elegant matcha tea set in chabako box - high quality portable tea drinking

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

Discover the elegance of Japanese tea culture with this meticulously crafted Chabako box and matching utensils set - a perfect companion for both tea lovers and collectors alike. Designed for portability and ease, this set brings the serene ritual of the matcha tea ceremony to any location, allowing you to enjoy a peaceful, mindful moment wherever you are.

THE PERFECT SET FOR MATCHA ENTHUSIASTS:
A Chabako box, or "tea box," is a treasured piece in Japanese tea culture, containing the essential tools for making matcha tea in a compact, portable form. This set includes all the precious utensils you need, beautifully arranged in a lightweight box that's easy to carry wherever you go. Whether you're an experienced tea practitioner or new to the art of matcha, this set offers a refined way to enjoy the ceremony.

INCLUDED IN THIS SET:
- Lacquered Wood Chabako Box - A beautifully crafted box to store your utensils.
- Matching Lacquered Wood Whisk Holder, Incense Holder, and Tea Caddy - Thoughtfully designed for both practicality and aesthetics.
- Ceramic Tea Bowl, Sweet Container, and Cloth Holder - Elegant pieces with rich patterns and fine details.
- Silk Shifuku Covers - Protective covers for the tea bowl, tea container, and tea scoop, made of luxurious Nishiki fabric with designs passed down through generations.
- Bamboo Whisk and Faux Ivory Tea Scoop - high quality tools for the perfect tea preparation.

INTRICATE DESIGN DETAILS:
- Sweet Container & Cloth Holder: The blue-and-white sweet container and cloth holder are decorated with a Chinese sansui (water and mountain) design. The delicate scene features two men playing a game of Go with majestic mountains in the backdrop, capturing the essence of harmony and tranquility.
- Tea Bowl: The stoneware tea bowl features a subtle light grey glaze, adorned with swirls, dots, and floral patterns. At the center, an imprint of an auspicious crane symbolizes longevity. Signed by the artist, it's a truly special piece.
- Chabako and Tea Caddy: The lacquered box, tea caddy, and incense box are lacquered in a rich reddish-brown with intricate dark pink and gold sakura (cherry blossoms) and momiji (maple leaves). These motifs carry deep meaning; cherry blossoms represent renewal and optimism, while maple leaves symbolize balance, peace, and calm.
- Silk Pouches: The tea bowl and tea caddy are wrapped in gorgeous silk pouches with purple ties and silk lining. The pouches feature delicate floral and bird motifs in a stunning color palette of rust, aqua blue, and olive green, adding a luxurious touch. The tea scoop comes in a thin pouch of the same fabric.

CONDITION AND QUALITY:
This vintage tea set is in very good condition, with the lacquered box and utensils showing minimal signs of use. The bamboo whisk does have slight wear, but the set appears to have been carefully stored and gently used, making it a wonderful collector's item.

A PRACTICAL, BEAUTIFUL GIFT FOR MATCHA LOVERS:
Whether you're new to the formal tea ceremony or simply looking to enrich your matcha experience, this compact, stylish set offers the perfect way to enjoy the ritual of tea without requiring a lot of storage space. A close friend of ours, an avid matcha drinker, takes her Chabako wherever she goes - sharing the peaceful tradition with loved ones and making new friends along the way.

Admiring the beauty of the utensils is an integral part of the tea experience, and we're sure this set will not disappoint. Elevate your tea-drinking moments with this stunning Chabako box and utensil set. Perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of artistry, tradition, and tranquility to their daily routine.

- box measures around  22 cm (8.7”) wide  x 15 cm (6”) tall x 14 cm (5.5”) deep. 
- weighs 1,500 gm.

(large wood display tray not included)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read our shipping notes in shipping policy.
- we use recycle packaging and wrap for safety, rather than appearance.

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OTHER ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

Please message us prior to purchase with any questions you may have about our products.

CHABAKO TEMAE-THE WAY OF DRINKING TEA FROM A BOX
Chabako temae is so called because tea utensils are removed from and then replaced into a special box known as a chabako (tea box).  Chabako developed as a convenient way to carry the necessary utensils  for making and drinking tea outdoors, kind of like a Japanese tea picnic set! 

The basic equipment contained in the chabako are the tea bowl (Chawan), tea whisk (Chasen), tea whisk container (Chatate), tea scoop (Chashaku), tea caddy (Natsume), a linen wiping cloth (Chakin), in a special container (Chakintsutsu), a small container for  candy-like sweets named Kompeito (Furidashi), and sometimes a small feather for brushing away spilled tea powder (Kobane), and an incense holder (Kogo). The Chawan, Chashaku and Natsume are wrapped in beautiful little pouches (Shifuku) made of Nishiki brocade fabric. These are admired by the guests who are drinking tea and the host is asked the special name of the items.

The items are smaller than usual, to fit in the box. The box is usually made of a light wood to keep the weight to a minimum. The wood used for the chabako is insect proof preventing damage to the utensils stored inside.

NISHIKI
Nishiki refers to a weaving technique which produces beautiful brocade. It features silk motifs woven on Takabata looms which originally arrived from China over 1,200 years ago.  High precision and skill is needed for this process.  It is very beautiful and the quality makes Nishiki stand apart from other works of brocade. In kanji the character used for Nishiki is a combination of the symbol for woven cloth and gold.  It gives the impression that Nishiki is equal to the value of money.

Historically, Nishiki has been highly regarded by Japanese people and they proudly refer to it as an example of Japanese beauty.  It is created by the collaboration of numerous craftsmen and involves various technical practices that take a lot of time.  

Nishiki creations are woven with colored silk thread.  The threads have a particular thickness which create impressions on the surface of the fabric. When light hits these surfaces the motifs reflect light in different ways depending on the angle and severity of the light.  Nishiki could be referred to as weaving of light!

Nishiki style fabric is used for Japanese obi, fabric goods used in the Japanese tea ceremony and waso handbags used when wearing a kimono.