About Taiwan Porcelain Ware

The Preconception that Porcelain Does Not Affect the Taste of Tea

Many people tend to think, "While pottery influences the taste of tea, porcelain and glass are neutral because they are fired at high temperatures and do not affect the taste of tea."

However, in reality, both porcelain and glass can influence the taste of tea just like pottery.

When examining the impact of porcelain on taste, it is found that many materials surprisingly cut off aftertaste and lingering flavors, or present unpleasant bitterness. In fact, when tasting tea with various tea ware, it is found that not just the majority but nearly 80% of the materials have issues regarding taste.

Many major brands of tea cups are designed with a focus on body, cutting off the lingering flavors that are most important for high-quality tea, making them not recommended for drinking good tea.

At HOJO, since our main business is selling tea, we focus on materials that bring out the flavor and aroma of the tea when introducing tea ware. Particularly, we place importance on lingering flavors and aftertaste when selecting tea, and if these are lost due to the material of the tea ware, the quality of the tea cannot be appreciated.

The Ivory White series by Sankei is highly recommended in terms of taste, as it not only preserves the lingering flavors and aftertaste but also creates a smooth mouthfeel. It is strongly recommended for bringing out the original quality performance of the tea.

 

At HOJO, we introduce two types of tea ware materials: gaiwan, which allows for easy tea brewing, and teacups that are gentle on the mouth. All the tea ware sold on this page is directly imported from Sankei, a porcelain manufacturer in Taiwan. We perform proper importation and component tests on all materials. There are various designs including patterns and shapes, but all tea ware labeled as Ivory White is basically made from the same material. Please consider various combinations according to your preference. Both materials allow you to enjoy tea deliciously, but since their characteristics are entirely different, please use the following information to choose the material based on the type of tea and occasion.

Porcelain tea ware is made not only in Taiwan but also in China, and the quality varies widely. Naturally, handmade items come at a higher price, but the most important factor is the texture. We have seen many tea ware items, and by focusing on the following points, we believe that high-quality and luxurious tea ware can be obtained. When procuring porcelain tea ware this time, we placed importance on the thickness of the material. Many porcelain tea ware items on the market are very thin. Porcelain with thickness and weight provides a solid texture and a sense of attachment when used.

The Ivory White series by Sankei is very similar to bone china tea ware not only in texture but also in its effect on tea. The material enhances the body of the tea, and when comparing the same tea brewed in general white porcelain (commonly known as Setomono in Japan) tea ware, the body is stronger, and the way the aroma spreads is completely different. This series was chosen for its feature of enriching the aroma and flavor, and creating a soft taste on the palate. It is particularly recommended for fermented teas such as black tea and oolong tea.

This material has the opposite properties of the Ivory White series. It does not enhance the body but rather strengthens the richness. Therefore, it is recommended for green tea, ripe pu-erh tea, heavily roasted tea, and tea with a strong character where you want to slightly suppress the aroma.

The listed capacity is the volume filled right up to the rim. For example, for a gaiwan we calculated the volume when filled with water to the very rim, without the lid. Please note that the volume in actual use is about 80% of that.