Japanese blue Tokusa teacups – Set of 5

Five small cups striped with blue, made for sharing tea.

Each cup is covered with fine indigo lines made of short, tight strokes set one under another. From a distance they form a regular weave; up close, you can see each stroke. A black rim edges the top, and a blue line marks the white foot.

This tokusa pattern echoes the straight, segmented stems of horsetail, a plant of Japanese gardens. It is a classic of blue and white tableware.

The cups have no handle, as is customary in Japan for green tea. At 9.2 cm in diameter and 6 cm high, they are held in both hands, nice and warm.

The same decoration exists as a small bowl, a large bowl and a salad bowl, to build a matching set.

For green tea, sencha or genmaicha. Made in Japan.

Highlights

• Tokusa pattern: lines of short strokes that evoke horsetail stems.
• No handle: the traditional Japanese teacup.
• Set of 5: enough to serve tea to the whole table.
• Finishing touches: a black rim and a blue line at the foot.
• Matching range: Tokusa bowls and salad bowl with the same decoration.

Product information

• Type: teacups without handles, set of 5
• Material: porcelain
• Origin: made in Japan
• Dimensions: Ø 9.2 cm, height 6 cm
• Shape: round, no handle, small foot
• Colours: indigo blue and white, black rim
• Pattern: tokusa (horsetail), lines of short strokes
• Finish: glazed
• Presentation: set of 5 cups
• Style: traditional Japanese

How to use

Serve sencha or genmaicha after a meal, filling the cups two-thirds full so you can hold them without burning your fingers. They also hold a dessert, a cream or a few berries.

As for care, these porcelain cups are dishwasher and microwave safe.

Frequently asked questions

How much do they hold?

At 9.2 cm in diameter and 6 cm high, they hold a small serving of tea, like traditional Japanese teacups.

Can they be matched with other pieces?

Yes, the Tokusa decoration also exists as a small bowl, a large bowl and a salad bowl.