Japanese Tenugui

Like a lot of Japanese things, tenuguis are an example of design that just works. In essence, they’re a traditional multi-purpose cloth. Draped around the neck and used to mop a sweaty forehead, (or dipped in water to keep the back of the neck cool in the middle of summer), used as a bandana or headband, and also used to wrap things up in, like little Japanese lunch boxes.

However, we like them for their utilitarian strength. The wide, longer format of them means they can be tied on a belt loop and used for wiping down a portafilter mid-service, drying your hands on, or mopping up spillages on the fly.

They’re made and printed in Japan, same thickness and finish as you’d expect over there, with the gentle fraying at the ends over time. Kinda like the patina on a much loved pan.

We got these traditional tenuguis first and foremost for our baristas, our friends working on the front lines of coffee service. But you know what, there’s no end of uses for these things and we love them. Great for wiping dust from your vinyl maybe, or brushing down crumbs from smashing in a pastry (more likely), or maybe a tiny table cloth for a coffee table. Endless possibilities innit.

We have a limited number of these tenuguis available in the store.