found on yuuki-cha.com :
http://www.yuuki-cha.com/kushime-chekku-tokoname-teapot

I like the design, and Sasame filter, but there isn't any information about which material is the pot made of. Is it standard for all tokoname pots, so I shouldn't worry bout that? Are there any more attributes I should care about?
Also, about tokoname/kyusu pots with removable filters, does the plastic part of filter affect the taste of tea?
(this is the filter http://www.yuuki-cha.com/obix-filter)

[Chip]

Hi, welcome to the forum. I would recommend Artistic Nippon for Tokoname Kyusu-s, as would anyone who has dealt with Toru. He offers outstanding products and the best customer service and reponse to inquiries.

http://www.artisticnippon.com/

Here is his Tokoname page http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/t ... eindex.htm

Generally, a Tokoname kyusu is made from clay from Tokoname. Toru can likely answer specific questions if you ask.

As far as Yuuki-cha goes ... http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 7&start=30 ... I will say no more.

[iannon]

+1 to what Chip says about Artistic Nippon. also that type/size of pot would be fine for sencha..not so much for Gyo. you will need a much smaller pot. as far as the filter..i only have sesame in any of mine. the one i have for my kids has stainless only..no plastic. I personally would not want the plastic in mine heating up with boiling water

[Zubo]

Thank you for comments and warning for yuuki-cha!
Why is smaller pot preferred for gyokuro? I thought it wouldn't make difference if i brewed less tea in bigger teapot.
I have taken a look at Artistic Nippon, and found some prices being insane
I would appreciate if you suggested more vendors that sell small Tokoname teapots!

[Poohblah]

Gyokuro, being higher quality, is generally appreciated better when brewed with a small amount of water but a large amount of leaves. This means a smaller pot. You can use a large pot but not fill it all the way, that is okay. However, it is not ideal, because you don't have any mechanism to ensure that you are using the right amount of water every time (with some cleverness, you can get around this). Some practical issues may arise, for instance, when you pour the tea out, some leaves may get stuck around the filter, and if the water level is too low, those leaves won't get steeped the next time. Furthermore, the smaller pots are designed specifically for gyo, which means they have different heat retention properties and so on. But there is nothing intrinsically wrong with using a small amount of water in a large pot.

[Chip]

Ultimately, if you want to enhance your enjoyment of Gyokuro, a proper brewing device will be in order. Until then you can surely improvise.

Do you have a price range in mind for your new kyusu? AN does have very fair pricing for what he sells. Keep in mind, all those names with the pots are the artisans' names, meaning they are more artisan in nature than many other sellers.

O-Cha.com has some pretty affordable kyusu-s, so does Den's. But if you have a price range in mind, that would help us to help you.

BTW, most times I brew sencha with a kyusu that is 1/2 to 3/4 full. Gyokuro I tend to brew relatively fuller, partially because of the lower water temp used to brew gyokuro. If the pot is too big, you can lose too much heat when making gyokuro ... IMHO. Preheating everything helps prevent this though ...

[JRS22]

I learned about Artistic Nippon here on Teachat and purchased a small Tokoname kyusu. I bought a 160 ml kyusu by Gyokko which is perfect for sencha for one person or Gyokuro for two. Even though my pot, at $42, is one of the least expensive Toro still took the time to engage in a conversation before the purchase. The pot is beautifully made, with a sasame filter. I recommend AN highly for teaware.

[Tead Off]

Thank you for comments and warning for yuuki-cha!
Why is smaller pot preferred for gyokuro? I thought it wouldn't make difference if i brewed less tea in bigger teapot.
I have taken a look at Artistic Nippon, and found some prices being insane
I would appreciate if you suggested more vendors that sell small Tokoname teapots!

The seller who is most knowledgeable about Tokoname pots is Hojo. www.hojotea.com
He also has some of the nicest looking pots of all online sellers that deal in Tokoname. But, he is expensive. He will answer any questions you have in depth without having to buy a thing. I would suggest to view his site and read the information he has posted about Tokoname. By viewing his wares, you can gain a sense of what is considered lovely and desirable. You can then view other sellers like AN and make a more informed choice.

And, btw, there is no problem with Yuuki-Cha. I have dealt with them quite a bit and never had a problem and I know many others that regularly buy from them. I don't know about their pots but they probably don't have the selection that AN or Hojo have. It's a shame you can't physically handle the pots as this is really the best way to decide what you need and get a feel for quality. Good luck.

[Chip]

And, btw, there is no problem with Yuuki-Cha. I have dealt with them quite a bit and never had a problem and I know many others that regularly buy from them.

I wholeheartedly disagree. There is something majorly "wrong" with a vendor who treats even one customer the way he has ... repeatedly.

Be that as it may, buy from who you want.

I will however agree that Hojo has the most amazing kyusu-s ... at least that I have ever viewed online. And unfortunately prices to match. But you get what you pay for? He is immaculate in his offerings. A kyusu that has the tiniest flaw in lid fit is stated as such and sold at a big discount. No other seller to the West does this ...

[debunix]

I bought a couple of very nice pots and yuzamashi from the tokoname catalog folks here--several other teachatters have had good dealings with them as well.

[Chip]

... I still love your momiji kyusu!

[debunix]

Since I have my nice kyusu from Petr Novak for morning sencha duty at home now, this one lives in the office, where it is part of the regular rotation for sencha and other green teas. It remains entirely a pleasure to use.

[Alex]

I recommend AN highly for teaware.

+1

[Zubo]

The price range I have in mind should be something up to 70$ including shipping to Europe.
Is this one a good choice?

http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/t ... kanna.html

More recommendations are wellcome!
Thank you all!

[Chip]

I just bought a Gyokko from AN and it is a great kyusu and a best value. I did not buy that one, but you cannot go wrong IMHO. As long as the size is what you are looking for ...