Green Tea Forum

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

Greetings.

I have a ceramic teapot with a sasami strainer at the spout. For those who aren't masters... Sasami is a built in strainer at the spout - either clay or ceramic, but not metal.

Where was I?

Oh yes... Anyways, I am beginning to believe that my sasami strainer is getting clogged. Enough of the holes are getting clogged with leaf - and as a result the pour has diminished over time.

I would be wondering, has anyone ever tried to clear up their sasami strainer? If so, what method did you use? Did you survive?

Thanks.

syntheticpanda · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 198

Hmm... either blast it out with water, or use a tiny pick (toothpick?), I guess. Those cheapo Chinese gong fu tool sets usually come with a pick for cleaning out Yixing pot screens.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

A toothpick is a great idea. I wonder how long it will take O_O

Has anyone ever used a toothpick before, to accomplish this feat?

Chip · Posted: May 16, 2008 6:54 am Post subject:

...yes...I was never the same afterwards.

syntheticpanda · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 198

I just had another thought (they are oh so rare); if a toothpick is awkwardly short, a kebab skewer might work.

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

I've used toothpicks on other ceramic filters, however I've never had any problems with my sasame filters, just rinse and they're done.

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

try needle

greenisgood · Black Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 115

i agree with space, i've never once had to clean my fukugata sesame, if particles do get stuck after i rinse they seem to run free again when i preheat. i think a lot of clogging-up situations can be more easily solved with how you pour, and i always like to do some swirling and tapping action (sounds like im making a latte) to get the last few drops and get the leaves away from the filter.

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 179

I have 13 kyusu, 12 of which have sasami filters (the 13th is the Hokujo gyokuro set with no filter) and I've never had this problem with any of them. I rinse after each use in both directions and as others have mentioned, when any bits of leaf remain they become free during the next preheat or brewing.

Beware of accidently covering the hole in the lid with your finger when pouring, as in at least some Japanese kyusu and Chinese Yixings, this will stop the flow of tea and may be confused with clogging. I think on many Yixings this may be intentional due to the nature of tea done Gong Fu style.

I own seven conventional Hokujo kyusu and all but one have the hole in the lid located in a depression where it is difficult to accidently block it. One doesn't, and soon after purchasing it I thought Hokujo had finally screwed up and made a kyusu that clogged. I should have known better, as I had unintentionally blocked the hole in the lid with my finger when pouring.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I know not to put my fingers anywhere near the blow hole of the beluga whale - I mean ksyuusu.

I honestly do think, that a metal strainer is superior for fine particle tea, such as hatsumi.

Speaking to master Chip, I've concluded... I'll use the pot with a metal strainer for the finer particle teas such as Hatsumi. And for teas such as Kirameki, I'll cointinue to use my lovely sasami (not to be confused with salami) style pot.

I have a clay pot from Japan en route to me, with a metal strainer. Should work better with some teas.

Cheers!

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I bought a lifetime supply of toothpicks at the grocery store. I started the process of puncturing holes, one by one... But then I realized it wasn't really that the holes were clogged. It was more a matter of a tea petina building up on the sasami surface; a very thin film if you will. So, I took the toothpick and just scraped it across the strainer, and vuala, my strainer is now clean and highly functional.

Thank you for all of your support. You can all sleep easy, now.