Types of Japanese Tea Ware

First of all, the official name of a tea cup is "yunomi ".

Chawan, which was a tool for the tea ceremony, came to be used for purposes other than tea, such as "rice bowls".

From there, tea bowls for drinking tea came to be called yunomi. Within the broad category of tea bowls, they are classified as yunomi and rice bowls.

📗About Tea cups

🍵What is the difference between a teacup (yunomi) and other vessels?

A small teapot used to brew Japanese tea (especially green tea). Yokote kyusu (teapot with a handle on the side) is common, but there are also jozu kyusu (teapot with a handle on the top), dobin (teapot with a handle on the top), and hobin (teapot with a handle on the top).

🍵Japanese tea is cooled before drinking.

The reason is that the temperature of the beverage is different in each container.
Basically, tea cups and mugs are used for black tea or coffee. On the other hand, yunomi are used to hold Japanese tea (sencha). Black tea and coffee are made with boiling water at about 95-100 degrees, but Japanese tea is made with slightly cooled water at about 70-80 degrees, depending on the tea leaves. For this reason, tea cups and other containers have handles so that you do not have to hold the container directly, while yunomi do not have handles so that you can check the temperature of the drink.

📗About the different types of Japanese tea cups

Mugs, sake cups, yunomi, and chawan are Japanese drinking vessels with different uses and characteristics. The differences between them are explained in detail below.

☕️Mug

▶️ Uses:
Mainly used for drinking coffee, black tea and other hot drinks.
▶️ Features:
Usually has a handle and is designed to be easy to hold.
Many have a capacity of 200ml or more, and some are larger in size.

They are made from a variety of materials, including ceramic, porcelain, glass, stainless steel, and plastic.

They come in a variety of designs and colors and are suitable for everyday use.

🍶Guinomi (small sake cup)

▶️ Uses:
They are mainly used for drinking sake. They are especially suitable for cold sake or sake served at room temperature. Of course, they can also be used for drinking tea.
▶️ Features:
They are small in size, with a capacity of about 30ml to 60ml.

They are made of materials such as pottery, porcelain, glass and pewter.

They come in a variety of shapes and designs, and many are shaped to fit comfortably in the hand.

They are also popular as collectibles and gifts.

🍵Yunomi (tea cup)

▶️ Uses:
They are mainly used for drinking green tea, sencha, hojicha, etc. They are widely used in daily life
▶️ Features:
They generally have no handles and are upright in shape. This allows you to hold the hot tea as if wrapping it in your hand.

They have a capacity of about 100ml to 200ml and are often smaller than a tea bowl.
The materials are usually pottery or porcelain, and the design is simple and practical.

They are often used in a set with a tea tray, and their placement on the tea tray enhances the atmosphere of the tea.

They are widely used in homes and restaurants, and are also used on a daily basis outside of special occasions.

🍵Chawan (Matcha Bowl)

▶️ Uses:
Mainly used to make matcha. It is especially used in the tea ceremony.
▶️ Features:
They usually have a wide mouth and a deep bottom. This makes it easier to stir the matcha with a whisk. They have a larger capacity than a teacup and can hold the amount needed to make matcha. They are usually made of pottery or porcelain, emphasizing the handmade feel and natural texture. Designs vary according to the season and the theme of the tea ceremony, ranging from simple to ornate. Some teacups have high artistic and historical value as part of the teaware set.