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Dobin Kettle and Sake Flask Set

Serving warm or hot sake, authentic Iga-style: Authentic Iga-yaki dobin (Iga-clay kettle) and tokkuri (sake flasks) can bring your sake experience to another level

Warm or hot sake is enjoyed by people all over Japan. Those serious sake lovers care about how the sake is heated and served, as well as the serving temperature. This set can not only make it easy to heat the sake in the dobin water bath, but also turn the sake serving/ tasting into a special experience. The dobin is safe on direct flame. This beautiful dobin can also be used as a tea pot or other purposes (such as to serve dashi broth) for great presentation.

Easy Steps to Heat the Sake (Before the First Use, Rinse and Dry the Set Completely)

Fill the water in the dobin (just enough so that the water won’t overflow when a flask is inserted).
Cover the dobin with the lid and bring to a low-simmer over gas stove top. Fill a flask with sake and insert it into the dobin to heat.
Pull the flask when the sake has reached the desired temperature.
Serve immediately. Meanwhile, you can set another flask in the dobin, so that by the time you finish the first serving, the next serving is ready!
You might want to use a thermometer to check the sake temperature in the beginning, if you want the sake to reach a specific temperature. But, once you get used to it, you are likely to be able to tell your desired temperature just by feeling the dent below the collar of the flask - just like how a Japanese sake lover does it.
It’s also fun to try the same sake at different temperatures (start with around 110F and increase by 10F for the next batch onward), then you can find how the tasting sensation changes at every stage. It’s a good way to understand the sensitivity of sake.

Find Your Favorite Temperature for Each Sake

Serving sake at different temperatures can bring you taste variation. Some people prefer hot sake while others love slightly warm sake. Also, depending on the kinds of sake or what to serve with, the ideal serving temperature can vary. So, you can have fun trying sake served at different temperatures and find your favorite stage.

Serving temperature guideline

Nuru-kan: Slightly warm. Up to 113℉ (45℃) degrees.
Jo-kan: Very warm. Up to 122℉ (50℃) degrees.
Atsu-kan: Hottest stage. Up to 130℉ (55℃) degrees.

True “Terroir” of Iga

Iga region, where this pottery is made, used to be the bed of Lake Biwa about 4 million years ago. The clay is coarse and consists of a high level of pre-historic fossilized microorganisms that leave the clay porous when fired. With this effect, when Iga-yaki (Iga-style) pottery is crafted by artisanal hands, it creates the signature wabi-sabi (“unfinished beauty”) look. This exceptional wabi-sabi beauty of Iga-yaki pottery has been praised by pottery lovers in Japan over centuries.

Authentic Iga-yaki pottery by Nagatani-en

Iga-yaki pottery is one of Japan’s most highly-regarded traditional ceramics, and is said to have originated in Iga, Mie-Prefecture in the late 7th Century. This product is made by a leading producer of Iga-yaki pottery since 1832. At Nagatani-en, each product is made by hand with care. Nagatani-en’s Iga-yaki products have been loved by both professionals and home cooks in Japan.

Your donabe develops its character as it ages

As you use your Iga-yaki pottery over and over, it will develop character. Its color and texture could change slightly or tiny cracks ("kannyu") could develop inside over time. These are all the welcoming characteristics of Iga-yaki's historic wabi-sabi beauty and would make your pottery more personal and special.

The very thin cracks could appear on the surface (glaze). It’s called “kannyu” in Japanese and the cracks run like veins. They are the naturally developed cracks on the glaze and won’t affect the function of the donabe.
Once you start using the dobin, the bottom part starts to change its color and black spots (like burned spots) could appear. It’s also the part of developing the character and the dobin is safe to use. However, if the bottom part seems to get too black too quickly, the heat you use might be too high. In this case, we suggest that you use the dobin over lower heat level.

All the donabe and Iga-yaki products made by Nagatani-en are hand-crafted with care, so every piece is unique and no two pieces are identical. There are slight variations within the color/ shade, shape/ curve, and patterns, among pieces, and that makes each piece so special. Also under different lighting and angle, the actual color shade and nuance may also appear slightly different from the photos in the product page.

Dobin

Size: 5.1″ diameter x 5.1″ high (13 cm diameter x 13 cm high) – not including the handle
Capacity: 20 fl.oz (600 ml)
Weight 2.2 lbs (1 kg)

Flask - each

Size 2.7” diameter x 5.1” high (7 cm diameter x 13 cm high)
Capacity: 6 fl.oz (180 ml)
Weight: 6 oz (175 g)

Material: Clay
Producer: Nagatani-en
Origin: Iga, Japan
Included in the package: Dobin (kettle), bamboo handle, 2 tokkuri (flasks) and English instruction sheet.

Usage and Care

The dobin is suitable for gas stove top use only. It is not suitable for electric stove (including glass top) or induction cooktop. It’s not oven safe or microwave safe.
The flasks are suitable to use in the water bath in the dobin. They are not safe for direct heating over stove or oven. They are microwave safe.
Hand wash only. To wash, use a soft sponge with mild soap. Avoid the handle from getting wet, as wetting the handle can cause damage to the material.

Domestic Orders

Usually ships out in-stock items within 3 business days of order.
We use FedEx, USPS Priority Mail, or USPS First Class Mail to ship our products, depending on the size and weight of the package.
Read about the shipping information and terms in our Customer Service Page.
Free shipping with purchase of $375 or more! (Within Continental US only. Total purchase amount to qualify excludes free shipping offer items.)

International Orders

Usually ship out in-stock within 5 business days of order.
We use USPS Priority Mail International for international shipping.
We do not accept any returns for international orders. Any additional charges (including but not limited to import tax, custom fees, VAT, brokerage charge) that might incur after the order lands in the destination country must be borne by the recipient.
Read about the shipping information and terms in our Customer Service Page.

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