The Japanese washi tea box: a refinement for the preservation of tea

Depending on the region, the tins could be made of wood, ceramic or even bronze and pewter. Nowadays, tea is kept in metal tins, often decorated and colored. Made of tin, lacquered, stained or covered with washi paper, they are sometimes the expression of artists.
Of variable capacity and preferably equipped with a double lid (inside and outside), the metal can is airtight and protects from air, humidity, light and odors. It is the ideal accessory to preserve, in particular, all your black and Wulong teas that are highly oxidized, natural or flavored. When you open the tin, the organic loose teas release all their aromas.

The washi tea caddy: Japanese inspiration for your tea storage

It is traditional in Japan to store tea in metal tins. The washi tea caddy, covered with Japanese paper, completes the essential accessories for the preparation and preservation of tea: cast iron, ceramic or even glass teapots, Japanese-inspired bowls and cups, spoon or tea ball.
With the Japanese washi caddies in purple, red or pink, Japan invites itself into your home and they become elegant decorative objects. The boxes can be purchased individually or in gift sets.

Washi paper: refined and subtle details and patterns

Washi paper(wa for Japanese and shi for paper) was brought to Japan in the 7th century by Buddhist monks from China. Today, challenged by cheaper products from Thailand or China, it is the result of an ancestral know-how.

This paper is made of interwoven vegetable fibers, mainly from the paper mulberry tree or kôzo. These fibers have the particularity to offer resistance, flexibility and lightness to the paper. Made by hand, washi paper can also be made on machines that reproduce the movement of the hand.
Since 2014, washi paper and its method of manufacture are listed as intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO. Its uses are multiple in art and craft, stationery or Japanese signs.

Washi paper and the symbols of Japanese culture

Yuzen or chiyogami paper is a paper inspired by the Edo period and the textile industry, and more particularly by the traditional and symbolic motifs of kimonos: cranes for longevity, bamboo for flexibility or cherry blossoms for perseverance. The multiple colors, sometimes shimmering, the patterns and textures are declined on the silk-screened papers: gold mixed with pink or red, flowers or fruits, fans or maples, etc.
The silk-screening used for this paper allows for intense colors that resist light and thus avoid fading of the paper over time. The metal box becomes a subject of artistic expression and an invitation to travel.

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