My daughter went with me to a specialty tea shop and they had some Yokode Kyusu pots ( http://www.artisticnippon.com/japaneseteapots/kyusu.html if you want to look at one ) and she has since asked for one for Christmas as well as some tea. Do these work just the same as the gaiwan or yixing pots just with a Japanese styling to them?
Anyone use Yokode Kyusu pots?
- Thread starter Troggie
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks I will remember that.. guess my daughter will be getting 2 pots this year to see which she likes better for her teas. 
I should preface my comments by saying that I know next to nothing about Chinese tea practices, so I can't offer any comparison. However, I've been using kyusu like this for at least twenty-five years and they produce a perfectly pleasant cup of tea--using the whole spectrum of conventional Japanese teas. These are the kind of kyusu you would find in most Japanese homes.
I have very little exposure, but will give this a shot. Aside from the obvious aesthetic differences, I see four differences: coating, thickness & heat retention, shape, and design.
Yixing pots are made from unglazed porous clay. Kyusus seem to be either glazed internally or at least much less porous. Gaiwans tend to be glazed or porcelain. With yixing pots, especially, you'll hear of people breaking in the pot where the tea seeps into the pottery and flavors the pot.
Yixing pots are relatively thick, kyusu seem less so, and gaiwans are rather thin. The ability to hold heat is relative to the thickness and density of the clay. Yixing clay seems very porous, so it needs to be thicker for the same heat retention. A gaiwan's lightness and openness make it better when using shorter brewing times. It'll heat up or lose heat relatively quick.
The completely open top and flat sides of a gaiwan give more feedback to the senses, and give it faster, making it easier to judge the brew interactively. Overall, it's easier to judge a brew with your senses in a gaiwan. Some people say that the straight sides leave more room for the leaves to expand. To me, that seems a correct, but small difference. A few leaves can expand into the corners, but that could be at the expense of the other leaves. I question whether that can matter either way.
A two handed pour with any of these is easy, but one handed requires some care because of the heat. The gaiwan is a clumsy design, but with a little practice, it can seem rather elegant. I have a side handled kyusu and find it a lot more elegant in a small size, but turning it 90 degrees to the side to get all of the liquid out, I wish the top would stay on better. Maybe it's just that mine's a cheap one. My Yixing takes the barest touch to keep the top in place, but typically wants a finger from the other hand. I have to make more contact on the kyusu to keep the top in place while pouring. It takes a bit of discipline to not instinctively let go when the thing's really hot, although it's never actually burned my finger. Then again, it's easy to do with one hand. The gaiwan's kind of scary used with one hand. The heat dissipation doesn't help combined with the finesse required to keep the lid in place.
Yixing pots are made from unglazed porous clay. Kyusus seem to be either glazed internally or at least much less porous. Gaiwans tend to be glazed or porcelain. With yixing pots, especially, you'll hear of people breaking in the pot where the tea seeps into the pottery and flavors the pot.
Yixing pots are relatively thick, kyusu seem less so, and gaiwans are rather thin. The ability to hold heat is relative to the thickness and density of the clay. Yixing clay seems very porous, so it needs to be thicker for the same heat retention. A gaiwan's lightness and openness make it better when using shorter brewing times. It'll heat up or lose heat relatively quick.
The completely open top and flat sides of a gaiwan give more feedback to the senses, and give it faster, making it easier to judge the brew interactively. Overall, it's easier to judge a brew with your senses in a gaiwan. Some people say that the straight sides leave more room for the leaves to expand. To me, that seems a correct, but small difference. A few leaves can expand into the corners, but that could be at the expense of the other leaves. I question whether that can matter either way.
A two handed pour with any of these is easy, but one handed requires some care because of the heat. The gaiwan is a clumsy design, but with a little practice, it can seem rather elegant. I have a side handled kyusu and find it a lot more elegant in a small size, but turning it 90 degrees to the side to get all of the liquid out, I wish the top would stay on better. Maybe it's just that mine's a cheap one. My Yixing takes the barest touch to keep the top in place, but typically wants a finger from the other hand. I have to make more contact on the kyusu to keep the top in place while pouring. It takes a bit of discipline to not instinctively let go when the thing's really hot, although it's never actually burned my finger. Then again, it's easy to do with one hand. The gaiwan's kind of scary used with one hand. The heat dissipation doesn't help combined with the finesse required to keep the lid in place.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #6
Thanks SiBurning.. that is more or less exactly what I was looking for. Since this is for my daughter heat could be a factor ( she is 10 ) but I think I will still be getting her both styles so she can choose which she likes best.
I have used those pots many times although I don't own one. Yokode Kyusu are typically glazed on the interior. Well made examples will retain heat well, allow the tea plenty of freedom for a good steep, and poor easily. They do season with use, that is if you keep the inside free of detergents, but not with the same depth of unglazed pottery. There are advantages and disadvantages to this. If you use unglazed pottery with a variety of teas, the pot becomes confused and you can get clashing flavors an aromas that can become downright disconcerting. Using unglazed pottery with a single type of tea, or even better a single type from a single growing region it will deliver the best brew of that type allowing subtle nuances to become fully developed to both nose and pallet. Glazed pottery can brew a variety of tea with impunity, you do not need a separate pot for each tea, and they do not require the same care to maintain, if you are using a variety of tea, as anyone new exploring the world of quality tea is likely to do, high quality glazed or enameled pottery whether, Tetsubin, Yokode Kyusu or the English Brown Betty, will provide a high quality experience in a wash and go package.
10 yrs old ? wow that is cool! I think it all depends on what kind of tea youre brewing up. Ive owned a few kyusu, gaiwan, yixing, and shiboridashi. I think a kyusu is the way to go for ease of use and the ability to brew a variety of teas. At least while getting started at least 
Before you know it you will be hunting down all kinds of wares. 
Before you know it you will be hunting down all kinds of wares. - Thread starter
- #9
I am sure she will want to try all different types of teas. We are lucky enough to have 2 specialty tea shops near us. One offers basically herbals, with I think a small selection of greens. The other offers a nice selection of pu-erh, green, white, herbal and black teas. Currently she has been drinking primarily peppermint and orange herbals as well as bagged green teas. She is a very unique child ( she started shaving her legs with an Old Type safety razor.. and her palette likes everything from sushi to hummus and everything in between. ) and I think this will be a unique gift for her.
Does anyone know if the tokoname kyusus available from Japanese vendors (like Artistic Nippon) are the same quality and authenticity as those available at Japanese-American markets (like Mitsuwa or Marukai)? I'm interested in buying one, but am looking for the real deal.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Does anyone know a site, preferably in the states, that carries nice gaiwan sets, similar to the nice teapots in the OP?
Thanks.
Thanks.
I'd be interested as well, but all the gaiwan I have seen have been fairly light and delicate in construction. I don't know if heavier earthen ware is a good idea or not. Perhaps some of the more experienced among us could chime in to discuss the pros and cons of such a pot.
If you ultimately decide it's a good idea, I know a really great local potter who has done custom work in the past. His prices are very reasonable, when you consider you getting a hand thrown custom piece.
If you ultimately decide it's a good idea, I know a really great local potter who has done custom work in the past. His prices are very reasonable, when you consider you getting a hand thrown custom piece.
http://www.jingteashop.com/cat-jing-tea-shop-gaiwan.cfm
Jing tea shop has excellent ware. Super high quality gaiwans are hand made and hand painted, and they run from $50-$90. Search online for Jingde for a common elite gaiwan.
No, no gaiwans other than the one I bought from HouDe have been thick ceramic/stone
http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1284
ceramic/stone gaiwans, in general, probably have to be ordered direct from a potter.
I haven't had too much trouble with mine except that it's quite big for my smallish hands, and it pours slowly (pouring it fast tumbles the tea-water and spills it everywhere).
Jing tea shop has excellent ware. Super high quality gaiwans are hand made and hand painted, and they run from $50-$90. Search online for Jingde for a common elite gaiwan.
No, no gaiwans other than the one I bought from HouDe have been thick ceramic/stone
http://www.houdeasianart.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1284
ceramic/stone gaiwans, in general, probably have to be ordered direct from a potter.
I haven't had too much trouble with mine except that it's quite big for my smallish hands, and it pours slowly (pouring it fast tumbles the tea-water and spills it everywhere).
shah8 seems to crap piles of hundred dollar bills. Go buy a cheap porcelain gaiwan to start with. It'll put you ~$15 with shipping. If you like it and learn to get good with it, then you can spend fat stacks of cash on gear.
Go buy a cheap porcelain gaiwan to start with. It'll put you ~$15 with shipping. If you like it and learn to get good with it, then you can spend fat stacks of cash on gear.Dragon Tea House has some nice ones but shipping costs are insane.
Actually, my only piece of expensive gear *is* that gaiwan, and two pairs of celadon cups that see daily use...
Well, I did buy that celadon cha hai and matcha bowl, thinking I would use them, but those sit in the cabinet. Celadon, my only weakness in gear. I'm pretty much set though.
Not really rich, just don't have to pay room and board, so while I don't, I spend discretionary cash on tea. I do have to get everything else, and I have to buy new hearing aids and all the other stuff, and I don't buy much of anything else for pleasure but tea (and cookies every weekend when I head to the bookstore).
Well, I did buy that celadon cha hai and matcha bowl, thinking I would use them, but those sit in the cabinet. Celadon, my only weakness in gear. I'm pretty much set though.
Not really rich, just don't have to pay room and board, so while I don't, I spend discretionary cash on tea. I do have to get everything else, and I have to buy new hearing aids and all the other stuff, and I don't buy much of anything else for pleasure but tea (and cookies every weekend when I head to the bookstore).
No explanation needed IMO... buy nice stuff if you want it.
I have been looking at celadon gaiwans on eBay just now, but they are all overseas and the shipping is through the roof if you want it in under a month.
Be sure to look up the various kinds of celadon! Some are glazed on porcelain, some are glazed on clay, some have funky tempurature games done to it.
And uh, check out Korean artisian stuff. Much of that is seriously addictive and beautiful. Like Taiwan, basic stuff is almost as good as Japanese for much less. The stuff that Koreans are really renowned for, are going to be more than what you see at Artistic Nippon.
And uh, check out Korean artisian stuff. Much of that is seriously addictive and beautiful. Like Taiwan, basic stuff is almost as good as Japanese for much less. The stuff that Koreans are really renowned for, are going to be more than what you see at Artistic Nippon.
Thanks for the tips. If you have any web links you can give me, it is most appreciated.
