Japanese tea caddies of Kakunodate DENSHIRO

In order to have tasty tea at home, it is important to use practical tea tools. Besides teacups and a teapot, tea caddies are also essential to keep tea leaves fresh. Tea caddies protect tea leaves from moisture and provide the source of taste when you make tea.

Left: TEA CADDY MEDIUM MARBLE

Right: TEA CADDY MEDIUM NATURAL

Kakunodate DENSHIRO is a brand of Katamono, which means a container made in a mold. The brand makes various tea caddies based on the skill of Katamono with the unique material, cherry bark.

DENSHIRO's story with cherry bark

Kakunodate DENSHIRO was founded in 1851 in a small town in a mountainous area called Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture. In those mountains, cherry blossoms bloom so beautifully in spring. DESNSHIRO began its production using the cherry bark.

TEA CADDY MEDIUM NATURAL

The cherry bark is known to have high resistance against moisture. It is a great advantage to keep tea leaves fresh because tea leaves are easily influenced by temperature, light, and moisture.

The harvest of the cherry bark would be done in August and September. The bark has great resilience even after the bark is peeled away. The cherry bark would be dried for about two years to become the material for the products.

DENSHIRO's tea caddy

As mentioned above, the technique of Katamono is used for DENSHIRO's tea caddies. Katamono uses a wooden mold to form cherry bark into a container. After gluing the basis of wood and cherry bark, they are wrapped around the mold and ironed by a heated trowel. You will find the natural colors and patterns the cherry bark has on the surface, and how perfectly the lid would be shut tightly.

TEA CADDY MEDIUM NATURAL

As you keep using the tea caddy, the cherry bark shows beautiful aging. Here is the example, the left one is a brand new tea caddy while the right one is used for about 15 years. The well-used tea caddy looks more glassy, and the color is darker. You may also find how durable the product is even after long usage. High endurance is also the characteristic of DENSHIRO's tea caddies.

How to use and care tea caddy

The tea caddy is useful to keep tea leaves of green tea, black tea, oolong tea, white tea, or other kinds. Even coffee beans and snacks are able to be stored.

To keep tea leaves fresh, it is important not to place a tea caddy in a reregister. Keep in a dry, breathable space where the sunlight does not reach.

Also, try using tea leaves as soon as possible. The quality of the taste and scent of the tea leaves would remain for about a month. It may vary based on the types of tea leaves.