Black Natsume

A natsume (棗) is a small lidded tea caddy used to store and serve powdered matcha, traditionally made of lacquered wood and shaped like a jujube fruit (natsume in Japanese) — which is where it gets its name. In the tea ceremony, the natsume holds the matcha that will be scooped out with the chashaku and whisked into the chawan.

Unlike the chaki (a broader term for any matcha container), the natsume specifically refers to this rounded, lidded style used for usucha (thin tea), and its simple, elegant form is often considered a quiet centerpiece of the ceremony in its own right — sometimes decorated with subtle lacquer designs, gold accents, or seasonal motifs.