煎茶中国茶台湾茶向け日本の急須/茶壺専門店　東山堂

Shigaraki ware Sotoen kiln kiln-change tea cup 60ml

Name: Shigaraki ware Sotoen kiln kiln-change tea cup 60ml
Brand: 煎茶 中国茶 台湾茶向け 日本の急須/茶壺専門店 東山堂
SKU: 52147219235097
Availability: InStock

¥5,500 JPY

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A kiln-change tea cup from Shigaraki Sotouen kiln.

When brewing gyokuro or sencha, a small amount of water (only a few tens of milliliters) is used, hence the use of small tea cups. This size is also suitable for sencha, Chinese tea, and Taiwanese tea.

Sotouen is a Shigaraki ware kiln that shapes each piece on a potter's wheel and fires them in a traditional climbing kiln. Inheriting the Edo-period wood-fired kiln from the prestigious Ueda Naokata family of Shigaraki ware, they continue to create pottery that embodies the feel of Shigaraki clay and the rich expression achieved through wood-fired kilns.

Shigaraki is located in Shiga Prefecture, surrounded by mountains and blessed with clean water. It is a land deeply connected to tea. Many tea masters have long favored Shigaraki ware. From the 1600s onward, it became common practice for the Tokugawa shogunate and various daimyo families to present Uji tea in Shigaraki tea jars. Shigaraki is known as a region where tea ceremony pottery is thriving, producing tea bowls, teapots, and other tea utensils.

Shigaraki clay is somewhat coarse, giving it a distinctive earthy texture. While Shigaraki ware, fired in the strong flames of a wood-fired kiln, often turns brown, the rim of this tea utensil is a grayish-green. This color is created by chance by the irregular flow of flames inside the kiln. It is a rare piece of pottery resulting from the accidental reaction between the clay and the fire.

The main fuel for the wood-fired kiln is red pine. The firing period is about one week, and the temperature rises to 1300-1500°C. The wood-fired kiln itself is made from Shigaraki clay (the second to last image shows the clay). The climbing kiln at Sōtōen is one of the largest kilns in Japan.

Each tea utensil is handcrafted using a potter's wheel. It has a pleasant, earthy feel. The inside is very smoothly shaped. It is characterized by the soft, natural expression of the clay. One of its charms is that the color deepens with use, allowing you to enjoy the changes over time.

Kiln: Sotoen kiln (Shiga)

Shaping: Wheel-thrown

Firing: Wood-fired kiln

Type: Pottery

Size: Approx. 6cm total length, approx. 3cm base diameter, approx. 6cm height

Capacity: 60ml full, 30ml usable

Weight: Approx. 50g

Packaging: Paper box

Notes: As it is handmade, each piece is unique. There is no glaze on either the inside or outside.

If you fill it to the maximum, the rim of the teacup will become hot. We recommend using it at 50% or less of its full capacity.

Shigaraki ware is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns (Seto, Tokoname, Echizen, Tanba, Bizen, and Shigaraki). Because Shigaraki was once at the bottom of a lake, it is blessed with high-quality clay. The origins of Shigaraki ware are said to date back to 742, when the capital was moved to this area, and roof tiles were produced for buildings in the capital. Although pottery production declined for a period, seed jars and water jars began to be made again in the late 13th century.

In the late 15th century, Japanese-made pottery began to be used as tea ceremony utensils. Shigaraki ware, along with Bizen ware, is one of the earliest types of pottery used for tea utensils. From the 17th century onward, tea jars for tea leaves presented to the Shogun and daimyo families were also produced in Shigaraki.

Shigaraki ware has a deep connection to tea and was beloved by many tea masters. Located near Kyoto and Osaka, where the tea ceremony flourished, it produced many matcha bowls, vases, and sencha tea utensils. Shigaraki is a place rich in nature, surrounded by mountains and flowing water. The texture of the Shigaraki clay, which evokes a sense of nature, and the rich expression achieved through wood-fired kilns are the charms of Shigaraki ware.

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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Shigaraki ware Sotoen kiln kiln-change tea cup 60ml