• Banko ware Japanese kyusu teapot
1 9

萬古急須　陶山製陶所

Banko-ware Kyusu Teapot

Banko-ware Kyusu Teapot

$65.00 USD
$65.00 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Bankoyaki or Banko-ware is made in Mie prefecture, with a history that goes back to the 18th century. The story goes that a tea-loving merchant set up a pottery kiln there to make teaware, and impressed "萬古" (banko) into the earthworks - meaning eternal, and his hope was that the pottery would have a timeless quality. We think that it does.

These are our workhorse teapots, and we pour with them daily. The high iron content in the clay gives them their unique red-earth color, but it also makes them strong and gives them good heat resistance. Despite their high utility, they are also a great value.

The shape is classic and there are a lot of small things that make brewing with them nice. They're lined with a cylindrical stainless micro-mesh that filters out leaves, so you don't need a separate filter. They have stubby handles, so you can get in close and feel the temperature of your water. The flattened top of the lid allows you to flip it upside-down to rest without it rolling around. It's the perfect size for a 1-2 person pour, although it could do small pours for 3.

We also use this pot as our shaker kyusu for the ice brewing method, the round shape and stainless ring makes it perfect for that. 

View full details

Bringing you Japan's rarest & finest teas

  • Family farms & small producers

    We seek out teas from small farms, family farms, and microlots that would otherwise not be seen outside of Japan. We find growers and teas that we love, and bring them back to share with you.

  • Farm to cup

    Our teas are direct-sourced from the growers and producers we meet on our travels. By buying directly from our producers, we can both lower the cost to you as well as pay more to them - we hope everyone can benefit.

  • Generational, inspirational

    We work with families and farmers who put massive effort into preserving the quality and heritage of their land. We looks for tea of exceptional quality, rare cultivars, and teas that show their terroir.