Keep it long, treasure it long.

Echizen Washi Craftsman's Tea Canister

To enjoy delicious tea, proper storage methods are essential. To keep tea in good condition, an airtight container is necessary. Recently, we have seen many clever resealable packages, but taking the extra step to transfer the tea into a tea canister can make your daily tea time feel more relaxed and fulfilling.

Tea leaves are carefully crafted with a lot of time and effort from harvesting to processing. Many tea leaves are still hand-picked, and after being harvested at the right time, they go through steaming, rolling, and drying processes before finally reaching us. Because these tea leaves are the result of such meticulous work, we want to protect them from moisture and oxidation, ensuring that we can enjoy their flavor until the last brew.

By placing them in a tea canister, alongside your favorite cups, teacups, and teapots on the table, it feels like a connection to the act of savoring tea with care.

Additionally, this canister is not only suitable for fine tea leaves but also recommended for storing tea bags, dried seaweed, dried beans, short pasta, and dried herbs. It can serve as a storage container for ingredients that require desiccants.

In Japan's four seasons, we adapt our decor to match each season. We change the flowers displayed in our spaces and the noren curtains welcoming customers in shops. We enjoy seasonal vegetables and the blessings of the sea. The culture of sensing seasonal changes from the 24 solar terms, such as the summer and winter solstices, has been passed down through generations, and there are foods and drinks we crave during these times. With various options available now, including green tea, black tea, and herbal tea, organizing them by color can make them easier to distinguish, so please make use of these four colors.

Craftsmanship on Display

With a concept of simplicity that is not swayed by trends, the tea canister made from traditional Japanese handmade washi paper aims to allow you to enjoy the material's flavor and feel its warmth. Each piece is handcrafted by a traditional craftsman of Echizen washi. Using a unique technique called "uki-gami," it expresses patterns with sharp angles and textures. The precision of the edges is higher than that of embossed processing, allowing for free three-dimensional expression and long-lasting vibrant colors using fade-resistant pigments.

The tea canister itself is produced by a specialized manufacturer in Shizuoka, known as the best tea-producing region in Japan, ensuring a comfortable user experience. The stainless steel material is rust-resistant, does not deform even if dropped, and maintains airtightness, making it suitable for storage containers that you can use with peace of mind. If you take a closer look at the patterns, you will notice that the design on the lid perfectly matches that of the container, showcasing the craftsmanship of each artisan.

Connecting Traditions

Yamaji Paper Mill, which specializes in "uki-gami" washi, was founded in the first year of the Meiji era and is a producer of Echizen washi's handmade artistic paper. Initially, they manufactured plain papers like letter paper, and while preserving the techniques of "Echizen washi," which has a 1500-year history, they began producing patterned papers through techniques such as "hikkake," "suki-awase," and "nagashikomi" around 1950. As Yamaji Paper Mill adapted to the replacement of traditional washi with Western paper in Japanese life, they launched a brand to explore the potential of "handmade washi," which is crafted one sheet at a time using traditional methods that have a history of over 1000 years, giving it diverse uses. They aim to pass down the techniques inherited over many years to the next generation and continue to connect them through innovative technology, promoting Japanese culture to the world and linking it to the future.

Various Uses of the Tea Canister

The colorful and modern design of the tea canister can be paired with tea leaves, making it a perfect gift for superiors, housewarming celebrations, or as a return gift. Additionally, it is convenient not only for tea but also for storing coffee, spices, and as a container for dried goods. Arranging them in colorful hues according to their contents or uses adds a stylish touch to your interior. It can serve as a storage can for the kitchen, holding candies, short pasta, and is also helpful for organization and tidiness.