Thoughts, please?

[auggy]

I am currently debating on which kyusu to get. Thoughts, opinions, advice? Please?


380cc, $86, from hibiki-an


360cc, $36, from hibiki-an


8 oz, $33, from teavana

Really like the first one (so pretty!) but not sure if I need it, especially since I am getting my first kyusu, but I like it so I can't not consider it.

Anyway, what do y'all think?

[Wesli]

Out of those 3, the first one for sure. When searching for kyuusu, look for TOKONAME goods. Artistic nippon has great stuff.

[auggy]

Can you tell me a bit more about why tokonome is the way to go w/ kyusu?

<-- total noob.

[tenuki]

I like the first one best. However, you can order direct from Tokoname and have a wider selection (and usually get them cheaper)....

V - Tokoname 2008 Catalog - V

[Wesli]

Tokoname has the clay. kinda like how yixing has the clay for chinese stuff. Plus, it's historically one of the famous kilns, so naturally, great artists have flocked.

[witches brew]

All three are very attractive, but I like the first one best.

[RussianSoul]

I like the first one best - sheer aesthetics.

But isn't it a little big? 380 ml is almost 13 oz. They all are different sizes. I think size is an important consideration, perhaps something to be established first based on the way you brew. How do you drink your sencha?

I brew a cup at a time and do multiple steeps. To allow for that I looked for a 10 oz kyusu, something around 300 ml.

If your cup is 12-13 oz or if the cup is 6 oz and you want to make 2 cups at a time, then 13 oz kyusu is perfect.

[auggy]

Can I add one more into the mix for opinions?

11 oz, $99.50, from artistic nippon

[tenuki]

But isn't it a little big? 380 ml is almost 13 oz.

I actually like my 160 ml pot best. One perfect cup at a time.

[Space Samurai]

My recommendation? Buy the one you really want. I started off buying cheaper pots only to break down and get the ones I wanted in the first place. Obviously none of us are made of money, but if the pot is "affordable" enough for you to be seriously thinking about it, go for it.

Oh, I see you added another option. I want the one from Artistic Nippon.

Tokoname is the Yixing of Japan, it is one of the more prolific sources of pottery. The three main styles/origins of Japanese pottery that I've come across is Tokoname, Arita, and Hagi.

If you've browsed the catalog Tenuki linked to, you have an idea of what Tokoname is. Hagi embodies wabi sabi; its an aquired taste. Arita is porcelain. Tokoname isn't superior per se, it just depends on your taste.

[chamekke]

Like Space Samurai, I think you should buy the one you LOVE. If that's the first one, the tokoname, buy it! It'll be a pleasure to look at and use every day. You won't regret it. If you buy a second or third choice, even if it's due to some pragmatic reason, you'll probably find that you're dreaming about the one you really wanted.

If I couldn't decide (because I liked them all too much), I would probably choose based on which candidate looks best with my existing tea gear, e.g. the tea cups I like to use most often. But that's only in the case of a true tie.

[auggy]

Well, the one I really love is this one:

But at almost $200, I just can't justify. Maybe I'll put it on my Christmas list.

As for size, I need to get one around 8 to 12 oz (10-ish being ideal) because DH refuses to brew his own tea but always wants some when I brew. So I almost always make two cups at a time, one for each of us. I showed him a really cute one cup pot but he vetoed for that reason. But hey, at least he's supportive of my tea addition, right?

Thanks Space and Chamekke for making the point of getting the one I love. I should have been thinking of it that way instead of trying to convince myself to settle. I think it is between the first one and the persimmon one from artistic nippon, which might be winning.....

[Space Samurai]

I like the first one best - sheer aesthetics.

But isn't it a little big? 380 ml is almost 13 oz. They all are different sizes. I think size is an important consideration, perhaps something to be established first based on the way you brew. How do you drink your sencha?

I brew a cup at a time and do multiple steeps. To allow for that I looked for a 10 oz kyusu, something around 300 ml.

If your cup is 12-13 oz or if the cup is 6 oz and you want to make 2 cups at a time, then 13 oz kyusu is perfect.

Thing is, there's no rule saying you have to fill your teapot to the brim. My sencha pot is 11 oz, but I only use 7-8 oz water.

[Space Samurai]

Thanks Space and Chamekke for making the point of getting the one I love. I should have been thinking of it that way instead of trying to convince myself to settle. I think it is between the first one and the persimmon one from artistic nippon, which might be winning.....

Yeah, settling is bad. I think its true with many things, tea ware, computers, camera's, if you don't spend the extra for what you want/need, you won't be satisfied, and will only spend more money in the long run when you finally buy what you wanted in the first place.

[olivierco]

It is all a matter of aesthetics. I would choose the first one, or this one (too expensive though)



But I have already spent all my 2008 teaware money. I will have to wait until next january...