Houhin Teapot, which means a "Treasure Vessel", is a unique and versatile Japanese vessel for brewing tea, similar to a Chinese Gaiwan or Japanese Shiboridashi. Houhin's design is both practical and elegant, with a spout that filters out the small tea-particles and allows for a clean pour.
One of the key advantages of using a houhin (宝瓶) or shiboridashi (絞り出し) is its ability to extract the full flavor and aroma of the tea leaves. Its small size and high surface area-to-volume ratio allow the tea leaves to expand, releasing their flavor profile and creating a concentrated brew. These qualities make it perfect for enjoying the complex flavors of high-quality loose-leaf tea. Its spout acts as a filter, preventing loose tea leaves from escaping into the cup or pitcher, ensuring a clean and smooth brew.
Houhin is a popular brewing vessel for Japanese green teas such as sencha and gyokuro, as well as for Chinese teas and Taiwanese high mountain oolongs.
When using this teapot, following a few simple steps is essential to ensure the best possible brew. Begin by warming the teapot with hot water, then add your desired amount of tea leaves. Pour hot water over the leaves and allow them to steep for the desired time. Usually, the lid should remain on the teapot during steeping to keep the tea hot. But you may want to keep the lid off for more delicate teas like Gyokuro to ensure the tea doesn't get overcooked. When the tea is ready, use the spout to pour it into cups or a pitcher, taking care to avoid any loose tea leaves.
To clean your shibo, rinse it with warm water and allow it to air dry. Avoid using any detergents or soaps, as this can leave residue and affect the flavor of the tea.
Houhin teapot is a unique and beautiful brewing vessel that offers a superior tea-drinking experience. Its practical design and artistry make it a must-have for any tea lover looking to enjoy high-quality loose-leaf tea's full flavor and aroma.
Capacity: 110 ml
Size: 4.3" x 2.7 in / 11 x 7 cm
Material: Stoneware. Unglazed.
NOTE: Avoid using detergents when cleaning.
Customer Reviews
I have small hands but the construction of this vessel makes it easy to use. The rim is constructed such that it doesn't get hot, unlike so many porcelain gaiwans that have burned by fingers! It is a non-porous stoneware. I had read (and now agree) that certain teas such as yan cha are best when not brewed in Yixing. This is ideal for yan cha and also greener oolongs. I am having it now with the "Award Winning Ali Shan Milk Oolong" and they work great together. The "functional" size of the shiboridashi is about 85 to 90 ml, so ideal for a solo tea session.
The shiboridashi is a beautiful well made tea vessel. It is great for green tea brewed at 160F to 175F. The problem with the design is the double layer of clay in the lower part of the bowl creates too much thermal mass for brewing black tea. If I do one infusion of puer at 205F the operation is fine. If I do two infusions in succession and pour into a sharing pitcher the outside of the shiboridashi reaches 158 degrees F after the second pour.. That is well outside my comfort zone and I have never learned to handle a gaiwan with heat proof gloves.
Hi there!
Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. We appreciate it!
And sorry for putting your fingers in danger!
Me (Misha) and Chris just ran a test by brewing heicha in this shibo, using boiling water. While the body got hot, the upper rim (holding point) was never over 110ºF. It should be comfortable to hold as long as these two conditions are maintained:
• shiboridashi, just like gaiwan, should be held at the rim, not the body.
• It's best not to overfill shiboridashi. In the case of this particular one, we recommend not to pour above the brown clay.
We understand that each person's sensitivity is personal, and what's comfortable and convenient for one may not be as great for another. And if you wish to return the shibo, let us know! We want both you and the shibo to be happy:)
This is my first tea brewing vessel, and I would recommend it to loose-leaf beginners like myself for a few reasons. One is the lower price, which is nice for someone getting into the tea world on a budget. Also it is so simple to use, which allows you focus more on learning brewing methods and fine tuning to get the cup of tea you want. It seems quite versatile, but I plan to use it mainly for green teas. Perfect size for solo tea drinking or with one other companion, it is beautifully crafted and feels great in the hand with the slightly rough glaze. The pour is moderately quick, and does a great job keeping tea leaves out of your cup, however there is enough room between the spout and lid of the smallest leaves to escape. I would be really interested to know if the unglazed stoneware interior affects any characteristics of the water or tea, or if it porous like the Yixing teaware. Very happy with this little teapot, and Path of Cha deserves high praise for their business and quality.
I had never seen a pot like this and I am so glad I found THIS one. Its perfect for all types of brews and I love the easy cleanup. Just the right size for a whole cup of tea and easy ...like I say..
What I really love about this shibo is its grainy texture – helps to connect with Nature. The overall look is very aesthetically pleasing. It's hard to tell if the clay alters the taste of tea but if it does then certainly only in a good way :) I have to admit that I'm very happy with the purchase. Good teas, good tea ware, amazing customer service. 'Path of cha' deserves a big thank you!