Japanese tea sets are considered a status symbol in Japanese and Asian homes today, and come in certain shapes and a wide variety of colors, sizes, and styles, both to provide all tea enthusiasts with an excellent tea experience. drinking tea as an opportunity to enjoy the creativity and ingenuity of Japanese potters and artists in creating superior-quality teapots, bowls, and cups that transcend both time and culture.
A Basic Guide to Japanese Tea Bowl Shapes
The relationship between Japanese tea bowls, also known as chawanand Japanese teas can be slightly compared to wines and wine glasses, or beer and beer mugs, since their shapes basically respond to the preparation, serving, and serving temperature needs of specific or determined varieties of tea. Japanese, which, in effect, highlights the best flavor and aroma of the latter, in addition to responding to the needs of its user.
Common Shapes of Japanese Tea Bowls
Japanese tea bowls come in various shapes, including half-circle; in the shape of a circle, usually distinguished by its conical edge; cylindrical, often found among everyday teacups, called Yunomi; semi-cylindrical, which appears almost rectangular due to its low height and the equal diameter of the bowl from bottom to rim; funnel-shaped, including the shallow but wide summer tea bowls; inverted bell shaped; triangular and square, among many others.
Which way to choose when preparing or serving a Japanese tea?
Basically, it depends on a few factors, such as:
The type of Japanese tea: Aromatic varieties, such as Ryokucha and senchafor example, they are usually served in semicircular or flared bowls, whose wide and concave rim allows their aroma to escape and linger easily, while the same shapes are preferred for preparing and serving the dishes. matchaor powdered green tea used during Japanese tea ceremonies, as its wide bowl shape allows good space for the bamboo tea whisk to work with easily and efficiently mix water and Matcha without spilling .
Tea bench and hojichaon the other hand, they are usually served in a Yunomi, as their taller than wide shape not only makes them easy to hold for everyday tea drinking, but their usually thick walls also help keep Bancha and Hojicha warm for a long time. time.
The season: The low and wide-rimmed bowls are used in the summer, allowing the tea to cool easily, while the narrow and tall varieties are used during the winter to keep the tea hot for a long time.
The occasion: TRUE chawan they flaunt an odd shape, like diamond-shaped tea bowls, which some people reserve for special occasions or choose based on their design aesthetic, or are purpose-built, like the Rider Cup, whose tall stem or foot makes them convenient for the ancient horsemen to drink tea.
Choose the right Japanese bowl for your tea
Enjoy drinking your Japanese tea in the correct tea bowl shape and don’t stop there: choose the shade, color and style of the tea bowl that suits your style, the occasion or your guest; just the right size to serve a specific type of tea; And don’t be afraid to try them in fancy ways to make your tea drinking experience more fun and exciting.