Korean wood for tea accessories

[yanom]

I was in South Korea a few months ago, and bought a small while teacup which I really like from a shop on the main Insadong street. As I remember it, the shop only sold a few teacups/bowls and teapots: it also sold a lot of wood.
This wood was very fragrant, in fact the smell clung to my teacup for some time. Some of it was used to make little wooden saucer-type things for teaups. I was quite surprised at the cost of these.
Does anyone know what this wood might be, and if it's particular to Korea?

[iovetea]

you should try a korean forum.i looked at like 500 pages once and didn't even find korean black tea on the net.

[JeffBrown]

Red Cedar is one of the fragrant woods that you might check out...

[Chip]

Sandalwood? Tends to be very lingering.

Not sure if they have it so much in Korea though I see references when I google "sandalwood korea" ... I was trying to remember this wood since reading the OP, then someone mentioned it on the IM.

[brandon]

I have a few of these from a shop once run by some nice Taiwanese folks. They moved back to Nantou area.

[needaTEAcher]

I'll be in Insadong on Saturday. If you can remember anything about where the shop was, or the name, or anything, I will swing by and ask!

[yanom]

It'd be great if you could! What I remember of the shop is this:
Walking from north to south it's on the left. It's not on a corner. Not a cluttered display through the window. Not super well-lit inside. Not much on display inside. One of those amazing large white round Korean ceramic pots (?) in the far right corner. Think much of the central part of this small shop comprised a counter or table of some sort.
I think you'd be able to smell the wood if you stuck your nose through the door!
I bought a small white teacup (with lots of cracks, not sure how it's supposed to be described) which I really like, wish I'd bought a second. There were also some yixings for sale.

[Tead Off]

It'd be great if you could! What I remember of the shop is this:
Walking from north to south it's on the left. It's not on a corner. Not a cluttered display through the window. Not super well-lit inside. Not much on display inside. One of those amazing large white round Korean ceramic pots (?) in the far right corner. Think much of the central part of this small shop comprised a counter or table of some sort.
I think you'd be able to smell the wood if you stuck your nose through the door!
I bought a small white teacup (with lots of cracks, not sure how it's supposed to be described) which I really like, wish I'd bought a second. There were also some yixings for sale.

From the north entrance to Insadong, how far down the street? Is it run by an elderly woman?

[yanom]

I've forgotten how far down. Pretty certain it's in the first half. It was run by a woman, not young, don't remember her speaking much English, but there was a much younger guy there who spoke excellent English.

I liked the shop because it had a sense that it was doing its own thing. Not one of the more modern-looking accessible places with nice boxed named green tea and plenty of tea bowels laid out nicely, nor one of those mysterious crammed-with-old-tea-and-teaware places I'm still a bit scared of.

It sold a few small white teacups, I bought one, really like it, will (try to) attach a photo of it here. Tead Off, do you know the place?

[needaTEAcher]

I didn't manage to see the post before I went, but I will be back in one week. I'll check then!

Just to confirm, going south along the main road from the train station (Anguk), it is on the main road, and not down any of the side allies?

[Tead Off]

I've forgotten how far down. Pretty certain it's in the first half. It was run by a woman, not young, don't remember her speaking much English, but there was a much younger guy there who spoke excellent English.

I liked the shop because it had a sense that it was doing its own thing. Not one of the more modern-looking accessible places with nice boxed named green tea and plenty of tea bowels laid out nicely, nor one of those mysterious crammed-with-old-tea-and-teaware places I'm still a bit scared of.

It sold a few small white teacups, I bought one, really like it, will (try to) attach a photo of it here. Tead Off, do you know the place?

I think I do. If it is the same place, they had some very good teaware, not much of it, by Park Bu Won, an older and highly thought of potter. He is very well known. But, I can't find the name card or remember the name of the shop but it is in the first half of Insadong, on the main street, left hand side.

[needaTEAcher]

Hey Yanom, I think I got it.

I found a shop that is just like you described, with the lady and her son (his name is John). The little tea cup trays are 35,000 won each!

Check out these photos to confirm.

In any case the name of the shop is Guan. The wood they mostly use, that makes the smell, is "Nootinamu," which is an elm-like trea that they called "Sawtooth Zelkova". It is a Korean tree and is very rare and expensive, according to them. I know nothing of wood, so I have no clue!

Also find the list of woods they regularly use, though they admitted that the listed English names are descriptions more than actual names. I hope this helps!

Can you see me in the reflection?

[needaTEAcher]

Here is the inside and the list of woods that they use.

[ms. bubblehead]

you should try a korean forum.i looked at like 500 pages once and didn't even find korean black tea on the net.

iovetea: There is a website, pheonix-teashop (dot com), where you can order some of this year's (Dong Cheon) Korean 'black tea'. In the East, fully-oxidized teas are referred to as 'red tea', so it is called 'dan-cha'. All of the Dong Cheon teas are wonderful. I am more into greens, but I have some of the dan-cha, and it is very good for a red/black tea.

[yanom]

needaTEAcher: I missed your latest replies here, only just seen them -- sorry! Thanks so much for finding the place, yes that's definitely it.
I remain extremely fond of the little teacup I bought there and regret not buying a second, or not buying any of those little wooden things.
Thanks again for finding them and finding out about the wood. Sawtooth Zelkova eh? Well, certainly a new one for me!