Taiwanese clay teapots

[bagua7]

Does anyone know of any vendors who put up for sale clay pots online?

I am on a tight budget and knowing that real Yixings are worth a lot, I am looking at Taiwanese produce instead.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[tingjunkie]

I did remember one vendor after all- Luh Yu. I had forgotten that they had an online store as well as the physical store. The owners are very great folks to deal with as well. http://shop.luhyutea.com/Teapots_c2.htm ... cstrfrnt05

[bagua7]

Thanks heaps. I owe you one.

[britt]

I did remember one vendor after all- Luh Yu. I had forgotten that they had an online store as well as the physical store. The owners are very great folks to deal with as well. http://shop.luhyutea.com/Teapots_c2.htm ... cstrfrnt05

I never saw the Luh Yu site before. It's good to have a Taiwanese alternative to Yixings.

Although I haven't made a purchase from them, Tea First also has some very good Taiwanese teaware.

http://www.teafirst.com/default.html

[bagua7]

britt, thanks for the last link.

On a side note, are machine made teapots OK to purchase?

[chicagopotter]

On a side note, are machine made teapots OK to purchase?

If you like the piece, pick it up, regardless of how its made.

[britt]

britt, thanks for the last link.

On a side note, are machine made teapots OK to purchase?

You're welcome!

I don't see why not. Some people have mentioned they actually have a better lid fit. I am wary of low-priced pots from mainland China but there are some available from Taiwan that should be fine. Tea First has some interesting Taiwanese teapots, some are hand-made and some are machine-made. They clearly label them which is which.

[bagua7]

On a side note, are machine made teapots OK to purchase?

If you like the piece, pick it up, regardless of how its made.

Yes, I know but for me the end result (tea in my mouth ) is what matters most. Now, I have sent a couple of e-mails to TeaFirst and this is the reply I got:

All of our teapots are made in Taiwan by artisans. The clay is natural with no chemicals, dyes or added pigments. The color of certain clays are achieved by the potter by combining clays.
We do not sell teapots or teaware that are adulterated with chemicals or bleaches.
Also all our teapots are functional not just for aesthetics.

My question is related to the following: The color of certain clays are achieved by the potter by combining clays.

What do you think of this sort of practice? Does it have a negative effect on the brew?

[Herb_Master]

I am not sure which direction you are heading in right now!

You started by appraising us of a tight budget, but now seem to be seeking every last ounce of perfection from clay purity and brewing quality. I am not sure if the 2 go hand in hand.

I was under the impression that Taiwanese labour was more highly remunerated than that on Mainland China, so would have expected better price performance at the lower end of the scale from China.

Here is my thought -

Chinese pottery studios tend to have a top artisan whose works command higher prices than those of the less regarded artisans and much higher than the studio technicians and apprentices. Many teachatters have purchased from Shouzen and commented favourably on the clay. As far as I can tell everyone has purchased works by the top artisan Jianming Chen (grandson of the very famous studio founder). Chen's work tends to start at $99 which may be beyond your budget, but the apprentice potters presumably use the same clay.

From Xiaofang Wan (Junior Artisan??) prices can be as low as $49
http://www.zishateapot.co.uk/chinese-yi ... -p-55.html

From Chelong Wang (Apprentice??) as low as $20
http://www.zishateapot.co.uk/chinese-yi ... -p-85.html

[Tead Off]

My question is related to the following: The color of certain clays are achieved by the potter by combining clays.

What do you think of this sort of practice? Does it have a negative effect on the brew?

What do you mean by negative? Natural clays differ from one another. The minerals found within them determine their color. Iron content when high produces a red color clay. Iron is said to affect tea the most. This is why many people like tetsubin for heating water. If you combine a different type of clay with red, iron rich clay, you will only dilute the overall iron content. Is that negative?

[bagua7]

I am not sure which direction you are heading in right now!

You started by appraising us of a tight budget, but now seem to be seeking every last ounce of perfection from clay purity and brewing quality. I am not sure if the 2 go hand in hand.

I was under the impression that Taiwanese labour was more highly remunerated than that on Mainland China, so would have expected better price performance at the lower end of the scale from China.

Here is my thought -

Chinese pottery studios tend to have a top artisan whose works command higher prices than those of the less regarded artisans and much higher than the studio technicians and apprentices. Many teachatters have purchased from Shouzen and commented favourably on the clay. As far as I can tell everyone has purchased works by the top artisan Jianming Chen (grandson of the very famous studio founder). Chen's work tends to start at $99 which may be beyond your budget, but the apprentice potters presumably use the same clay.

From Xiaofang Wan (Junior Artisan??) prices can be as low as $49
http://www.zishateapot.co.uk/chinese-yi ... -p-55.html

From Chelong Wang (Apprentice??) as low as $20
http://www.zishateapot.co.uk/chinese-yi ... -p-85.html

Thanks for your suggestions.

I am still learning (and yes I am a cheap ass! )