Teacups (Yunomi)

A yunomi is the everyday Japanese teacup — taller than it is wide, no handle, sized for the small servings green tea is brewed in. Handmade across Japan's pottery regions, so every glaze is its own.

The Everyday Japanese Teacup

A yunomi has no handle, and that is deliberate. You hold it in both hands, and the warmth through the clay is part of drinking from it. The taller shape holds heat longer than a wide bowl, and the size suits the way Japanese green tea is served — small pours, several times, rather than one large mug going cold.

Ours come from several of Japan's ceramic traditions — Mino, Seto, Banko and Hasami among them — and every cup is handmade, so the glaze on yours will differ a little from the photograph. Pooling, colour breaks and small irregularities are how these cups are meant to look: the wabi-sabi aesthetic values the individual piece over the machine-identical one.

Caring for it

Hand wash in warm water, dry fully, and avoid sudden temperature shifts. Unglazed or partially glazed cups should not meet soap.

Pair yours with a kyusu teapot, or find both together in our tea sets. We ship Australia-wide and worldwide, with free Australian shipping over $80.