Seigado Copper Sake Warmer
We received some questions about this item after the sale started , so we’ll answer them for you!
We hope it will be delivered to someone who will cherish it and use it for a long time.
Q: What kind of sake carafe should I put inside the sake warmer?
A: Ceramic or metal one is recommended. Wooden ones should be avoided as they have low thermal conductivity and do not warm up the sake.
The inner diameter of the hole in the sake warmer is 9.5 cm (3.7 in), and most of the sake carafes available at MUSUBI KILN can be used.
Q: How do I use it?
A:Just pour half of the boiling water into the Sake warmer and place the Sake carafe on it. The speed at which the sake warms depends on the temperature of the water and the material of the Sake carafe, but it will warm up to about 40 degrees Celsius in about 2 to 4 minutes.
Instead of pouring boiling water, you can also fill the Sake warmer with water and heat it on the stove. If you put a sake carafe in the Sake warmer on the stove, the sake may get too hot. When using a stove, it is recommended to heat only water in the Sake warmer, and then add the Sake carafe after removing it from the stove.
Due to the nature of copper, it will discolor when placed over a fire.
Metal products will tarnish sooner or later, little by little. I personally think that one of the joys of using such metal products over the years is that they change into a wabi-sabi-like appearance, like the utensils used in long-established restaurants for many years.
In summer, you can also use it as a Sake cooler by adding ice and water instead of hot water. Copper has a high thermal traditional rate, and condensation forms on the surface, which creates a cool atmosphere!
Q: What kind of paint is used for the blue surface?
A:The true color of the surface is the oxide film.
After forming a sheet of copper by hammering and squeezing, the piece is cleaned to remove all oil and other contaminants, and then dipped in a solution that sulfurizes the copper to give it an artificial rusty appearance.
Then, it is burnished with polishing powder. The surface of each sake warmer is burnished until it becomes shiny while paying attention to the design and color of the cup.
After the finishing powder is applied, the sake warmers are soaked into a patination solution, a traditional technique, to develop an indigo blue color.
This deep indigo color is the result of a traditional technique developed by Seigado.
Q: Do I need a trivet(pot stand) to put it on the table?
A:Normally, the Sake warmer can be used without a trivet.
If the Sake warmer is heated on the stove, it is a good idea to place a potsherd or napkin between the warmer and the table to prevent discoloration.
The trivet we use in our table sets are made of Nambu ironware. They will be added to our lineup next year, so please look forward to them.
What is Seigado?
Seigado has a workshop at the foot of Mt. Yahiko in Niigata Prefecture, where high quality copper was discovered about 300 years ago and “Tsuiki”, the technique of hammering copperware has developed since then.
“Tsuiki” is a metalworking technique that is derived from the words ‘hammer’ and ‘raise’, so this process literally means hammering and embossing copperware products. The traces of the hammering, the process of making are left as beautiful patterns on the products.
There’s a saying in Japan that things improve with good use, and Seigado’s products have a charm that naturally makes us want to take good care of them.
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