I have a huge admiration for a company that produces only one thing. And then puts all dedication into that one thing. Kaikado is such.They make tea caddies. Nothing else.
Kaikado are the oldest makers of handmade tin tea caddies in the world. The first generation began producing their “Chazutsu”, or tea caddies, in 1875 using sheets of tin specially imported from Cornwall.Their iconic cylindrical caddies quickly became the style of caddy many other manufacturers copied. You will still find caddies used by families across Japan that are from the first generation of Kaikado, including the Japanese Imperial Household.
Each caddy is made from two layers: an inner layer of tin, and an outer layer of tin, brass, copper, or silver. The double wall of metal keeps the caddies completely airtight and the tea leaves dry. The canister isWith daily use, the outer metal layer soon develops a unique patina that will reveal its beauty after many years.
Kaikado states on their website: “Our ‘chazutsu’ can be repaired even if they are dented or distorted. They can be passed down from generation to generation because of the traditional hand-making techniques even now being practiced. Your grandchildren’s grandchildren will be able to bring their ‘chazutsu’ back to craftsmen if they ever need maintenance.Kaikado will continue to provide living tools that can be used even 100 years later.” This makes me very happy to read.