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Yixing
(pronounced “Yee-Shing”) teapots are very special teapots made from zisha
clay, a rare type of purplish clay made of iron, quartz and mica. It is found
only in Yixing, China; a town located roughly 120 miles north west of Shanghai
amidst rolling hills. Zisha clay is so unique in fact, that Yixing is the only
place in the world where it can be found. This very rare material gives the
Yixing teapot special properties that make it one of the most sought after
teapots in the world, for both collectors and tea enthusiasts alike.
Yixing teapots
originated during the Sung Dynasty (960 – 1279) where they were first handmade
on a potter’s wheel. As they continued to be produced through the 17th,
18th and 19th centuries, their simple design and
unpretentious beauty began to mature. As Yixing teapots grew in popularity,
scholars made and collected them with fervor, improving on their designs and
craftsmanship.
Traditionally,
Yixing teapots are small enough so that an individual can have their own.
Interestingly, the teacups that are used with a Yixing teapot are proportionate
to the size of the pot itself. Therefore, someone with a very small Yixing
teapot could easily drink 100 cups of tea a day.
Zisha clay comes
naturally in blue, red and purple colors. When mineral pigments are added to the
clay, new colors can be created. For example, mixing blue clay with cobalt oxide
creates black teapots. Years of experimentation and development have created a
massive range of Yixing teapot colors. Perhaps the most famous type of Yixing
teapot is called Zishayao. The clay in this teapot contains a high amount of
iron, which creates a deep purple-brown, similar to the skin of a pear.
Besides the
Yixing teapot’s beauty, it is also considered to be one of the finest tea
brewing pots in the world. It is said that if you pour hot water into an empty
Yixing teapot that has been in use for many years, you can brew tea without any
tea leaves. Zisha clay is extremely porous and will absorb the flavor of tea,
making each brew better and more flavorful every time it is used. Another
special quality of zisha clay is its ability to retain heat. It has a low
shrinkage rate when the clay is fired in a kiln, and potters can create a
tightly fitting lid that will decrease oxidization and further increase tea
flavor. What’s more, zisha clay comes free of any toxic materials like lead,
arsenic and cadmium, which can found in some other types of clay.
Yixing teapots
are arguably among the finest teapots in the world. When evaluating a teapot’s
brewing quality, four factors are taken into consideration: The color of the tea
produced, and the levels of phenol, caffeine and aminophylline. The Yixing
teapot’s performance has been found to be superior to that of standard teapots
in all four areas of testing.
Not only are
Yixing teapots an important part of Asian culture and sought after by tea
enthusiasts and collectors across the world, but they are unique and valuable
works of art. Each one is a simplistically beautiful tribute to the Asian arts,
and each one brews a healthier, superior, more flavorful cup of tea as well.
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