Start with the silhouette — the rest of this pot's story follows from it. The openwork bamboo basket balances nicely against the clean lines of the design. The cicada lid knob balances nicely against the clean lines of the design. Sized at 300cc, it is built for small gatherings of two or three.
The body is red clay, smooth to the touch with an inviting color. The bamboo form keeps the profile distinctive without getting in the way of the pour. What I like: the clay color deepens slightly with years of brewing. Lid fits tightly enough to keep aroma in the pot; it is the kind of detail you only get from handmade work. Clay's fine grain gives the surface a smooth, almost silky feel, and the small comforts add up. It is a working pot, not a museum piece — brew in it daily, and the small comforts add up. New brewers find small pots forgiving; old hands find them precise, which is exactly what you want in a daily brewer.
One more pot on the shelf is never a mistake when the pot is this useful. It is the sort of pot that makes you want to brew more often. It arrives ready to season, and the first pot of tea is on you. It is equally at home in a beginner's kit and a collector's cabinet.
