Tsubame Chakoshi (Tea Strainer)

Our Tsubame Chakoshi (tea strainer) balances simple elegance with function, giving the familiar actions of sifting matcha and straining loose leaf to a refined air. The dappled, tsuchime (槌目) surface is the result of hand hammering by professional craftspeople and means that no two pieces are exactly the same. This level of artistry for everyday items is commonplace within the area of its manufacture, Tsubame.

Tsubame City (燕市) is located within Niigata Prefecture, about a two hour shinkansen ride from Tokyo. This area’s history of craft tool production started during the Edo Period, about 400 years ago, with the production of Japanese nails. Today, the area calls upon its rich history and inherited traditions to produce all manner of metallic kitchenware. Tsubame City is known for its quality both within Japan and internationally, so we are very excited to be able to offer a few examples of their handcrafted workmanship.