Collection: Tea Culture

In Japan, tea goes with the whole day: a sencha after a meal, a hojicha in the evening, a matcha for special moments. It is prepared simply, with a few well-chosen objects. Our tea section brings them together, made in Japan.

Teapots are at the heart of the collection. Tokoname teapots, from Aichi Prefecture, are made of clay, often in the kyusu shape, the Japanese teapot with a side handle, easy to pour in one gesture. Cast iron teapots come from Morioka, in Iwate Prefecture. Their interior is enamelled and they have a removable stainless steel strainer. Some feature the arare pattern, small raised dots that recall hailstones. Other teapots are made of porcelain or ceramic, from the Mino or Hasami regions.

For serving, you will find mugs and teacups: tall, handleless yunomi for green tea, lower soba cups, and Japanese tea sets, sets of matching cups, with or without a teapot.

To store tea, our Japanese tea caddies in tinplate come from the Shizuoka region. Wrapped in washi paper or printed, they have an inner lid that helps protect the tea from air and light.

A simple tip: for Japanese green tea, use water that is just simmering rather than boiling, it better preserves its gentle flavour. Clay and cast iron teapots are rinsed with clear water, without washing-up liquid, and left open to dry.

You can also discover part of the collection in our shops in Geneva and Carouge.