Beautiful Japanese Cast Iron Teapot
When you think of Japan, what pops into your head? Sushi, yes! Sumo, yes! Karate, yes! Green tea too, am I right? Anyone who has tried green tea (known as sencha in Japan) knows how rich and delicious the taste is. So smooth and easy to drink with it’s tantalizing aroma and countless amounts of health benefits too, it’s no wonder it’s a big hit not just in Japan but around the globe. Japan prides itself on it’s perfect quality green teas; there are even tea ceremonies that date back hundreds of years. Even to this day, people would wear delicate kimonos whilst enjoying a relaxing cup of green tea. Wouldn’t you love to have a bit of traditional Japan at home? Well… you can!
“How is green tea prepared?” I hear you ask. With the Oigen Japanese cast iron teapot, it makes that perfect cuppa a breeze. This Japanese kyusu teapot with infuser allows the tea leaves to diffuse wonderfully, allowing you to make that perfect cup of green tea, EVERYTIME. All you need to do is place the tea leaves in the strainer, pour in the boiling water, wait a few minutes for the tea marinate and finally, relax with that perfect cuppa. What’s more, as the strainer is made from stainless steel, it’s easy to clean, as is the teapot which is specially made with environmentally conscious materials.
In the quaint, little town of Mizusawa in Iwate prefecture lies the Oigen Foundry; a casting company that has created ironware for over 150 years. In particular, they create the most beautiful cast iron teapots. What’s unique about these teapots is that the more you use them, the more the flavour of your tea blossoms. Magnificent or what? So far I’ve used mine for five months and I must say every cup is more delicious than the last… I can’t seem to stop!
The inside of the pot is enameled to ensure the taste is the pure taste of tea. They are cute rounded teapots that come in an array of colours and a well crafted handle allows for the perfect pour. What I love is that it looks very tough and heavy, but weighing only 1.2kg makes pouring the tea easy. Don’t you hate it when you’re enjoying a cuppa with a friend and you’re so busy catching up that your tea goes cold?! Well that won’t happen with this kyusu teapot. It’s cleverly made to retain the heat so you can chat until the cows come home and STILL have your hot cup of tea. Tea shouldn’t be rushed, and with this teapot you won’t need to. It’s not just restricted to green tea either; I’ve enjoyed different types of tea using this pot including leaves or bags. It’s very versatile.
If you’re looking for that special Japanese gift for a friend, or even want to treat yourself (go on, you deserve it!), then the Oigen Japanese Cast Iron Teapot is a winner! Guess what? Us here at Zak Zakka can conveniently ship it to the UK and Europe – how’s that for a Japan online store?! So put your feet up, relax and take some time to enjoy a good old cup of tea, Japanese style. As the Japanese say; “Otsukare Sama Desu” - you’ve worked hard so take some time out for you.