Kabazaiku Cherry Bark Sakura Wooden Tea Scoop
KotodoThis small chasaji (茶さじ - tea scoop) is made from the natural bark of the sakura cherry tree. As it is a natural material, each scoop will have a unique cherry bark pattern.
Made in Japan. Ships from the United States.
Width: 3.1 cm (1.2 in)
Height: 7.4 cm (2.9 in)
The Kabazaiku (樺細工, also 桜皮細工) technique of hand-scraping, polishing, and pasting wild cherry bark is unique to Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, where the technique was brought to the town of Kakunodate (角館) in Akita by the Satake family of samurai in the 1700s.
To clean, wipe with a dry cloth. As the cherry bark is uncoated, it will absorb moisture, which is ideal for tea storage. However, this means that any water that gets on it should be wiped off immediately.
Founded in 1910, Kotodo (江東堂) has been producing handmade tea canisters for 112 years. Compared to machine-made canisters, their washi-wrapping is seamless, with no bumps where the lid meets the body, producing a clean silhouette. Additionally, the lid can be rotated counter-clockwise until it clicks, ensuring the pattern is perfectly aligned.