TeaChat

wyardley wrote: I think it's worth keeping in mind that drinking tea brewed very strong in small cups is not the only way to brew tea.

You take that back!!!

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum,happy to have found you guys!

I've been looking a small teacup infuser for use at the office and finally chanced upon one. I was told that it was zhuni, but that was before i know what that meant.

That being said, it does retain heat very well, seems very solid and produces a high pitched 'ping' when struck, and doesn't seem to hold/absorb fragrances. It works well for me with High Mountain Oolong and Phoenix Dancong.

Any thoughts on if it really is zhuni or some other clay would be much appreciated. Don't recall seeing any zhuni cups/infusers on the forum, not sure if they even made them!

tingjunkie wrote:

auhckw wrote: From largest (top) to smallest (down). Guestimates should be 220ml to 180ml. I will measure it next time.

Someone has to fill me in on this... Why is this size so popular in China/Taiwan? Is the average Yixing user there always drinking with multiple friends? Are they not pushing the tea to it's limits, but drinking in a much more relaxed style? Are they such fiends that they need to gongfu in something so big? Why are sub 100ml pots more difficult to find?

Sub 100ml pots are useless as soon as you have more than one person.

MarshalN wrote: Sub 100ml pots are useless as soon as you have more than one person.

I wouldn't go that far. I actually like using 70-80 ml for 3-4 people with small cups for many oolongs. Just depends on the size of cups you're using and the kind of tea you're drinking.

wyardley wrote:

MarshalN wrote: Sub 100ml pots are useless as soon as you have more than one person.

I wouldn't go that far. I actually like using 70-80 ml for 3-4 people with small cups for many oolongs. Just depends on the size of cups you're using and the kind of tea you're drinking.

Agreed, depends on what kind of tea. I think 70-80ml is perfect for two people with most teas. For chou zhou style yancha or TGY, I think you can even get away with 40-60ml for two people.

Got these today on 12/12/12 from 大茶树记 (dà chá shù jì) aka Tacha, a local teashop here in Malaysia that specialized in producing own teapots, selling first factory teapots, artist teapots and premium puerh.



Teapot shape: 一粒珠 (yī lì zhū)

Teapot design: Based on 四君子 (sì jūn zǐ) - Four Gentlemen
What? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Gentlemen

Each teapot has carving that represents 1 of the 4 plants. There are 4 plants, therefore 4 teapots.

This series is the only y2012 production. Total 30 sets. Took them almost 1 year to get it done.

Clay used are from 90s, the finest grade and oldest stored clay from the studio that made it.

All are high fired at 1190c except 老段 (lǎo duàn) which is 1200c.

The teapots are semi handmade using the same mold but size differs due to shrinkage. Multi-hole inside. Bottom is like this:

The chop is the shop's name

Size (Left to Right):

青灰泥 (qīng huī ní) - 200ml
底槽青 (dǐ cáo qīng) - 200ml
老段 (lǎo duàn) - 180ml
朱泥 (zhū ní) - 160ml

Carving:

青灰泥 (qīng huī ní) - 200ml
梅 (méi) – Plum Blossom


底槽青 (dǐ cáo qīng) - 200ml
兰 (lán) – Orchid


老段 (lǎo duàn) - 180ml
竹 (zhú) – Bamboo


朱泥 (zhū ní) - 160ml
菊 (jú) – Chrysanthemum


Loving them

I'm throwing money at the screen and nothing is happening!!!

MarshalN wrote:

tingjunkie wrote:

auhckw wrote: From largest (top) to smallest (down). Guestimates should be 220ml to 180ml. I will measure it next time.

Someone has to fill me in on this... Why is this size so popular in China/Taiwan? Is the average Yixing user there always drinking with multiple friends? Are they not pushing the tea to it's limits, but drinking in a much more relaxed style? Are they such fiends that they need to gongfu in something so big? Why are sub 100ml pots more difficult to find?

Sub 100ml pots are useless as soon as you have more than one person.

My wife and I have had many great sessions with a 75 ml teapot. With old Tea or Yancha I think that pots under a hundred ml can work fine for up to three people. I will agree with your point for other teas though.

Where do I get some?!

tingjunkie wrote:

auhckw wrote: From largest (top) to smallest (down). Guestimates should be 220ml to 180ml. I will measure it next time.

Someone has to fill me in on this... Why is this size so popular in China/Taiwan? Is the average Yixing user there always drinking with multiple friends? Are they not pushing the tea to it's limits, but drinking in a much more relaxed style? Are they such fiends that they need to gongfu in something so big? Why are sub 100ml pots more difficult to find?

In my experience, tea in Southeast Asia, Malaysia especially, China, and Korea is seen as much more social. Enough people drink tea regularly that it seems like drinking alone isn't as common.

Also, tea is not nearly so hard to find nor as expensive as it is in the West, so it isn't a such a big deal to push the tea to its limits in a larger pot. Some vendors will push to 20 infusions, but many vendors will drop tea after 5 or 7 (scandalous to me, when the tea still has life!!!). Also, the overall feel is usually more relaxed as I have experienced it. Taetea dealers seem to always use smaller pots (and subpar water, and subpar tea), but otherwise most dealers I interact with seem to use larger pots. Finding smaller pots out this way has actually been a significant challenge.

I haven't been to Taiwan, but I noticed that in Hong Kong, folks seemed to use generally smaller pots and cups than in other places, but in Yixing folks used larger pots and larger cups than most other places.

tingjunkie wrote:Why are sub 100ml pots more difficult to find?

The social drinking thing, a ceremony like the Last Supper. But things change and so do human customs, so more <100mL pots and less of those big "boats." I have also started to value and enjoy more Xiao Pin pots. I want to get rid of some of the big pots I have which I don't use for that reason.

TIM wrote:

TIM wrote:
A very rare Grape Purple Sand. 1970's SP. 1st show by High Mountain Anxi Xiping Tikwanyin Yancha.


After first use. I hope to document the patina changes if anyone is interested

2nd use ended 12/13/2012. Morning winter light at 7am.

It´s changing so fast

Seems like the lighting condition changed?

MarshalN wrote:Seems like the lighting condition changed?

Im no photographer Boss Its certainly more blue in the hue at those cold winter light.