
- HOME >
- Teapot and Tea Equipment
Not every clay teapot could get along with Tetsubin/Cast Iron Kettle
Tetsubin produced from different brands are casted from different metal combinations
Tetsubin, literally means “iron kettle” in Japanese. However it is not necessary built from 100% of iron. In Japan, every cast iron maker has their own formula to blend the iron with other minerals. As a result, the taste differs significantly from one brand to another. You may be surprise that there are some Tetsubins that could not even make water taste softer.
Love or hate relationship between tetsubin and clay teapot
Based on years of experience handling various brands of testubin and clay teapots, I would say that nearly 50% of clay teapots might not be able to get along with your tetsubin. It is important to understand the compatibility and affinity between your testubin and the clay teapot you choose to use.
I am introducing fine quality testubins made from Kunzan and Suzuki Morihisa through my KL shop and online shop. Tetsubin from these two brands perform very well even if you just use ordinary glass, porcelain or bone china tea ware to brew tea. You will need to carefully examine the compatibility between clay ware and testubin if you wish to brew tea in a clay teapot. In general, Suzuki Morihisa can get along with clay teapots baked from oxidation firing process, while Kunzan is more suitable for clay teapots baked from reduction firing process.
For example
Kunzan works well with these following clays.
Banko(purple), Mumyoi reduction(black), Nosaka reduction(black)
Suzuki Morihisa works well with these following clays
Mumyoi oxidation(red), Nosaka oxidation(red), Shigaraki clay and Tokoname oxidation(red)
Certain type of tea does not stand out with water boiled from tetsubin
Most tea can get along with water boiled from a testubin. In fact, it enhances the flavor and aftertaste of the tea. But there are a few exceptions. In particular, tea such as Anxi Tie Guan Yin, Wuyi Oolong and Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong.
These teas generally contain very distinctive types of natural mineral compounds, they don’t necessarily get along with various types of clay teapots. For example, all these three kinds of tea cannot get along with Banko clay, Shigaraki clay and Watanabe Tozo’s Mumyoi clay.
However, I have confirmed through tasting test, that both Kunzan and Suzuki Morihisa works very well for Anxi Tie Guan Yin, Wuyi Oolong and Phoenix Dan Cong Oolong. If you wish to use a different brand of tetsubin to brew these teas, you will need to do a tasting test before you start using it.
To make the perfect cup of tea, it is essential to have a right combination of tea leaves, water, kettle, teapot and tea cup. A harmonious system of compatible teawares, water and tea will enable you to enjoy the pleasure of drinking a fine cup of tea.
Related Articles
How to get the latest update on HOJO Tea?
1. Follow Twitter, 2. Click "Like" on Facebook, and 3. Subscribe in newsletter. You can have the latest tea news from HOJO Tea.
Subscribe the Newsletter to enjoy the privileges
- You may receive a free sample upon purchase, or you may have the priority to purchase special products. So please remember to subscribe our newsletter as well as the social network.
- New Release of Wu Jia Zhai Raw Pu-erh Tea 2018 Loose
- We have released Wu Jia Zhai Raw Pu-erh Tea. It is a Loose Tea (Mao-cha). This tea was made in 2018 and has been aged for nearly three years. Thanks to the aging, it has developed more distinctive flavour with sweet scent of sugar cane and dried fruits. Sustainable Tea Garden at high altitude of …
- New Release of Tong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea
- We have released very rare black tea, Tong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea. This tea is from Tong Mu Guan in Wuyishan, Fujian Province, China. The tea garden is located at 1000m above sea level, and the tea garden is totally sustainable, the tea trees are grown without pesticide and fertilizer. Tong Mu Shui Xian …
NEW ARTICLES
New Release of Wu Jia Zhai Raw Pu-erh Tea 2018 Loose
- We have released Wu Jia Zhai Raw Pu-erh Tea. It is a Loose Tea (Mao-cha). This tea was made in 2018 and has been aged for nearly three years. Thanks to the aging, it has developed more distinctive flavour with sweet scent of sugar cane and dried fruits. Sustainable Tea Garden at high altitude of …
New Release of Tong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea
- We have released very rare black tea, Tong Mu Shui Xian Black Tea. This tea is from Tong Mu Guan in Wuyishan, Fujian Province, China. The tea garden is located at 1000m above sea level, and the tea garden is totally sustainable, the tea trees are grown without pesticide and fertilizer. Tong Mu Shui Xian …
New Release of Da Xue Shan Wild White Tea 2020
- We have launched Da Xue Shan Wild White Tea 2020, in loose tea. For Malaysia, we release the 200g cake version. This year, we have made major improvements in the raw material, producer, and production method, resulting in a very satisfying quality. However, the production volume is extremely small; it will likely to be sold …
Limited Release of Yunnan 10 Years Vintage Black Tea 2010
- We release 10-year vintage Yunnan black tea. This tea was produced in 2010 and aged in Yunnan for 8 years in aerobic storage. We bought this year in 2018, and it has been aged in Japan and Malaysia for two years in anoxic storage condition. The production area is very near to the Myanmar border …
Da Xue Shan Wild Raw Pu-erh Tea 2020 was Released
- We have launched 2020 wild puerh tea. This wild tea is from Da Xue Shan located in Lincang of Yunnan Province, China. We started to introduce Da Xue Shan Wild tea since 2010. But 2020 version was completely renewed. This year, we changed the source of tea, the producers and the production method too. Why …
High Mountain Purple Black Tea 2020 is Now Available
- We have released High Mountain Purple Black Tea 2020. It was unexpectedly well-made this year. I am truly delighted by its outcome. About Purple Tea The High Mountain Purple tea is made from the specific type of tea, the locals called it “Zi Cha”, that means purple tea in English. It is a rare tea …
We have released the Flower of Ancient Tea Tree
- We have released the Flower of Ancient Tea Tree. This is the fresh tea flowers hand-picked from old tea trees of ancient tea gardens. The tea garden is totally sustainable, with natural farming practice and no pesticide or fertilizer at all. The tea garden is located at altitude of 2000-2200m in the western part of …
Limited Sales of Single Tree Raw Pu-erh,White and Black tea 2019
- We have released Single Tree Pu-erh Tea 2019. Literally, the single tree tea is harvested and processed only from one single tea tree. Each single tree tea is sourced from the high mountain in west Lincang, the altitude is at around 2000-2200m. Thick Taste of Old Tree We selected particularly old tea tree for making …
Lapsang Souchong Qi Zhong from Tong Mu Guan in Wuyi Mountain
- We have released Lapsang Souchong Qi Zhong. It is the most premium Lapsang Souchong in HOJO’s line-up. This tea is from Tong Mu Guan in Wuyi Mountain. Qi Zhong is seed-grown tea tree, and tea garden is totally sustainable. Unlike ordinary black tea, this unique black tea gives strong fruity flavor reminiscent of peaches and …
Amazing difference between seedling tea and cultivated tea
- Do you know that tea is divided into two groups: cultivated tea propagated by cuttings, and seedling tea grown from seed?There is actually a big difference between cultivated tea and seedling tea. What is Cultivar? The cultivated tea refers to tea with a name of specific cultivar, such as Yabukita, Benifuki, Okumidori, Tie Guan Yin, …
Shop Info

Address:Lot No. T-215, 3rd Floor, The Gardens Mall, Mid Valley City, Lingkaran Syed Putra, 59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-2287-4537
Business Hour: 10am to 10pm
Category
- New Arrival at HOJO Online Shop
- Featured Articles
- Newsletter
- Types of Tea
- Origin of Tea
- Teapot and Tea Equipment
- Tea Column
- How to enjoy tea
- Tea Processing
- How to choose quality tea
- Tea constituents and functional effect
- Safety of Tea
- Foods
- Tea Business Operation
- Hobby and Outdoor Activity
- Ranking of Tea
- Video
- FAQ
- Media Release
Profile

- AKIRA HOJO
- I invite you to experience my tea selections.I was born in Nagano, Japan. In university, I studied agricultural chemistry, and I have the master degree in food science. I worked in Japanese food industry for 10 years. I involved in R&D, QC and QA. As a factory manager, I implemented ISO9000 series and managed the factory.
- The Art of Tea Magazine
- We posted the article on “The Art of Tea Magazine No.9, the magazine is published in Taiwan. We featured some scientific view about the tetsubin
- New Straits Times
- The Malaysian National Newspaper, New Straits Times featured HOJO Tea on 17-Oct-2007.