Green Tea Forum

molette · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

Hi,

I am totally new to green tea and am wondering if the size of the tea cups matter? I understand you need a specific tea pot, which i will purchase from O-Cha, but as for the cups, do you need the small ones or will any cups do?

Thank you for your time & help!

Best regards Very Happy

sleepyredmoo · Posted: Jul 31, 2008 11:26 am Post subject:

i don't think the cups would make nearly as much of a difference as the teapot does, i do use small teacups because they came with my kyusu as a set. but if you don't want them i don't think they are absolutely necessary

Chip · Posted: Jul 31, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

A lot of Japanese green tea drinkers prefer smaller cups, myself included. It definitely enhances my enjoyment. But this is very subjective.

I brew in a kyusu, and pour into cups. So the cup size does not affect how the tea comes out.

okimasa · Posted: Jul 31, 2008 12:58 pm Post subject:

I don't think you need any specific cups. Like Chip, using small cups (mine are like little half spheres without handles) does add to my enjoyment. Do they make the tea taste better? From a psychological perspective, yes. But does it really change the taste of the tea? I don't think so. You will find your tea tastes the best in cups that you like and enjoy using.

molette · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

Hello and thank you for your reply(s)! What you guys say makes ALOT of sense. Where do you get the kyusu tea pot and will it work with all green teas? Is the kyusu the same as the tea pots listed on the O-Cha site?

Best regards

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 916 Location: Japan

Hi,

Most of these teapots ("kyusu" in Japanese) will work with most all green teas. About the only exception would be trying to brew deep steamed green tea in a "sesame filter" teapot (k899), of which we only have one. I recommend any of those with a metal infuser screen for a beginner:

https://www.o-cha.com/green-teas/teapots/

okimasa · Posted: Jul 31, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

molette · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

Thank you for your help & reply(s). I'm off to order my first teapot and Sencha! I'm so excited. You guys are great!

Best regards.

molette · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

I just purchased a glazed Kyusu teapot from O-Cha and am wondering about care instructions for it? I take it that it cannot be washed with dish detergent, is this correct? How would I clean it and the mesh built in screen?

Thank you for your help!

Kind regards. Question

sleepyredmoo · Posted: Aug 09, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

i use baking soda, it gets it clean, but doesn't do terrible things like detergent

okimasa · Posted: Aug 09, 2008 11:53 am Post subject:

I've also had good results with baking soda. But even so, I don't wash my teaware on a daily basis. Usually, I do it about once a week.

Be very gentle with your teaware and never let it soak. The built in mesh screen isn't that hard to clean. Mine isn't removable, so what I do is (from the tap) pour water down through the spout and tip the teapot over, letting the water drain from the top of it.

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 213

Buy a tokoname teapot, and never wash it with anything but water for best results, I have one teapot with metal filter and one with sasame, and they have never clogged, water is enough, and remember that these teapots absorb the taste of tea over time, and so the teapot would absorb the taste of detergent so probably after washing it with detergent you would drink detergent with your tea so only do it if you are acustomed to the taste of detergent then go ahead.

Chip · Posted: Aug 09, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject:

molette · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7

THANK YOU for your advice. You guys are so nice & helpful.