Nice kyusu for fukamushi

[vink]

So I now have a fukamushi kyusu from o-cha at work but want to treat myself with a nice kyusu for home. For the moment I really enjoy fukamushi and been checking out the kyusu at Cameli Sinensis since their in my city. I really liked that one and read good comment on Gyokko pots.

http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/teapot/kyusu-toko-13

I'm just wondering if a clay filter like this would be good with fukamushi? I'm also wondering if I can brew gyokuro in that pot ( did not tried some yet but plan to) If not, anything on their website would be better? I just got the impression that better quality kyusu don't have metal filter...

Thanks

[Chip]

Knowing nothing about the clay, I would say it should work fine. I usually like a kyusu that has a more tall appearance for fuka, but as long as you are a bit careful in pouring ... it will be fine.

[Chip]

... screen material. This is not a black and white issue and one that will not have full agreement. But almost everyone will agree that the clay screening is a greater ... pleasure to use.

[Alex]

given I brew Fuka using a 20 hole direct filter and it comes out great with some care this will be a breeze. cute little pot!

[Tead Off]

Knowing nothing about the clay, I would say it should work fine. I usually like a kyusu that has a more tall appearance for fuka, but as long as you are a bit careful in pouring ... it will be fine.

Just as a bit of commentary on the clay used by Gyokko which the OP has linked to, notice the color of the clay which is used for this kyusu. Then click on the link to the blog and notice the intense red clay for the other Tokoname pots illustrated there by a different potter. If you read a bit of the blog, you will see that in order to achieve this color, the potter adds oxides to the clay. This is the case with the vast amount of the Tokoname kyusu that are made today. This is not the natural appearance of the mined Tokoname clay. Hojo told me a long time ago, that very little to none of the old naturally red clay remains, and that most of the potters use additives. It won't kill you but..........just for the record.

[vink]

Just as a bit of commentary on the clay used by Gyokko which the OP has linked to, notice the color of the clay which is used for this kyusu. Then click on the link to the blog and notice the intense red clay for the other Tokoname pots illustrated there by a different potter. If you read a bit of the blog, you will see that in order to achieve this color, the potter adds oxides to the clay. This is the case with the vast amount of the Tokoname kyusu that are made today. This is not the natural appearance of the mined Tokoname clay. Hojo told me a long time ago, that very little to none of the old naturally red clay remains, and that most of the potters use additives. It won't kill you but..........just for the record.

So I should look more for red clay pot then?

[Alex]

Well if you want natural clay go with Hojo. Tokoname clay means nothing to me these days, as it only takes a quick glance at the tokoname sections on most websites to see there's like a billion different textures and colours, so a lot of blending and adding stuff goes on. The Gisui pot I had was old Tokoname clay.....very nice.......but less red and more orange.

If clay is a concern and you want natural then pick Hojo, that's not to say these blended clays will do you any harm as Tead said.......for me its just about taste. Some can have a poor effect on the taste, others like Hokujo make a damn fine cup! But the clays from Hojo have brewed for me the best so that's what I have now.


You may want to buy a few pots and get some experience......go on its fun

Oh and if you're on a budget or new to the world of Kyusu I can't recommend the banko purple clay from Tachi Masaki enough! Great value and good natural clay.

http://hojotea.com/item_e/available.htm
http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/B ... index.html

[William]

Knowing nothing about the clay, I would say it should work fine. I usually like a kyusu that has a more tall appearance for fuka, but as long as you are a bit careful in pouring ... it will be fine.

Just as a bit of commentary on the clay used by Gyokko which the OP has linked to, notice the color of the clay which is used for this kyusu. Then click on the link to the blog and notice the intense red clay for the other Tokoname pots illustrated there by a different potter. If you read a bit of the blog, you will see that in order to achieve this color, the potter adds oxides to the clay. This is the case with the vast amount of the Tokoname kyusu that are made today. This is not the natural appearance of the mined Tokoname clay. Hojo told me a long time ago, that very little to none of the old naturally red clay remains, and that most of the potters use additives. It won't kill you but..........just for the record.

Agree!

I suggest you to write to Mr. Akira, he will sugest you the right teapot!

[.m.]

Well if you want natural clay go with Hojo. Tokoname clay means nothing to me these days, as it only takes a quick glance at the tokoname sections on most websites to see there's like a billion different textures and colours, so a lot of blending and adding stuff goes on. The Gisui pot I had was old Tokoname clay.....very nice.......but less red and more orange.

If clay is a concern and you want natural then pick Hojo, that's not to say these blended clays will do you any harm as Tead said.......for me its just about taste. Some can have a poor effect on the taste, others like Hokujo make a damn fine cup! But the clays from Hojo have brewed for me the best so that's what I have now.


You may want to buy a few pots and get some experience......go on its fun

Oh and if you're on a budget or new to the world of Kyusu I can't recommend the banko purple clay from Tachi Masaki enough! Great value and good natural clay.

http://hojotea.com/item_e/available.htm
http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/B ... index.html

The clay of the pot by Gyokko seems very natural to me. Or do you think otherwise?

[Alex]

I agree it has a natural hue but it looks mixed to me. I'm sure someone with far more experience then me will chime in and give you a better answer.

[Chip]

Sorry I brought the clay up. It looks light a lighter color clay ... usually more aesthetic than "best" for brewing. This would still be a good local purchase of a Kyusu, IMHO and priced about right. It would likely function well. Would it be the best choice on the planet, definitely not. But I feel I was responding appropriately to the OP's OP.

Craftsman in and around Tokoname have quite varying philosophies when it comes to making kyusu. Some are all about the aesthetics ... some are all about the clay that will provide the best brewing results ... carried to extremes as is the case of the efforts of Akira Hojo. Perusing Toru's Tokoname page, one can pretty easily see this.

I have one dark yohen kyusu by Gyokku ... barely used, maybe two times. It is really nicely made, but why don't I use it more? And why do I not have any conscious desire to add another Gyokku kyusu ...

[vink]

Then is there anything in between? Hojo teapots looks awesome but a bit too pricy for me right. More looking for a 100$ with shipping max.

[Tead Off]

Then is there anything in between? Hojo teapots looks awesome but a bit too pricy for me right. More looking for a 100$ with shipping max.

The Gyokko pot you reference in your post looks like something very good. The clay looks natural and the price and aesthetics all add up to a good buy. Very hard to find natural Tokoname clay pots without additives, especially at that price. I say go for it.

You don't have to pay Hojo prices to get a nice pot. I bought a Masaki pot some years ago from Artistic Nippon for 1/3 less than what Hojo was selling the same pot for. Be patient and study the subject, then take the plunge. Mistakes are part of the game.

[Alex]

Then is there anything in between? Hojo teapots looks awesome but a bit too pricy for me right. More looking for a 100$ with shipping max.

Yes a Tachi Masaki purple clay pot as I mentioned

This is like $70
http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/B ... kaobi.html

[Tead Off]

Then is there anything in between? Hojo teapots looks awesome but a bit too pricy for me right. More looking for a 100$ with shipping max.

Yes a Tachi Masaki purple clay pot as I mentioned

This is like $70
http://www.artisticnippon.com/product/B ... kaobi.html

the pot you are pointing to is almost twice as big as the Gyokko. A little big for fukamushi, no?