Make Pinch-Pot Chai Cups (Kulhad-Style) in Dharamshala
Pinch a pair of handle-less chai cups from a ball of clay, kulhad-style, glazed inside so they hold tea for years rather than one roadside cup.
A 90-minute pinch-pot workshop at Mita Pottery Studio in Rakkar, Dharamshala. You pinch a pair of handle-less, kulhad-style chai cups from clay, glazed inside for daily use. ₹1,800 per person with food-safe glaze and firing included. The cups are ready to collect 3–6 weeks later.
IllustrationDuration
90 minutes — 75 min making, 15 min clean-up
Group size
Up to 6 guests
Price
₹1,800 / person
Firing
Clay, glaze and firing included
Skill level
Beginner — no experience needed
Age
10 and up
Takeaway
After firing · 3–6 weeks
What you'll take home
Illustration- Pieces
- A pair of chai cups, about 120 ml each
- Finish
- Food-safe glaze inside; outside raw or glazed
- Care
- Microwave- and dishwasher-safe
Illustration. Yours will be shaped by your own hands.
Before you book
Glazing takes 3–6 weeks
Two firings, so finished pieces are ready 3–6 weeks later.
Glaze & firing included
The price covers clay, glaze and both firings; shipping & handling is ₹350 a piece.
Fees are non-refundable
Fixed rates, no discounts, and no refunds — including no-shows.
Handmade, not commercial
Beginner pieces sometimes break in the making — that's normal.
Trimming and shaping can't be promised
Uneven first-attempt walls can't always be trimmed — we try, no guarantees.
Extra time is ₹1,500/hour
Sessions run for the booked duration; longer is ₹1,500 an hour.
Full studio terms are below — worth two minutes before you request a slot.
Request a slot
Tell us when suits you. We'll confirm the exact time and hold your spot on WhatsApp — usually within a few hours.
Preview your message
Hi Mita Pottery Studio! I'd like to request a workshop slot. *Workshop:* Pinch-Pot Chai Cups (90 minutes) *Preferred date:* Flexible — suggest a date *Preferred time:* Flexible — any time *Guests:* 1 · ₹1,800 total, glaze & firing included *Name:* — Sent from the workshop page on mitapottery.com
Opens WhatsApp with everything filled in — just hit send. Nothing is charged here; we confirm the slot and payment together. Cancellation policy
Prefer to call? +91 88796 54294
The kulhad is the cup every chai stall in India hands you, and the one everyone throws away. These keep the shape (the narrow foot, the slight flare, the way it sits in a palm) and add a glaze inside so they last.
They are pinched, not thrown: a ball of clay, two thumbs, slow turns. It is the oldest way of making a cup, and the most personal, because every press is yours.
What you'll do
Madhumita shows you how to open a ball of clay with your thumb and pinch the wall up evenly as you turn it, a little at a time, so it stays round and thin. You shape the kulhad silhouette or a straight espresso cup, set a foot, and press a thumb rest into the side if you like.
Then you choose the finish. A glazed inside with the outside left raw is the classic kulhad look; a two-tone dip or a full glaze both work. Make a matching pair, or one each if you come as two.
The session, step by step
- 01Welcome, chai (in someone else's cup, for now)
- 02Open the clay and pinch the wall up
- 03Shape the kulhad flare or a straight cup
- 04Set the foot and add a thumb rest
- 05Make the second cup to match
- 06Choose a glaze: inside only, dipped, or full
The session, in motion
Ideas to start from
Directions guests often take. Bring one, mix two, or arrive with nothing and decide at the table.
IllustrationHalf-dipped
IllustrationA set of four, espresso size
IllustrationA thumb rest
IllustrationOne each
What's included
Clay, all tools, guidance throughout, chai, and both firings with a food-safe glaze. Glaze and firing are included.
Wear & bring
Nothing. Short fingernails make pinching easier.
Who this is for
Tea drinkers, couples who want one cup each, and anyone who wants a first piece that is used every single day.
Meet Madhumita
Madhumita founded Studio Mita in Rakkar and teaches every session herself. Small tables, one person guiding six at most, and time to get the detail right rather than rushing to the clean-up.
— ceramic artist & founder, Studio Mita
Read her full storyStudio terms
What to expect, in full
These apply to every session at the studio. Please read them before requesting a slot — booking means you're happy with them.
Glazing takes 3–6 weeks
Glazing involves two separate firings, so your piece is ready 3–6 weeks after the session. We'll message you as soon as it's out of the kiln — there's no need to follow up before then, as firing times can't be sped up regardless of check-ins. Pieces not collected within one month of being ready are discarded, as we have limited storage space.
Glaze & firing included
Yes. The workshop price covers the session, your clay allowance, tools, guidance, glaze and both firings — there is nothing to pay per piece afterwards. Each workshop's price is set by the piece you make: how much clay it takes and how much kiln space. Studio pickup is free; if you'd like your finished piece sent to you, shipping & handling within India is ₹350 per piece.
Fees are non-refundable
Our rates are fixed and don't include discounts. Fees are non-refundable, including no-shows and cancellations.
Handmade, not commercial
This is studio pottery — handmade, one piece at a time, with natural variation from one piece to the next. It won't look like the smooth, uniform finish of commercial ceramics, and that's the point, not a flaw. Since workshop pieces are made by beginners, breakage during the process — while shaping, drying, or firing — is a real possibility, not a rare exception. Glaze results can also vary. This is a normal part of learning pottery, and the studio isn't responsible for pieces that don't survive the process.
Trimming and shaping can't be promised
Whether a piece can be trimmed and shaped properly depends entirely on how it was made. First attempts rarely come out at a consistent thickness, and walls that are uneven — too thin in one place, too heavy in another — can't always be trimmed to a clean profile without the piece collapsing or cracking. We'll always try our best to shape and trim what you've made, but we can't guarantee the outcome. Please don't come expecting commercial-grade perfection from a first build; the wobble is the honest record of your own hands.
Extra time is ₹1,500/hour
Sessions run for the booked duration. Additional time beyond that is ₹1,500 per hour.
What the session covers
Extra requests like jewellery, charms, or pieces outside the workshop scope aren't included — the same goes for underglazing and choosing specific glaze colours. All of it can be discussed as a separate add-on booking if you're interested, so do ask.
Your pace, your piece
Everyone's creative pace is different. We'll guide you through the process, but pottery takes practice — we don't guarantee a specific outcome, and that's part of what makes each piece genuinely yours.
Damage in transit
Pieces are packaged carefully, but we're not responsible for damage once they leave the studio.
Photography at the studio
We may photograph the studio and finished pieces for our social media. Let us know if you'd prefer not to be included.
More about this workshop
Are they food- and microwave-safe?
Yes. The inside is glazed in a food-safe finish and the cups are fired to stoneware temperature, so they are microwave- and dishwasher-safe.
How big are they?
A chai cup holds about 120 ml, like a roadside kulhad. You can make them smaller for espresso.
Is the kulhad glazed inside?
Yes. Traditional kulhads are unglazed and single-use; these are glazed inside so they can be washed and used for years.
Can a couple make one each?
Yes. Book a seat each and you each make a pair, so you go home with four.
I want a mug with a handle. Is this the right workshop?
For a handled mug, book Make Your Own Mug. This workshop makes handle-less cups.
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Cancellation
Fees are non-refundable, including no-shows and cancellations. Tell us as early as you can if plans change.
Accessibility
The studio is on the 1st floor, stairs only. Call or WhatsApp +91 88796 54294 in advance with accessibility questions.
Getting here
First Floor, Ghoomakkad New Bldg, Rakkar Rd, Rakkar, Himachal Pradesh 176057. Directions
₹1,800/ person
90 minutes · any open day





