Time-Honored, Earth- and People-Friendly Canister Crafting
Kotodo’s canisters are made in the style of traditional Japanese tea canisters.
Japan is a humid country, so the quintessential features of the canister, namely the inner lid and the deep overlap between the body and the outer lid, were developed in order to protect delicate tea leaves from moisture. This structure ensures the airtightness of the canister and its cylindrical shape prevents any moisture from accumulating in corners. (The round shape is also traditionally considered auspicious in Japan.) The canister opens with satisfying smoothness when you simply lift the lid straight up—no twisting or prying is required.
While preserving these traditional features that continue to be desirable, we now use manually-operated vintage machines for some of the steps in our production process in order to achieve the level of safety not possible through manual production alone. Each of our canisters, entirely made in Japan, is still mostly crafted manually and given a finishing touch by hand.
Product Features
- The smooth surface
- Instantly patterns match
- The airtight metal inner lid
- The cut edges are bevelled inward
- Lead-free, Confidence and Safty
- Bottom
The finished edges of the lid and body are flush with each other. Having an even surface all around minimizes friction, thus prolonging the life of the Washi paper. The smooth surface is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
It is a feature only for handmade.
One of the unique characteristics of our tea canisters is the clicking cover. Our patterned canisters feature a lid that clicks into place where the patterns of the cover and body perfectly match.
When twisting (Counterclockwise) the cover to close, it will snap into place with an audible “click” to indicate the perfect alignment of the cover and body’s patterns (some products without patterns do not have this feature).
It is a feature only for handmade.
The metal inner lid will stay air tight all year around, but plastic tends to expand and contracts with temperature changes and also transfer aromas.
The inner lid is made of high-grade tin with a gold color finish. It protects the inside from light exposure, humidity and air. It is made by the process for which it's difficult to be damaged. The shape of its knob is easy to pull and open. Our craftsmen adjust meticulously the fit of each lid to the body of each individual canister. The skilled craftsmen try to finish the canisters to be easy to use.
With user safety in mind, we take the extra precaution of beveling the cut edges of the lid and body inwards unlike most other handmade manufacturers. As an precaution, the edges of our tin-cans are rolled slightly inwards to prevent our users from injuring their fingers.
All joining of a canister was leaded solder for a traditional handmade can. Today leaded solder also exists, but it is impossible to judge whether it is leaded solder or unleaded by the appearance.
KOTODO stopped using solder and change it to an electric welding. Each canister is handmade by skilled craftsmen using leaded-free, food grade steel and tin in order to promise safety of 100 % and relief to customers.
Our KOTODO signature is embossed on the bottom of every canister (all canisters except our Silver Tea Canister feature a black bottom).
Three Reasons Why KOTODO Choose Tin
Material: High-quality Tin Plated Steel
- Premium Quality
Although tin-plated steels are handled as second-rate material in the Western culture, they are considered a premium and delicate material that is elegant, dainty, and sleek in Japan. However, KOTODO uses extra soft and delicate tins to make their canisters, please handle them carefully.
- Eco-friendly
Steel canisters, including tins, are 100% recyclable, and they are the most recycled materials on earth. In Japan, 90% of them are recycled annually and manufactured into new products without any tax or local support.
- Versatile Material
Tins are the perfect material for canisters. Unlike natural wood, paper, or other metals, tin-plated steels can keep the air and light out and maintain the temperature inside the cans, so it is perfect for storing delicate tea leaves.
Tin plated steels do not deform over time like woods, so the content stays fresh all year round.
Product Care
Please read the product care information carefully to maintain the quality of your handmade KOTODO product. We hope you will enjoy our canisters for years to come.
・ This product is made of tin-plated steel, and is not suitable to store liquids. Rusting may occur if the product comes into contact with water or excessive humidity, and with normal wear after prolonged use.
Dry off completely if handled with wet hands.
・ Do not hand wash. Not recommended for dishwasher, microwave, or oven use.
・To clean, gently wipe the surface with a cloth tightly wrung out of water, followed by dry cloth. Make sure to dry out the surface completely.
・Rusting may occur if the product is left unattended with moisture on the surface.
・ If rusting occurs, we recommend that you stop using the product.
・Rust itself is not harmful, but it may spread to other metallic items with which it comes into contact. (For example, a rusted canister may rust a stainless steel kitchen surface on which it is placed.)
・ Improper use will damage the product. Please handle with care.
・Storing the canister in a refrigerator will preserve its contents even better. Please note, however, that rusting may be caused by the condensation from temperature change as you take the canister in and out of the refrigerator.
・ Please keep out of reach of children.
Click here ⇒YouTube Video: Tips on how to take care of KOTODO canisters
Although tin-plated steels are handled as second-rate material in the Western culture, they are considered a premium and delicate material that is elegant, dainty, and sleek in Japan. However, KOTODO uses extra soft and delicate tins to make their canisters, please handle them carefully.
Steel canisters, including tins, are 100% recyclable, and they are the most recycled materials on earth. In Japan, 90% of them are recycled annually and manufactured into new products without any tax or local support.
Tins are the perfect material for canisters. Unlike natural wood, paper, or other metals, tin-plated steels can keep the air and light out and maintain the temperature inside the cans, so it is perfect for storing delicate tea leaves.
Tin plated steels do not deform over time like woods, so the content stays fresh all year round.
Please read the product care information carefully to maintain the quality of your handmade KOTODO product. We hope you will enjoy our canisters for years to come.
・ This product is made of tin-plated steel, and is not suitable to store liquids. Rusting may occur if the product comes into contact with water or excessive humidity, and with normal wear after prolonged use.
Dry off completely if handled with wet hands.
・ Do not hand wash. Not recommended for dishwasher, microwave, or oven use.
・To clean, gently wipe the surface with a cloth tightly wrung out of water, followed by dry cloth. Make sure to dry out the surface completely.
・Rusting may occur if the product is left unattended with moisture on the surface.
・ If rusting occurs, we recommend that you stop using the product.
・Rust itself is not harmful, but it may spread to other metallic items with which it comes into contact. (For example, a rusted canister may rust a stainless steel kitchen surface on which it is placed.)
・ Improper use will damage the product. Please handle with care.
・Storing the canister in a refrigerator will preserve its contents even better. Please note, however, that rusting may be caused by the condensation from temperature change as you take the canister in and out of the refrigerator.
・ Please keep out of reach of children.
Click here ⇒YouTube Video: Tips on how to take care of KOTODO canisters
