Sakura Bark Tea Caddy – Sokawa M

This natural wood tea caddy is wrapped internally and externally with bark from wild cherry trees, an example of a Japanese art form known as kabazaiku. This craft originates in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, with a history dating back 200 years. The wood for these tea caddies is harvested in August or September each year from local cherry trees which are at least 70 years old, and once peeled the bark is then dried for a further two years to ensure durability.

To create the caddies, the dried bark is scraped and shaved to produce thin, smooth layers which are warped and attached to a cylindrical wooden mould using adhesives made from gelatin. Once attached, an iron trowel heated to a high temperature is used to steam away any wrinkles and curling, tightly fitting the bark to the mould. This step of the process requires a high-level of expertise and many years of experience to master in order to get the trowel to a temperature which will not burn the wood. The same step is repeated for the top and bottom part of the caddy as well as the rims which have been smoothed off using a hand plane. As a final step, the surface of the caddy is polished once again to increase its sheen and accentuate the colour of the cherry bark. The colour of the bark changes with the level of polishing. The dark amber coloured caddies have the thinnest most polished bark. Grey coloured barks can only be used when they possess a naturally fine quality that allows them to be used for caddies without much polishing required. Each step of the process is carefully performed by hand with high precision in order to provide the best possible airtightness for keeping the caddies’ contents fresh.

Cherry bark possesses antibacterial and moisture control properties whilst also allowing for ventilation, making it the ideal material for keeping tea fresh.

Avoid direct sunlight.
Avoid storing in damp conditions for prolonged periods.
Do not wipe with a wet cloth.
Wipe in the direction of the grain with a dry cloth to maintain lustre.
Not microwave, oven or dishwasher safe.

ø70×H110mm

Tōhoku

Tōhoku consists of six prefectures located in the north-east of Honshu island. This region is known for its hot spring (onsen) resorts, colourful festivals, remote sacred mountains and harsh winters. In 2011, the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the region hard; however, the massive efforts in reconstruction are proof of the people’s resilience. Urushi (lacquer) ware, ironware and the crafting of kokeshi dolls make up but a few of the local industries in this lesser-visited region of Japan.