Comments on: Swans, Flowers and Iron

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:26:21 +0000

Yes, I found that it just took a little experimenting and getting accustomed to it. The more I use it the more I like it.

By: Helen Huntingdon

Helen Huntingdon — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:34:02 +0000

I have this same pot, and I’m also very pleased with it. It took me a bit to get the knack, but I no longer have any trouble pouring from it without drips or difficulty. Things I had to learn:

1. Rotate the lid so that the vent hole is next to the spout, not opposite the spout.

2. Forearm needs to be level and just above the top of the cup being filled.

3. Don’t overfill the pot — the literature on mine said it’s not designed for being filled to the rim, and they weren’t kidding. Anything over 5 oz. makes a mess.

It should be noted that I have unusually small hands, which makes it necessary for me to handle most pots differently from other people, so your mileage may vary using my methods.

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:38:50 +0000

I have a glass kettle exactly like the one on your blog. I like being able to use it with a stand and alcohol burner so I don’t need electricity.

By: james oh

james oh — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:10:22 +0000

Though I am a tea lover, i have not taste the white tea before. I do tea wares collector as well. You are welcome to my blog to see some of tea artifacts.

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:20:30 +0000

I thought that I had remembered an online shop associated with the eBay store that had the same name, so that explains it. I didn’t take the time to track down the eBay store itself to check. They’re a nice place to buy from in any case.

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:17:17 +0000

Exactly, and it’s quite easy to pour with fingers and thumb on the sides and top, which are away from the hotter body of the teapot anyway.

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:15:51 +0000

Houhin is sometimes spelled “ho-hin” and sometimes “hohin,” which keeps things interesting.

You’re right about the swans being handle-like places to put your finger and thumb (and they’re pretty cute too). Without any practice it’s easier to pour than a gaiwan, although it doesn’t pour as well.

By: Cinnabar

Cinnabar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:03:33 +0000

As others have commented below, you don’t need a towel for it. The swans on the sides and the flowers on the top are where you put your fingers and thumb, and those parts don’t get hot like the main body of the pot. And with 140-150 degree water the chance of burning is less anyway.

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 07:32:25 +0000

I’m pretty sure The Japanese Green Tea Shop and Yuuki-cha are the same company. Yuuki-cha used to be known as The Japanese Green Tea Shop until earlier this year when they became Yuuki-cha. (The first name being long enough to be abbreviated to TJGTS by some)

By: Omar Zorzano

Omar Zorzano — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:27:35 +0000

This style of teapot, and also the shiborisashi, are specially designed for brewing gyokuro or high quality sencha teas which should be brewed at the lowest temperatures (40-50 °C), therefore no need of a towel or something to hold it.