煎茶中国茶台湾茶向け日本製急須/茶壺専門店　東山堂

Tokoname ware Seiji Ito (Jinshu atelier) black clay pentagon teapot (170ml)

Name: Tokoname ware Seiji Ito (Jinshu atelier) black clay pentagon teapot (170ml)
Brand: 煎茶 中国茶 台湾茶向け 日本製急須/茶壺専門店 東山堂
SKU: 50360117756185
Availability: InStock

¥24,200 JPY

Sale Sold out

This is a black clay teapot from Jinshu atelier. It features a pentagonal shape and a surface texture with fine crack lile pattern. It holds enough for 3-4 people when brewing Chinese or Taiwanese tea.

The technique called "Arashi Shibori" that creates the intricate patterns on the surface is an original creation of Jinshu atelier's Mr. Ito Seiji. The pattern is created on the surface by determining how dry the clay is and shaping it into a pentagon. Mr. Ito is a modern master teapot craftsman who is highly regarded not only in Japan but also in China and Taiwan.

(Biography of Ito Seiji)

Born in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture in 1949

Started making pottery in 1970

Traditional craftsman certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Tokoname ware general category)

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award for contributions to the traditional craft industry

Purveyor to the Imperial Household Agency

10th Choza Award at the Choza Award Ceramics Exhibition

Excellent Award at the 34th Banko Ceramic Competition 2020

Silver Award at the 1st World Ceramic Art Awards in Yixing, China (teapot competition)

Judges' Recommendation Award at the 6th Taiwan International Golden Ceramic Art Exhibition (teapot competition)

Numerous other awards

Tokoname clay is collected from under rice paddies and contains a lot of iron. The clay used for this teapot is gray. After the teapot is molded, it is fired twice. First, the teapot is fired by oxidation (a firing method that allows sufficient oxygen to enter the kiln), and the teapot remains gray. Next, the teapot is fired by reduction (a firing method that limits the supply of oxygen), and the iron on the surface of the teapot turns black.

The iron in the teapot binds with tannins, which are the bitter taste components of tea. Therefore, tea brewed in a Tokoname teapot has a smooth taste with less bitterness.

I once held a tasting event using Tokoname teapots in Hong Kong. Participants commented that when drinking Chinese tea such as rock tea and ripe Pu-erh tea, it is easy to tell the difference in taste. Taste changes depending on physical condition and environment, so it is difficult to make a general statement, but I feel that it certainly results in a smooth taste.

Mr. Ito is also a tea master who holds a Chinese tea master's certificate. Teapots made with the perspective of a tea master are tea utensils that are extremely easy to use. The water flows smoothly and drains very well. The contact surface between the lid and the body is carefully polished, so the lid fits snugly into the body. The angle of the handle and the overall weight balance have been designed in detail to make it easy to use.

The tea strainer inside the teapot is also made from the same clay of Tokoname. The hand-made mesh tea strainer is a traditional Tokoname ware technique. This is a wonderful teapot that combines precision craftsmanship and bold design.

The teapot is wide horizontally, making it an ideal tea utensil for brewing Chinese and Taiwanese teas, such as rock tea, Pu'er tea, and other black and black teas, which tend to taste better than they smell.

<Teapot> Made in Aichi Prefecture

Potter: Jinshu atelier (Tokoname ware)

Firing: Electric furnace

Size: Total length 12cm (including handle and spout), body (longest) 7.5cm, height 8.5cm

Capacity: 170ml when filled, 140ml for practical use

Weight: Approximately 130g

Packaging: Paper box

Notes: Handmade in Aichi Prefecture. Since it is handmade, there are slight differences between each piece. The airtightness between the lid and the body is good.

*Tokoname ware

Tokoname ware is pottery made in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture. It was Japan's largest pottery production area in the Middle Ages, and in addition to everyday items such as plates, bowls, and pots, many large pottery vessels such as jars and pots were made.

From the end of the Edo period (around 1858 AD), red clay tea utensils and sake utensils were also made. Since the mid-Showa period (1962), the technology for electric furnaces for red clay has been established. Tokoname red clay teapots are fired at about 1100℃. Tokoname red clay is a clay that is compatible with electric furnaces, which have slightly lower temperatures, than wood-fired kilns, which reach high temperatures of 1200-1300℃.

The Tokoname region, which was at the bottom of a lake called Lake Tokai millions of years ago, has fine-grained clay such as red clay and black clay that is suitable for teapots. Tokoname is home to the techniques necessary for making teapots, such as advanced molding techniques and the technique of fitting the lid and body of the teapot together without any gaps, known as "rubbing". It is the largest teapot production area in Japan.

Quantity

Low stock: 5 left

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FAQ

Which type of of tea can I brew with the teapot?

It can be used for any type of tea. However, unglazed pottery is more likely to absorb the flavor of the tea leaves. By using different tea utensils for each type of tea, you can enjoy the flavor of the tea to the fullest.

For example, in the case of Japanese tea, sencha, fukamushicha, genmaicha, and gyokuro are all in the same family, but since hojicha has a strong roasted aroma, we recommend using a different tea utensil.

However, glazed pottery or porcelain tea utensils do not absorb the flavor of the tea leaves, so they are suitable for brewing various types of tea.

How do you wash a teapot?

Please wash the teapot with water, without using detergent. Ceramic teapots easily absorb detergent ingredients, which can affect the flavor of the tea.

Tea leaves remaining in the teapot are the main cause of tea stains. After brewing tea, we recommend removing the tea leaves once they have cooled and rinsing them with water.

Moisture remaining in the teapot can cause mold. Turning the teapot upside down will help it dry faster.

We do not recommend washing it in the dishwasher. Please wash by hand.

Can I remove tea stains from a teapot?

Here's how to remove tea stains.

1. In a bowl or pot, mix 24g of baking soda with 1 liter of water at 30-40°C.

*Do not use aluminum or Teflon-coated pots as they will react with baking soda.

2. Leave the teapot in the water mentioned in step 1 for 30-60 minutes.

3. Wipe off the tea stains with a soft sponge or cotton swab. Do not use hard sponges or brushes.

4. Rinse the teapot with water.

5. Thoroughly dry the teapot.

*Baking soda water may irritate your hands, so wear rubber gloves.

Can I return the product?

We do not accept returns unless the product is damaged when the package arrives.

Each tea utensil is slightly different and may have slight distortions or scratches. Please check the images posted on our online shop in advance.

If you have any questions about the detailed condition of the product, please feel free to contact us. We can send you additional images and videos of the product.

Do you ship internationally?

We can ship to the following countries:

China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines

Are the goods antiques or second-hand goods?

All the products in the shop are new. We sell products produced by potters and kilns in Japan.

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Tokoname ware Seiji Ito (Jinshu atelier) black clay pentagon teapot (170ml)