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Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:32 am
by Bok
And some details to illustrate what I was saying about the oblique spout design

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:42 am
by Victoria
Bok, very nice kyusu. The bulbous end of handle looks interesting to handle and wrap your finger around while pouring. The redness, from iron content, will darken slightly closer to a shade of brown with use. Also, depending on the firing the color of the clay, within the same pot and pot to pot, will vary slightly from reddish to darker brown. I just check and 99% of my kyusu have a slight twist at the end of the spout, or at least the end of the spout is cut at an angle to facilitate pouring. Unfortunately the twists are all for right handed folk, but that doesn’t effect my lefty pour negatively. With a Kyo-ware glazed pot the end of spout slant is much more pronounced, and super nice to look at as I pour. I recently bought another backhandle Hokujo from AN, because I forgot one in Annapolis, (convenient excuse) anyway I asked why the handle is slightly askew on both my backhandle Hokujo, and the reply was to facilitate pouring as well.

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2018 11:12 am
by Bok
I am a lefty as well, but got used to using a side handle with my right anyways. Where I learned properly how to make gong fu tea, the setup was not suitable or adaptable to be used left handed. I do need some more practice with this very short handled kind of pot though... my hands are just a bit too large and I need to find the best method.

Only thing I would have wished for in addition is the seaweed treatment for some extra wabi sabi in this almost too perfect pot! The reddish colour is quite lovely, more so in person than on AN’s pictures.

I brewed three different teas in it already, still early for my verdict, but so far I can say the clay has a noticeable effect on all three, on wether it is better or not, I will need to do some side by side tastings.

I had roasted Oolong, bug bitten roasted O and a Biluxi high mountain. The last one turned out in a total different profile and I think better than in other clays I normally use. The other two I am not sure as brewing conditions might not have been ideal. To be continued...

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:05 pm
by Bok
Slowly getting a (literally) grip on this pot! Found the for my hands most comfortable way of handling it.

Tea-wise, I was re-brewing a Biluxi oolong and following up with a high mountain Lishan black. The Biluxi again turned out really nice, different but definitely not worse, possibly better! Black tea was really improved, taking out some of the bitter notes, making the tea more balanced.

Next up will be some of the expensive stuff...

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:36 am
by pedant

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:38 am
by pedant
Bok, great pot. could you please show us the inside? i'd love to see the filter :)

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:48 am
by Bok
pedant wrote:
Fri Aug 10, 2018 1:38 am
Bok, great pot. could you please show us the inside? i'd love to see the filter :)
Thanks for those links, lovely studio. Even using wooden barrels for the water, not plastic.

Yes, I will snap some shots of the filter. It’s not a sesame, but a small ball shaped filter. Not clogging and a pour speed of about +-6 seconds.

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 6:06 am
by Bok
There you go:

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 11:31 pm
by AozoraE
Wow it looks so tiny :D its a cute one!
I have to ask... hows the pour?
I've been thinking for awhile now about replacing my old direct filter pot with a nanban one... but the the pour( and the price) are scaring me off :lol:
Any problems you've noticed so far yet?

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 1:10 am
by Bok
AozoraE wrote:
Fri Aug 10, 2018 11:31 pm
Wow it looks so tiny :D its a cute one!
I have to ask... hows the pour?
I've been thinking for awhile now about replacing my old direct filter pot with a nanban one... but the the pour( and the price) are scaring me off :lol:
Any problems you've noticed so far yet?
I have brewed rolled Oolong and unfurled leaf Oolong, both had no issue at all with the filter. Pours great - my only trouble was to find the best way to hold it.

Price is relative. Not that high if I compare to work from other potters. It is true in Asia I could probably get a good vintage Yixing for the same money. All depends what you are looking for. In any case the point of this one was mostly about the clay and its properties.

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:09 pm
by AozoraE
How did you end up doing it?
I've never had a side-handle teapot that size before.. so the only way I can imagine holding it is between my first two fingers between the handle and my thumb on the top.
yeah I'm still debating on whether or not I should pull the trigger on one.. so we'll see.
I should probably do it soon though since its seems like anything made by Hokujo is gradually getting a bit pricer as he's gotten more popular

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 1:27 am
by Bok
AozoraE wrote:
Sat Aug 11, 2018 8:09 pm
How did you end up doing it?
I've never had a side-handle teapot that size before.. so the only way I can imagine holding it is between my first two fingers between the handle and my thumb on the top.
That did not work for my hands. I ended up with thumb and middle finger, while securing the lid with the index. Middle finger is a bit under the handle actually for better stability.

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 11:30 am
by Victoria
Nice instructional images Bok. I see you got Hokujo because of material used, now I hope you will come to appreciate superb Japanese craftsmanship as well :)

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 2:33 pm
by AozoraE
^ Very instructional!
But that last pic is a little scary! :lol:
Hope the lid is secure enough holding it that way

Re: Hokujo teaware

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 2:49 pm
by gatmcm
Everytime you guys post those beautiful pots I end up windowshopping at artistic nippon for hours, I don't even drink a lot of japanese teas :lol: