No handles - Initially you may see this as an inconvenience, however the lack of presence of any handles means you are encouraged to hold and cradle the cup with either one or two hands, allowing you to enjoy the warmth/heat of the green tea before drinking. ![]() It is strongly believed that the Japanese Yunomi is the ideal style of cup to use for drinking green tea, for a variety of reasons including: Yunomi are often given as wedding gifts and are always considered a welcome present to both younger and older people in Japan. An intimate obsession with perfection creates the ideal dimensions and feel for the drinking of green tea. Many factors are taken into consideration by such a master - for example how the fingers fit or feel around the cup, how the lip meets the edge when taking a sip. Higher quality Yunomi cups are created from the best quality clay and glazing, often from a master who has dedicated his entire life and existence to their creation. Some are intricately designed porcelain while others are more rustic forms of clay. These are typically crafted from local materials. Each prefecture also creates its own style of Yunomi. As you may know, Japan is made up of 47 different prefectures, each prefecture famous for a particular crop, local dish or cultural icon. The variety of Yunomi available in Japan is very impressive and each have their own unique characteristics which supplement the drinking of green tea. It is important to remember that for an individual or family, a Yunomi is an item that will likely stay with them for years, or even in some cases, a lifetime and is seen as an investment. Yunomi range massively in price based on the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail taken to create it, with some Japanese potters charging very high prices for their work. Just as important as the green tea itself is the vessel in which it is to be contained and consumed from. As a result, the yunomi is symbolic of this respect - a delicate work of craftsmanship, each with its own character, feel and style. It is one of Japan’s greatest national treasures and the Japanese people are known to pay much respect towards the green tea they produce and consume. Green tea can be viewed philosophically, spiritually, medicinally, symbolically and representative of a way of life. ![]() In previous blogs, I have discussed how the Japanese view green tea as much more than just a beverage. お湯, which translates to ‘hot water’ and 吞み, ‘to drink’. The Japanese kanji for the word yunomi is 湯吞み - comprising of two key words. I have since become obsessed with the Japanese tea cup, both for its aesthetic value but also in how it supplements the daily pleasure of drinking Japanese green tea.Īn icon of Japanese culture and aesthetic The most noticeable aspect of the yunomi is that it does not have a handle, is small in size and comes in thousands of variations in shape, pattern and texture. Upon my return to the UK, I have experimented with drinking green tea from various vessels, yet nothing seems to match up with the feel of a wonderfully crafted yunomi, often considered an art form in itself. As a matter of fact, I cannot remember ever being served green tea in Japan in anything other than a yunomi - almost synonymous with the drink itself. ![]() For those of you who have had the pleasure of being served a cup of green tea in Japan, aside from the enchanting aroma and appearance of the beverage in front of you, it is likely you will have been given your green tea in a Japanese tea cup, known as a yunomi.
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