How to Choose the Perfect Japanese Teacups

by Anne Walther | CRAFT

Rakuware Matcha Teabowl, available at Japan Objects Store

Japanese teacups have always been a valuable gift for any tea lover, in Japan and abroad. Made from the finest clays and adorned with the most delicate glazes, quality Japanese teacups are skillfully created by a master potter. An expert craftsman will carefully consider every characteristic of a teacup: its fit in the hand, its shape, its size, and its texture. Tea drinking sometimes seems old-fashioned to the younger generations, but it can be a peaceful moment and a calming experience.

Selecting the perfect teacup is important to enhance the taste, aroma, and color of Japanese tea. So let’s take a look at how to choose the best Japanese teacups together!

Contents

1. A Brief History of Japanese Tea
2. Drinking Japanese Tea with Five Senses
3. The Shape of Japanese Teacups: Chawan or Yunomi?
4. Earthenware or Porcelain?
5. How to Take Care of Your Japanese Teacups?
6. Where to Buy Japanese Teacups?

1. A Brief History of Japanese Tea

Shusaku and Wakana-hime by Utagawa Kunisada, 1856

The first references of tea in Japan date back to the 9th century. Japanese priests and envoys sent to China to learn more about Chinese culture and customs, brought tea and tea seeds back to Japan. Under the reign of the emperor Saga (786-842), seeds were imported from China and the growth of tea plants in Japan prospered.

Black Rakuware Tea Bowl, available at Japan Objects Store

In the 16th century, Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), probably the most famous tea master in Japan, codified and spread the way of tea through tea ceremony. By using imperfect matcha bowls, made of stoneware or earthenware, sometimes broken and repaired, Rikyu captured the essence of wabi sabi.

Crane Yunomi Teacups, available at Japan Objects Store

The development of sencha (loose leaf green tea) and senchado tea ceremony in the 18th century led to the use of smaller tea utensils and, above all, small-scale porcelain cups for sencha and gyokuro. Today, numerous teacups still carry the memory of the two types of Japanese tea ceremonies.

2. Drinking Japanese Tea with Five Senses

A Japanese teacup is much more than just a hot beverage vessel. Carrying the memory of ancient tea practices, it plays an important role in the tea tasting process and experience. It also appeals to our five senses: sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste.

The first sense to be involved is the sight. Is the teacup pleasing to the eye? How do we feel when looking at its color and shape? Is it delicate, refined or rustic? Then, how do we perceive the color, density, and texture of the tea inside the cup?

Then, the sound of a teacup is also significant. Have you ever listened to the music of teacups when you stack them? The finest porcelain makes a very subtle and delicate melody that is an enchantment to the ears. Have you ever heard the sound of hot tea in a clay teacup? Did you know that 93% of adults can distinguish cold and hot water poured in a container by listening to the sound of the liquid?

The touch of a teacup is also an interesting part of the tea tasting. How is the texture in your hands? And how can you describe the feeling of the rim on your lips?

The sense of smell is also involved, as the aroma of the tea could be denser in a narrower teacup. Finally comes the time to taste and drink the tea from the teacup. Would its flavor be different if served in a larger and more rustic teacup? Or in a smaller and more refined teacup?

3. The Shape of Japanese Teacups: Chawan or Yunomi?

A chawan (茶碗), literally “tea bowl” in Japanese, features a curved bottom and an unglazed foot. Small chawan for sencha or gyokuro are sometimes named senchawan, while bigger bowls for matcha are occasionally called matchawan. They may contain between 2oz / 40ml (gyokuro small porcelain teacups) to 7oz / 200 ml of tea (matcha bowl).

Large matcha bowls are used for making and drinking powdered tea during tea ceremony. They are wide enough to allow space for stirring matcha tea with a chasen, the ceremonial bamboo whisk. You can find out more about chasen and the other items you may come across during a tea ceremony at 19 Essential Japanese Tea Ceremony Utensils.

A vigorous whisking movement inside the large bowl is necessary to create foamy matcha tea. Nevertheless, the solid ceramic of the traditional matcha bowl naturally regulates the temperature of the hot water when it is poured in, thus avoiding burning the fine tea particles.

Blue Crystal Yunomi Teacups, available at Japan Objects Store

The name yunomi (湯のみ) comes from the Japanese description of the vessel: oyu wo nomu dogu (お湯を飲む道具), literally, “a utensil used for drinking hot water”. Usually cylindrical and with a turned foot, they generally contain between 3oz / 90ml to 5oz / 150 ml of tea.

Often viewed as less formal, yunomi are related to daily life. Unlike Western teacups, yunomi are crafted without handles. They are perfect to warm one’s hands and enjoy the delicate aroma of tea.

Yunomi are often sold in pairs or in sets of five. Meoto yunomi comprises two cups: the larger one being the husband’s and the smaller one being the wife’s cup. Meoto meaning “married couple”, this type of yunomi is a lovely present usually given for weddings.

Tea bowl, glazed stoneware, 17th-19th century, Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm

To sum up, smaller porcelain teacups are generally used for higher grade teas such as gyokuro and superior sencha. Larger ceramic teacups or yunomi are employed for more informal teas such as hojicha and medium grade sencha. Large bowls are used for matcha.

4. Earthenware or Porcelain?

Every Japanese prefecture creates its own unique ceramic ware using locally sourced materials. You can see many of them in The A-Z of Japanese Pottery: 32 Most Popular Ceramic Styles. In Japan, several types of clay are available, from earthenware to porcelain. Porcelain clays are often found in the southern island of Kyushu, where natural kaolin deposits were located. Kilns were traditionally built close to the latter, and potters settled there.

From stoneware to white porcelain, every material and each style bring their advantages to drinking tea. The characteristics of Japanese teacups may also depend on their material.

*Yachiyo*, tea bowl with black glaze by Raku Seinyu XIII, 20th century. Photo by Masayuki Miyahara. Raku Museum, Kyoto

Traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, rakuware (楽焼, raku-yaki) is a famous type of Japanese pottery that was highly appreciated by tea masters for the purity and unpretentiousness of its objects. Today, raku tea bowls remain the most sought after of Japanese ceramics, and you may want to learn more about it here: Raku Pottery: Everything You Need to Know.

Earthenware or stoneware teacups have a rough surface and will absorb the flavor of tea to create a richer tea experience. As they are fired at lower temperatures, earthenware or stoneware cups are thicker than porcelain cups, which makes them perfect for serving hot tea. Stoneware or earthenware teacups are usually employed for more informal teas such as hojicha and medium grade sencha.

Tea bowl, stoneware with polychrome enamels and gold over finely crackled glaze, Satsuma ware, 19th century, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Like kyusu teapots, the most luxurious teacups are produced by hand, with mineral-rich clay that often comes from volcanic regions. Despite their soaring prices, green tea enthusiasts swear by the rounder taste they impart to the tea.

© Japan Pottery Net, Sangiriyaki Yunomi by Tomoyuki Matsui, Bizenware,

Clay, a highly mineralized material, reacts with the minerals contained in hot water during infusion. Each type of clay contains varying levels of copper, chromium, iron, manganese and zinc. However, the manufacturing process also has an influence on the taste of green tea. For example, black clay contains a lot of manganese, which is revealed by firing the teapot or the teacup. The key factors are the iron content of the clay, the firing temperature, and the level of oxygen saturation during firing. These factors are responsible for iron activation. Consequently, two teapots or teacups of similar appearance can have different effects on the taste and properties of green tea.

Brewing Sencha, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries, Japan

For analytical tea tasting sessions or tea evaluations, white porcelain teacups are usually preferred, as they are completely neutral. Fine and delicate white porcelain cups will enhance the yellow or green shades of Japanese tea. Fired at high temperatures, they have an elegant feel. Smaller porcelain teacups are generally used for higher grade teas such as gyokuro and distinguished sencha.

You may have seen glass Japanese teacups on the market. Their transparency is especially appreciated in summer, for brewing ice cold tea. If you enjoy glass artisanship, you may want to discover an impressive glass tea house in this article: Japanese Tea Houses: All You Need to Know About Chashitsu.

In a nutshell, glass and porcelain are neutral and have no influence on the taste of the tea, while unglazed earthenware or stoneware ceramics have slightly different properties and add roundness to the brew.

5. How to Take Care of Your Japanese Teacups?

© Christian Kaden / Creative Commons, Nobotokean Temple, Kyoto

After use, earthenware, porcelain, or stoneware teacups should be rinsed thoroughly with hot water, which will help them to dry faster. A strong clean in the dishwasher is not recommended. We advise you to let them completely dry a well-ventilated area before stacking and storing them.

We strongly recommend choosing your own teacups according to your personal preferences, for a better tea experience. Nevertheless, starting your collection with porcelain sencha teacups and an earthenware matcha bowl are, for sure, safe bets.

However, delving into the fascinating world of cups and teapots is tempting and often the beginning of a wonderful personal collection.

6. Where to Buy Japanese Teacups

Goma Yunomi Teacups, available at Japan Objects Store

Should you find yourself in Japan, indulging in the timeless tradition of tea drinking is as easy as a stroll through any kitchen or home goods store. However, for those who seek something a little more unique, Japan boasts an array of kitchen streets like Kappabashi in Asakusa, Tokyo, where you can find one-of-a-kind yunomi and chawan sets to elevate your drinking experience.

For those who live outside of Japan, don’t fret as there are plenty of options to obtain exquisite Japanese teacups from the comfort of your home. You need not look any further than our curated collection at Japan Objects Store, where we offer only the finest handcrafted yunomi teacups & matcha bowls for you to choose from. We wish you a delightful time with tea!