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Article 18
Teaware. The first wave of samples have come in for our new tea ware line. They hail from Aichi prefecture - one of the central production regions for beautiful pottery. We should have stuff up on the...
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Article 16
Really big news coming soon. We are on the hunt for new things for the fall season. We have new teas arriving soon, our tea ware is on it’s way, and plenty of new content is around the corner. Thanks...
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The art of steaming tea
Click on photos to cycle through galleryTerminology: Fukamushi + AsamushiUnique to Japan, nearly all green teas are steamed during processing (as opposed to pan firing often done in china). A term you...
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Back in Japan
We are in Japan for the next 3 months sourcing teas and teaware and working on some exciting details for 2015. Please follow along for updates, photo journals, interviews and a lot more.
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Early Spring
I arrived back in Japan just 2 days ago. This is my first time in Japan during Winter - although with the Plum blossoms just emerging, I guess it is truly early Spring. I landed on a Friday which...
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Tosu, Saga
Today I had a chance to meet with the wonderful Ichiro Matsuo, of the kiln 魚蓮 坊 (Gyorenbou) in the hills of Tosu in Saga Prefecture. Ichiro san is a 2nd generation ceramicist (and the brother of our...
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Shigoto o shimashita
Today was spent in the office. Amazing how much you can get done when there is nothing else to do but work. Heading to the farms tomorrow. Thank you for checking in.love,z
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Hoshinomura
Some photos of several wonderful producers we visited in Hoshinomura: Hoshino is the coveted valley home to the finest producers of shade grown gyokuro in all of Japan. We are lucky to have many great...
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SENCHA
煎茶 Sencha. Sencha is a very simple style of Japanese tea. It is the most popular style of tea in Japan, accounting for over 80% of the countries tea production. It is drank all day long in many homes...
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Scenes from Nagasaki
Farm Visit: Nagasaki Masatoshi Matsuo san grows award winning Tama Ryokucha on several plots of land in Nagasaki, just next door to Saga's famous tea town, Ureshino . Tama Ryokucha is a steamed green...
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Factory / Farm Visit Ureshino
Spent the morning with Yuusuke Oota san. He is making traditional tea in Ureshino, Saga. An ex-wrestler, he has a focus and work ethic that is beyond admirable. Furthermore, he is about as humble and...
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Presentation of The Finest Teas in Japan
Kettl was lucky enough to be invited by the Yame City Council to a small gathering of 50 people to celebrate a rare occurrence: Yame took first prize in Japan's National Tea Fair in the categories of...
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All Japan Gyokuro Contest
The Finalists Table. Photo by Nanako Matsuo Sunday, March 15th marked the 9th annual "Zenkoku Gyokuro no Umai irekata kontesuto / 全国玉露のうまい入れ方コンテスト" or "All Japan Contest for Brewing Delicious...
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Shizuoka Part 1
Shizuoka Part 1. Shizuoka, Chapter 1: An overview.In the next few blog entries, I want take a close look at this region and showcase it's unique position as both a giant player in the industry and also...
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Shizuoka Part 2
Shizuoka Tea Auction: Photos The center of activity for nearly a month every spring is the aracha auction where thousands of tons of tea are bought and sold. Located in central Shizuoka, farmers,...
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Shizuoka Part 3
Kawane, the jewel of ShizuokaShizuoka is vast area that includes cities, flatlands, and forests perched steep on the side of mountains. Mount Fuji stands adjacent to Sagura Bay and quietly stands as a...
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Kettl x Okonomi Pop Up Tea Shop
We are more than excited to announce we will be partnering with the wonderful folks at Okonomi / Yuji Ramen to bring you Kettl's very first retail outpost. We are big fans of Okonomi and have watched...
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Usefulness
Buy One Thing Once Purchase something useful that you love, and use until it is broken, stolen, or lost. In the case of this tea bowl - treat it with respect. Use it daily. Handle it. Wash it. Dry it....
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