Nosaka Rough Clay Carbonized Reduction by Tozo Watanabe
This series is made from rough Nosaka clay from Sawane on Sado Island and finished with carbonized reduction firing. We recommend it for those who enjoy a long finish more than a bright, lively flavor.
Compared with oxidation-fired Nosaka clay, carbonized reduction gives tea a much stronger finish. The body is lighter than with oxidation-fired or reduction-fired Nosaka clay, but it still gives the tea more body than it originally had.
Japanese tea, ripe Pu-erh, heavily roasted hojicha and heavily roasted oolong are good choices for enjoying this long finish. Carbonized reduction softens bright flavors, so it is less suited to black tea and Qing Xiang oolong when their fragrant character is what you want to enjoy. It can also make slight oxidation or faint off-odors less noticeable.
For carbonized reduction firing, the teapots are first oxidation-fired, then buried in charcoal, such as rice-bran charcoal, and fired again with limited oxygen. This changes their color from vermilion to shades of black and gunmetal, as well as changing their effect on the taste and flavor of tea.
For more about the clay and the potter, see “Nosaka Rough Clay by Tozo Watanabe”.
To learn how teaware changes the taste of tea and what to look for when choosing it, see “How to choose a teapot and tea cup”.
Nosaka Rough Clay Carbonized Reduction by Tozo Watanabe
