AMAI RINGO TOKONAME KYUSU CLAY TEAPOT 0.368L

This exquisite teapot is so perfectly shaped that it’s difficult to believe it is fashioned by an entirely handmade process. That said the maker leaves a little imperfection in each pot in the spirit of wabi-sabi, to celebrate the “beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.” This is glazed in blue-green and earth tones. It has a built in ceramic infuser that helps prevent tea-leaves reaching the cup. As green teas can be brewed several times there is no need to remove them from the pot. It holds 360ml of water.

Tokoname, a small town in Central Japan, lends its name to the pottery that has been produced there for centuries. The clay from this region is very rich in iron and lends itself very well to the production of teapots. The clay of the Tokoname teapots softens the bitterness of the tea and enhances its flavour. Since it is unglazed the clay absorbs the flavour of the tea so is best used for making one type of tea, be it green or oolong or black. The clay acquires a beautiful patina over the years of use.