Kyusu/Tea Pot (Sand Black)

The Sand Black Kyusu is a shiboridashi-style teapot from NANKEI POTTERY (南景製陶園), made in the Banko-yaki tradition of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Shiboridashi is one of the oldest brewing methods in Japan: fine holes in both the body and lid replace the usual removable strainer — the traditional way of brewing coarser teas like hojicha or sencha in a leaf-forward style. Because both surfaces act as the filter, you can rinse both sides of the strainer directly. The clay is an original formula that NANKEI has used for over 50 years.

Sand Black uses argillaceous clay that is naturally resistant to water absorption — the interior is coated with a vitreous glaze for a smooth, pale grey surface, while the exterior carries a deep matte black with no sheen. Iron-dense and mineral-forward, this teapot will not pick up flavour between sessions. At 300ml it brews for one to two people; the shiboridashi holes allow you to brew directly into the cup.