Banko-ware Kyusu Teapot

Bankoyaki or Banko-ware is made in Mie prefecture, with a history that goes back to the 18th century. The story goes that a tea-loving merchant set up a pottery kiln there to make teaware, and impressed "萬古" (banko) into the earthworks - meaning eternal, and his hope was that the pottery would have a timeless quality. We think that it does. These are our workhorse teapots, and we pour with them daily. The high iron content in the clay gives them their unique red-earth color, but it also makes them strong and gives them good heat resistance. Despite their high utility, they are also a great value. The shape is classic and there are a lot of small things that make brewing with them nice. They're lined with a cylindrical stainless micro-mesh that filters out leaves, so you don't need a separate filter. They have stubby handles, so you can get in close and feel the temperature of your water. The flattened top of the lid allows you to flip it upside-down to rest without it rolling around. I