At Thea, we’ve always believed that matcha is more than a drink, it’s a moment. And often, it’s the objects we hold that shape that moment. Our exclusive limited collection with Yeram is live on the website.
The Flower Chawan Bowl and the Flower Chasen Naoshi - Bamboo Whisk holder
or the Minimal Chawan Bowl and the Minimal Chasen Naoshi, Bamboo Whisk Holder
In this collaboration, we sat down with the maker behind Yeram Ceramics, whose pieces embody calm, intention, and the quiet beauty of everyday rituals.
An Organic Beginning
Yeram Ceramics began not as a plan, but as a feeling.
Growing up, Yeram was always drawn to making, whether through baking, cooking, or small crafts shared with others. Hosting and creating experiences came naturally, but ceramics brought all of those elements together in a way that felt different.
After experiencing burnout in previous work, she spent time in Korea searching for what might come next. It was there, in a small hand-building class, that something shifted.
Clay clicked.
What started as curiosity quickly became something deeper, a practice she knew she wanted to pursue long-term.
The name Yeram itself carries this meaning. “Ye” comes from art, while “Ram” reflects growth, like a deep blue emerging and intensifying over time. Together, it speaks to an evolving creative spirit, one that continues to unfold through her work.
Designing for Everyday Life
There’s a quietness to Yeram’s ceramics.
Each piece is made with the intention of living alongside someone, not standing apart from them. When she creates, she imagines the vessel in another person’s hands, part of their daily rhythm.
Her forms lean toward softness and simplicity. Nothing feels forced or overly refined. Instead, there’s a calmness, a grounding quality that invites use without demanding attention.
This philosophy echoes through subtle cultural influences. While not overt, her Korean roots show up in an appreciation for restraint, balance, and natural form. There’s a respect for imperfection, and an understanding that objects don’t need to be flawless to be meaningful.
Shaped by Place
Now based in New Zealand, Yeram’s work has taken on new layers.
Having grown up by both lake and sea, those textures and landscapes find their way into her ceramics. Her signature marbled clay, created by blending two bodies of clay, is often compared to seashells or coastal cliffs.
There’s a sense of place in each piece. Slower, more grounded, connected to nature.
It’s not something overly defined, but something you feel when you hold it.
The Craft Behind a Matcha Bowl
Matcha and ceramics naturally belong together.
The weight of a bowl, the texture beneath your fingers, the way it holds warmth. These details shape the ritual, slowing it down and bringing presence into something simple.
When designing a matcha bowl or whisk holder, Yeram begins not with sketches, but with use.
She thinks about how the piece will sit in someone’s life. How it will be held, how the whisk will move, how it returns to the same spot each day.
From there, ideas move straight into clay. Forms are thrown on the wheel, refined at the leather-hard stage, and slowly dried before their first firing. Glazing comes last, soft and understated, allowing the matcha itself to stand out.
A well-made matcha bowl, to her, should feel natural in the hands and effortless to use. Open enough for whisking, balanced in weight, and shaped to support the movement of the chasen.
Nothing excessive. Just considered.
Ritual in the Everyday
For Yeram, ceramics aren’t reserved for special occasions.
They’re meant to be used.
Even takeaway food or a simple pastry becomes something more when placed on a handmade piece. The vessel changes the experience, often in ways we don’t immediately notice.
There’s a particular marbled mug she often returns to, one of the first pieces she ever made. Not perfect, but familiar. The kind of object that quietly becomes part of your routine.
A Natural Collaboration
Our collaboration came together in much the same way Yeram’s practice began, organically.
During one of her studio pop-up cafés, May wandered in after a recommendation from Nathan of Studio Foon. Months later, after connecting again at one of Thea’s early matcha workshops, the idea of creating something together felt obvious.
The piece we’ve created reflects both practices.
An open, welcoming form for whisking. A soft, understated glaze. A focus on balance, comfort, and everyday use.
A vessel designed not just to hold matcha, but to hold a moment.
Looking Ahead
For Yeram, the future isn’t rigidly mapped out.
There’s an openness to growth, whether that looks like expanding her studio, hosting more workshops, or continuing to create pieces that become part of people’s daily rituals.
With a background in hospitality, the idea of a pottery café continues to call. A space that brings together making, sharing, and gathering.
And, at some point, a return to Korea to deepen her understanding of both traditional and modern ceramic techniques.
Because, like matcha, ceramics is something you continue to learn over a lifetime.
A Final Thought
For anyone new to handmade ceramics, Yeram offers a simple perspective.
Choose pieces you’re drawn to. And use them.
The value isn’t in keeping them safe on a shelf, but in letting them become part of your everyday. In the small, repeated moments that turn objects into something meaningful.
