Okay, so I got this Japanese ceramic tea cup a while back. Wasn’t really looking for one, you know, just stumbled upon it while browsing online. Looked simple, kinda earthy. Thought I’d give it a try.
When it arrived, I opened the box. Nothing fancy, just the cup wrapped in some paper. Picked it up. Felt solid, heavier than I expected for its size. The surface wasn’t perfectly smooth, had this slight texture to it. You could feel where the glaze was thicker in some spots. Felt handmade, I guess.
First thing I did was wash it. Just warm water, gentle soap, like they say you should. Didn’t want to mess it up right away. Dried it carefully with a soft cloth.
Making Tea Felt Different
Then I made some tea. Nothing special, just my usual green tea. Poured the hot water in. The cup got warm, real warm. Holding it felt… good. Comfortable in my hands. Not like those thin porcelain things where you can barely touch it. This felt sturdy.
Drinking from it was nice too. The lip was smooth. The tea tasted like tea, obviously, but the whole process felt a bit different. Slower, maybe? Holding this solid, warm thing made me actually sit down and just drink the tea, instead of gulping it while doing five other things.
It’s funny how a simple object changes things. Before, tea was just a quick caffeine hit. Grab a mug, pour, drink, go. With this cup, I found myself actually taking a moment. Looking at the patterns in the glaze while the tea steeped. Feeling the warmth seep into my hands. It wasn’t planned, it just sort of happened.
It reminded me of this trip I took years ago, way before life got so hectic. Everything felt simpler then. We spent time just sitting, watching things. Didn’t feel the need to rush constantly. Holding this cup kinda brought back that feeling. Like a little reminder to slow down, right there on my desk.
Now, I use it pretty often. Mostly in the mornings. Still wash it by hand. It’s part of the routine. It’s not magical, it’s just a cup. But it’s a nice cup. Feels real. And it helps me start the day a little bit calmer, I suppose. That’s my experience with it, anyway. Just a simple ceramic cup, but it made a small difference.
