Hello! This is Shiha Tea & Comfort, bringing the beauty of Japanese tea culture to the world 🌿🍵

We’ve created a fun quiz about Japanese teaware 😉

Teaware plays an important role in making your tea time special and flavorful.
We hope this quiz helps you discover more about traditional Japanese teaware and inspires you to use it in your own tea moments.

At first glance, these five teaware pieces might look quite similar 😮
But each one has its own unique purpose!

Let’s start by taking a look at their uses in the picture.

No. 1, 4, and 5 are all used for brewing tea.
They have the same function as a teapot, but without a handle.

No. 1 and No. 5 do not have a built-in filter.
No. 1 has a spout, although it is not very noticeable.
No. 5 does not have a spout at all.

By the way, No. 5 is Chinese teaware and is not traditionally used in Japan.
However, many tea lovers around the world use it, so I included it here for comparison.

1 Shiboridashi (Japanese)
2 Susuri-Chawan (Japanese)
3 Futatsuki-Yunomi (Japanese)
4 Houhin (Japanese)
5 Gaiwan（Chinese)
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1. Shiboridashi
Used for brewing tea, especially high-grade green tea such as Gyokuro, Sencha with lots of umami.
Brewing at a low temperature to fully enjoy the rich umami flavor.
(High temperature burn your hand due to no handle)

2. Susuri-Chawan
A cup for drinking (sipping) tea.
It is designed to enjoy high-grade green tea brewed thick and rich at a low temperature, allowing you to appreciate its umami.
Used in ceremonial settings.

3. Futatsuki-Yunomi (Yunomi with a lid)
A covered teacup used for drinking tea.
It is typically used when serving tea to guests with wooden coaster.

In the past, it was seen in Japanese households. However, today it is rarely seen at home. This is mainly because modern lifestyles have become more casual and practical, and guests are now often served coffee, black tea, or herbal tea instead of traditional Japanese tea.

4. Houhin
Used for brewing tea, especially high-grade green tea.
Like the shiboridashi, it is suitable for low-temperature brewing to better appreciate the umami flavor.
The one shown in the photo is made of porcelain.
There are also larger houhin made of ceramic.
When they are larger, they are often used in a more casual way and for a wider variety of teas.

5. Gaiwan (Chinese)
Used for brewing and sometimes for drinking tea.
It is usually made of porcelain, which does not affect the flavor of the tea. It allows the aroma to develop beautifully, and makes it easy to observe the color and shape of the tea leaves.
In China, a gaiwan is most commonly used for tea tasting.

Thank you for reading.
Shiha

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