Green Tea Forum

joelbct · Posted: May 16, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject: chawan glazes and matcha taste?

I am considering a new chawan for use as an everyday matcha bowl.

I like the shape of my deep Black Raku bowl, it allows for easy whisking, but it seems to change the taste of the matcha a bit, as opposed to my high-fired bowl, which does not alter the matcha taste, but is too small.

Can anyone recommend a good type of bowl for everyday use that does not change the taste of the tea significantly, yet has a large/deep shape for whisking?

friedfunk · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 5

I've had the same issue with my raku chawan. I have, however, noticed that the taste dissipates over time. The inexpensive grey chawan from o-cha and the one from hibiki-an don't have that issue and they are both deep and easy to whisk in. Hope this helps.

joelbct · Posted: May 28, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject:

Update:

I think perhaps the after-taste was just because the Kuro Raku bowl was new. It seems to have worn off. Cheers!

prestontolbert · Posted: Sep 15, 2008 9:07 am Post subject:

I personally would never use anything but a mid to highfire chawan. The raku process traps carbon in the porous clay. Carbon is an odor neutralizer and odor is essential to enjoying any kind of tea especially matcha. Also raku ware must be sterilized from time to time (porous with micro cracks). Hiki Dashi ware is a different story. This is a high fire process that originated around the same time that the low temp raku was beginning. Hiki dashi ware does not change the flavor of tea.
-Preston

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 194

You must fill your chawan with hot water and let it stay for an hour or so, that erases the smell, it doesn`t alter the smell after you have used it for a while, and try buying kuro raku from horaido, the sell the very same kuro raku that other vendors do for half the price, it has the exact same stamp that the hibiki raku and it costs 65 $.