Celadon Anthemion Couple Tea Set.

This tea cup set from our Handol Tearoom shows not only famous Korean Celadon glaze, but also lovely anthemion pattern ; "Korean celadon" is often referred to as "Goryeo celadon," which is usually a pale green-blue in color. The glaze was developed and refined during the 10th and 11th centuries during the Goryeo period, from which it derives its name. Korean celadon reached its zenith between the 12th and early 13th centuries, however, the Mongol invasions of Korea in the 13th century and persecution by the Joseon Dynasty government destroyed the craft. - Wikipedia

 Anthemion, design consisting of a number of radiating petals, was developed by the ancient Greeks from the Egyptian and Asiatic form known as the honeysuckle or lotus palmette. In Korea, this pattern is called Dang-cho (당초).

  Unlike Western anthemion pattern, Asian version has more free movement.

 

The contrast of white and black pattern makes it look traditional, yet modern.

 As other Korean tea cups, strainer is included.

 

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This set is available at our online store. 

Here

Taiwan Honey Aroma Oolong Tea

Our best supporters, Mr and Mrs Tsai (my parents-in-law:D) just visited us, and brought beautiful tea sets and teas from Taiwan.

One of them that I want to introduce is Taiwan Honey Aroma Oolong Tea.

This tea is from a Taiwan tea master company, Qi Cai Song, which won many prizes with its craftsmanship in tea.

This is before you brew them. Each tea leaves are nicely rolled.

Steeping for 50 seconds at first. 

Very fragrant and smooth.

Starting from 50 seconds, it is better to extend brewing time around 10 to 20 seconds each time, rather than steeping its tea leaves in hot water for 2-3 minutes like many teas.  It can be brewed 8 times maximum.

I like the second and third time the most.

It is still smooth, and deep floral aroma spreads entire through throat to nose.

I could also taste little bit of honey like aftertaste.  

More you steep, it get lighter and it get slightly tarter, but still very enjoyable.

 

 

 After 8 times, the tea leaves should be look like this. 

You can see individual leaves that still have nice leaf shape.

It is still fragrant. Maybe I should steep one more, next time. 

 

This is after I dried the leaves.

There is a lot of way to re-use these tea leaves.

 I will post it next time about re-using.

We also upload one of the Honey Aroma Oolong Tea.

You can check it here.

http://handolcha.blogspot.com/p/store.html#!/~/product/category=8834972&id=34662441

A Plum Blossom Tea Cup Sets from Korea.

 This is my first winter in Connecticut, and I think I never seen such a lot of snow in my whole life. I was expecting to open our tearoom as soon as I got back from Korea this December, but sadly it took longer than I thought. What a long winter...

This tea set reminds me of warm nice weather, that I can't wait. It is not quite traditional, but I like its warm soft colors and slightly modernized design. Its smooth grainy texture with matte finish is called "Morae Bounchung". "Morae" means sand, and "Bounchung" is a type of pottery skill.

 

 Plum blossoms are slightly embossed.

 

 Like other Korean individual serving tea cups, it includes ceramic cup, stainer, lid, and saucer.

It is good for pretty much any types of teas, but it will be perfect to have a nice smooth Korean green tea with this cup. :)





This item is also in our online store.

http://handolcha.blogspot.com/p/store.html#!/~/product/category=8660616&id=33617376

A Couple Celadon Openwork Tea Cup Set from Korea.

 It is always interesting to see different tea cultures between countries that are so close to each other. 

Korean tea wares also include a tea cup looking like Gaiwan (A Chinese lidded bowl for individual tea serving). However, unlike Chinese version which I post on my last post, Korean version has slightly different appearance. Korean versions seem more round, almost like sphere, and have thicker wall. Also mostly they always include a strainer which is made out of same material as tea cup.

 This individual tea cup set from our Handol Tearoom shows not only characteristics of Korean tea cup, but also lovely Korean celadon glaze ; Traditional Korean celadon ware has distinctive decorative elements. The most distinctive are decorated by overlaying glaze on contrasting clay bodies. With inlaid designs, known as "Sanggam" in Korean, small pieces of colored clay are inlaid in the base clay. Carved or slip-carved designs require layer of a different colored clay adhered to the base clay of the piece. The layers are then carved away to reveal the varying colors. Modern potters, with modern materials and tools, have attempted to recreate Korean celadon techniques. - Wikipedia
Instead of inlaid technique, openwork technique was used for this set. Two layers of ceramic walls give nice depth.

It is simpler to use than tea pot set, but it still good for enjoy nice tea ceremony.

This set is available at our online store. 

http://handolcha.blogspot.com/p/store.html#!/~/product/category=8660616&id=33617189

Ju Ware Gaiwan from Lin's Ceramics Studio

 As my previous post, we took some nice tea wares from Taiwan, and I really want to share "a perfect Ju ware Gaiwan" here.

Gaiwan literally means “covered or lidded bowl” in Chinese. It is perhaps the most versatile of all tea brewing tools. This single gaiwan is good for partly fermented and semi-fermented teas, because of its materials.

There were two versions of Ju ware; Crackles glaze ware and non-crackles glaze ware. I prefer crackles one, because it makes the pieces one of a kind. Also beautiful crackled glaze will change depending on who and how it's used. It is very personal and unique. 

It comes with a beautiful wooden box, which helps this product as a great gift for tea lovers!

Not only its beauty, but the nice tactile feel on your hands and mouth will tell you that this is a highly luxurious piece.

You can purchase this item at our online store.

http://handolcha.blogspot.com/p/store.html#!/~/category/id=8660616&offset=0&sort=normal

Lin's Ceramics Studio.

Lin's Ceramics Studio

  During Taiwan trip in this October 2013, we try to learn and explore Taiwanese tea culture as much as we can. While we were looking around many tea stores in Yongkang street in Taipei, we fell in love at first sight with this beautiful ceramics store, called Lin's Ceramics Studio.


"A good pot makes good tea."

  Its tea wares were beautiful, yet functional, and modern, yet traditional. Also what I was shocked the most was the taste of Pu'er tea. Pu'er tea that I'd tried before, always has strong earthy fermented taste, but the one from Lin's was smooth, aromatic and sweet. I didn't even recognize that was Pu'er. The secret was in the tea wares' materials and its craftsmanship.

Lin's Ceramics Studio

  Established in 1983, Lin's Ceramic Studio has been creating every piece of work with artistic mood, professional know-how and practical consideration. Its tea wares are made by only five selected craftsmen with selected materials in Taiwan. Especially I couldn't take my eyes off from Ju Ware series and Purion series.

Ju Ware was created in one of the most famous Song dynasty kilns, Yu kiln in Qing Lian Si village, Henan province. The wares were a stunning break-though produced for China’s Imperial Palace. Much different from the previous Ding ware, Ju pieces are characterized by a lovely pale bluish-green color and a depth of glaze that is almost flesh-like. Fewer than 70 pieces
are to be found today in the hands of a few museums, foundations and private collectors.
With elegant form and translucent glazing, the wares are regarded as the official kilns.

Modern versions of Ju ware are not as rare as the originals, but not many of them can recreate its beautiful elegant originality with a modern touch. With a nostalgic feel and respect for ancients, Lin’s Ceramics Studio employs the ancestors’ wisdom to make brilliant crafts that are worthy of our collection.

 You can check our collection from my next posts.
Or check our Online store.


handolcha.com