Nosaka Rough Clay Carbonized Reduction by Tozo Watanabe

This series is made from rough Nosaka clay from Sawane on Sado Island. Carbonized reduction firing gives the teaware a black to gunmetal finish and changes how it affects the taste and flavor of tea.

The teapots are first oxidation-fired, then buried in charcoal, such as rice-bran charcoal, and fired again with limited oxygen.

Compared with oxidation-fired Nosaka, which gives tea a very full body, carbonized reduction gives tea a relatively gentler body and a far longer finish.

Effect on taste

Carbonized reduction gives tea a much stronger finish than oxidation firing. Although carbonized reduction-fired Nosaka clay gives tea a lighter body than oxidation-fired or reduction-fired Nosaka clay, it still gives the tea more body than it originally had.

We recommend this clay for those who prefer to take their time enjoying a long finish rather than a bright, lively flavor. Japanese tea, ripe Pu-erh, heavily roasted hojicha and heavily roasted oolong are good choices for this reason.

It can also make slight oxidation or faint off-odors less noticeable. However, it softens bright flavors, so it is less suited to black tea and Qing Xiang oolong when their fragrant character is the main attraction.

What is carbonized reduction?

Carbonized reduction is a firing method in which a teapot that has already been fired is buried in charcoal and fired again at a low temperature with limited oxygen. With use, the teapot also becomes blacker and develops a metallic luster.