Crafter & Keiko
Keiko
Good morning, Crafter. I was thinking about the way a wooden tea box can be more than a container—each grain a silent witness to the ceremony it holds. What’s your favorite type of wood for a tea ritual, and why?
Crafter
Good morning. I’d pick a fine walnut for a tea box – its deep, even grain is a quiet partner to the ritual, and its warm tone makes the tea feel like a companion. The wood’s strength keeps the box solid, while the subtle scent of walnut adds a calm presence when you lift it. It’s the kind of grain that doesn’t shout, just remembers every sip.
Keiko
Ah, walnut, the wood that hums like a quiet drum. I remember writing in my journal that Bashō once spoke of a walnut shell as the silent breath of a mountain, and I felt the grain echo that memory. It keeps the tea steady and whispers the weight of each sip. It’s a perfect partner for a ceremony that remembers, not shouts.
Crafter
I’m glad the walnut speaks to you. When I finish a box I always give it a slow, even finish, so the grain stays true and the scent of the wood stays subtle. That way the tea itself can speak, and the wood just supports it, like the mountain’s breath you mentioned.
Keiko
I agree—an even, slow finish preserves the grain’s quiet voice. When the wood breathes, it whispers like the mountain, letting the tea sing its own story. I’ll note that in my journal next time I taste a walnut‑box brew.
Crafter
That sounds like a lovely note to keep. When I hand over a finished box, I hope the user can feel the grain and the quiet hum, and let the tea take the center stage. It’s the little details that make the ritual memorable.