12 Days of Kyusu

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Chip
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Wed Jan 09, 2019 4:06 pm

I will endeavor to rate each kyusu based upon the following categories on a scale of 1-10. With a noteworthy citation if applicable. 

Appearance-my impression
Form-relative conduciveness to brewing the test tea
Feel-tactile in hand
Pour & Screen function
Flavor based on test tea only
Overall

Nanban kyusu by Ito Gafu

Appearance- I like ... at first look, this kyusu was all about appearance. Abundant wabi sabi. 10

Form- very well executed form! Which translated to perfect function. 10

Feel- if you ultimately buy a nanban kyusu, you might buy it for feel alone. Full of surprises, the feel is ... "soft" and not abrasive as j thought it could be. 10

Pour and screen function- again, flawless pour and function. The flow is medium but felt very controlled. 10

Flavor- I am between a 9 and a 10 but decided before I started, whole number ratings only. The flavor was surprisingly outstanding ... better than some tested ... but not quite on par with a few others. I could give it a 10 but will go with a 9

Overall. Again, tough call. But this kyusu has surprised me in just about every category. I am giving it a 10

Great kyusu by an up and coming artisan who has taken outstanding training by Fugetsu and turned it up a notch.
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debunix
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Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:40 pm

Chip wrote:
Wed Jan 09, 2019 10:58 am
A nice touch ...
Indeed!
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:13 am

Day #8

Kokudei kyusu by Kenji Hotta

A part of my very first kyusu-s purchased directly from Japan around 12 years ago. Emphasis was aesthetics ... who knew back then that "clay" made any difference in kyusu. This one was very pop on the early days of TeaChat. Sentimental value ...
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Jo
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:16 am

Day 8, a 275 ml kokudie kyusu by Kenji Hotta. This was the 'first' kyusu purchase made by Chip, direct from Japan. This pot arrived with a few others and thus began the never-ending learning curve of using kyusu. It has been used a few hundreds of times.

Within a few short times of use years ago, a dreadful deadening sound ... and Chip knew the spout was dinged and chipped. He ground the tip with a diamond sharpener which promptly revealed the red clay beneath. Chip's guess this pot is reduction fired and was later rubbed to expose the red clay 'circles'.

This one is a little large with a wide opening which makes it super functional. The texture is awesome and the pattern reminds one of bubbles randomly pushed together forming different shapes, very asthetically appealing.

The interior has a rather fascinating patina (see photos below), while the exterior over the years has developed a somewhat 'polished' look.

Generally Kenji's kyusu have a somewhat whimsical nature to them, with many too 'wazoo' for Chip's taste. However this one is tastefully done, quite a beauty in his humble opinion. It has a remarkable textural feel to it. In the early days of TC, many members purchased this pot.

It has a smooth, smallish sasame screen which handles the leaves perfectly in conjunction with the spout. The spout does have a slightly downward lower lip and as you can see, the handle is a typical, somewhat bulbous design.

The pour rate is medium, controlled ... the kyusu is definately helping the brewer.

The huge opening is immensely functional, allowing the delightful aroma of the tea to float up and entice the senses. The size of this kyusu allows the leaves to move and expand, there is definitely no shortage of space. Although Chip tends not to do so, there is something to be said about using a larger kyusu from this functional and visual standpoint.

You don't often hear about Kenji and his clay, but the tea will tell us. The delightful aroma hits us first, the first
steep has a full mouthfeel with loads of umami. It has an ever so slight bitterness and edginess to it. The 2nd steep is a bit assertive, less refined with more astringency and a bitter aftertaste left in the mouth. Chip doesn't know if it is the intent of Kenji, but the pot produces a rather full-bodied flavor ... but who knows. The 3rd steep is continuing with this trend, it appears it may be having trouble handling the Asanoka in this blend.
Last edited by Jo on Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:19 am

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Huge opening ...
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:26 am

100s of sessions later ... I am guessing that due to the non porous nature of this clay, most of the patina is where the wet, expanded leaves settle.
There is no exterior patina/staining.
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:34 am

This kyusu was part of my learning curve in buying and in use! WATCH THE SPOUT TIP when pouring. Chipped the spout. Had to do a repair with a diamond sharpener, but there is still a tiny reminder, 2nd photo.

NOT a dribbler!

When I did file the all black spout, it revealed the red clay beneath. I am guessing this was reduction fired, and after firing, Kenji used some kind of abrasive on all the raised borders of the kokudei design creating red patterns.
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:38 am

Kokudei, bubbles, droplets ... oh my! Recurring theme.
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:43 am

Kenji fam. Small, large and realllly large.
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Chip
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Thu Jan 10, 2019 3:07 pm

I will endeavor to rate each kyusu based upon the following categories on a scale of 1-10. With a noteworthy citation if applicable. 

Appearance-my impression
Form-relative conduciveness to brewing the test tea
Feel-tactile in hand
Pour & Screen function
Flavor based on test tea only
Overall

Kokudei kyusu by Kenji Hotta

Appearance- I always thought this was the most aesthetically appealing of all Kenji's I have seen. It seems a bit whimsical to me. Most Kenji tend to be too wazoo for even me. 10

Form- great form and execution. And it's good form leads to it's very good function. 10

Feel- love the feel ... though a bit large. 10

Pour & screen- perfect. No dribbles. 10

Flavor- ok, for a mid price range kyusu, this was really overacheiving, scoring all 10s. But this is its Achilles' heel. Started out pretty good with a very good first steep but did not hold up particularly well in subsequent steeps. Might do better with lighter sessions. I am brewing with pretty hair raising parameters.
I also think this kyusu does very well with fukamushi and would score higher. 7

Overall- a very good mid price range kyusu. 8
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Jo
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Fri Jan 11, 2019 7:17 am

Today's tea experiment is postponed due to the apparent start of a cold for both of us.

Not fun, we will resume as soon as Chip's tasting abilities are again functioning. .
.m.
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Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:37 pm

Get well soon.
(*Fresh turmeric and ginger tea sometimes helps with cold at the early stage.)
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Chip
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Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:49 pm

.m. wrote:
Fri Jan 11, 2019 12:37 pm
Get well soon.
(*Fresh turmeric and ginger tea sometimes helps with cold at the early stage.)
Thanks!

I checked myself into the Men w/ Colds Clinic. I might not survive ... 😖
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pedant
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Fri Jan 11, 2019 2:04 pm

a wild looking Kenji kyusu was almost my first teaware purchase. nerikomi style i think is very eye catching i think
swordofmytriumph
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Fri Jan 11, 2019 3:45 pm

Feel better soon! I swear by my grandma’s sore throat recipe. 10oz boiling water, and a tablespoon each of honey and apple cider vinegar.
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