Set of sencha tea ware, Kyoto Ware

The beginning of Kyoto Ware can be traced back to the making of chawan (tea bowl) - a utensil for the enjoyment of matcha (powdered green tea) drinking. In the first half of the Edo period matcha tea utensils created by the famous Kyoto potter, Nonomura Ninsei, became popular among people with prominent social standings. In the latter half of the Edo period when sencha (a type of green tea) served in kyūsu or Chinese-style small teapot became a trend, Kyoto potters also started to make small teapots and teacups.