I drink a lot of tea all day long. As I grew up in a very traditional Japanese family I was always drinking cups of green tea. With this experience I tend to brew loose leaf tea, and generally think loose leaf tea has a better flavour and is better value than tea bag tea. All you need to enjoy loose leaf tea is a good Kyusu tea pot. There’s an initial investment, but it’s surely worth it as it makes tea time a really meditative ritual and the taste is wonderful. Also the tea pot can be a beautiful object in itself.
There are two main types of Kyusu teapot: unglazed clay and porcelain. I use both kinds as their textures and designs are very different and I can make a choice depending on which tea I am drinking. Here is some of the characteristics and benefits of each tea pot.
Clay tea pots: These retain the heat well and will bring out the full flavor of the tea. Our clay tea pots are unglazed and the clay absorbs the tannin in the tea, which is some of the bitterness of its taste, so you might enjoy a milder flavour of tea. I recommend hand washing these pots without any detergent. I know that some people become worried about stains on the inside of these tea pots, but actually these are just part of its living history.
Porcelain tea pots: These are lightweight and easy to handle, and their good heat conductivity means that the tea stays warm longer. They don't absorb any tannin, but they can be washed with detergent, making them easy to clean. It is better to use porcelain tea pots for strongly aromatic teas and black tea because the aromas of black tea and flavored teas tend to linger in the teapot.
All Japanese tea pots tend to come with their own built-in tea strainer. I prefer a ceramic - rather than a stainless metal - strainer, as ceramic strainers will have far less effect on the flavour of the tea, as well as looking more in keeping with the tea pot.
If you are left-handed, it might be better to get a Dobin style tea pot, which will have a handle on top, as the Kyusu tea pots are designed for right-handed people.
I do understand that tea bags can be handy for busy mornings, and don’t require a tea pot, however I think that for tea to give its fullest flavour it might need a larger space to swim in than a little bag. So I have always believed that a tea pot will provide more flavour. Also there is the matter of the 10 minute ritual of tea time that using a pot adds to our lives. A ritual that offers comfort, contemplation, satisfaction and much more. These days, when we might find endless time to scroll through our phones, we shouldn’t complain about the time it takes to brew a tea pot of tea properly! And I find I can prepare and drink two cups of Matcha tea every morning in a way that’s much quicker than making smart cups of coffee.
It’s all about seeking what’s best, and the finest things in life. A beautiful Kyusu pot of tea, and the subtle flavours of loose leaf tea. Things to soothe and lift you up!