I figure you ITD people could give me some good opinions, so I'm posting this here as well as in the teaware forum.
I bought many yixing pots in China, many of which I haven't dedicated to any tea yet.
I have a general idea of how to match pots to teas, but I don't have a handle on the finer points.
For example, I allocated a flatter duan ni pot to dancong and it's never gotten the aromatics right. Two people who know their pots have both given me reasons why the pot is poor for dancong--the first said it's not quite the right shape but would be ok with seasoning. The other said that duan ni clay isn't good for aromatic teas.
On the other hand, I used a thick-walled blended duan ni and hong ni pot for sheng pu'er and my tea has been marvelous from the first time I used it.
I wanted to gather some opinions/knowledge on the subject of how to associate a pot with a tea. I've listed some parameters below, and maybe there are more I haven't thought of.
Please give me the best of your know-how!
Parameters:
CLAY:
-Types (zi ni, zhu ni, hong ni, lu ni, duan ni, hei ni etc.)
-Thickness
-"Density" / porosity
SHAPE:
-specific shapes "shui pin" "bai le" "shi piao"
-general characteristics "round / flat" "tall / short"
-size?
-footed/not footed*
-shape of the lid?*
*does this even matter?
much appreciated
Nov 26th, '07, 15:36
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bearsbearsbears
Nov 26th, '07, 16:00
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Space Samurai
Nov 26th, '07, 16:57
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bearsbearsbears
I'm wondering if I need to start a Yixing livejournal with the hopes of attracting the knowledgeable.Space Samurai wrote:Wow...one thing is clear, Bears knows more about yixing then I ever will.
Perhaps "Intense" wasn't the right modifier for our forum, how about "Moderately Enthusiastic?"
Sorry I can't be of more help.
Nov 26th, '07, 18:20
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Bears I generally have asked Guang for help when I dedicate a new pot. He suggests that the pot should always choose the tea and not the the owner. From your post, it can be suggested that you already know enought about pots to make an informed decision. I generally use my thicker yixing to dedicate to puerh as thicker pots retain more heat to extract the oils. For lighter oolongs I generally use a thinner pot in order to control for heat. For flat shaped pots I dedicate my oolongs or unrolled puerhs that are longer in length as the flat shape will faciliate a better extraction and you dont have to break the leaves as much which will of course cause a more bitter brew. Duani pots.. well yellow clay I have heard much of its properties. For my rock teas I generally use a smaller zhuni no more than 100cc. I have discussed this with people in the know and they suggest that with rock teas it is generally a good idea to use a small vessle. I think it only has to do with the fact that rock teas are expensive and it is appropiate to fill the vessle atleast half way. Are you just doing market research to start a new forum? 
Nov 26th, '07, 19:39
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Stephane has a good article here:
http://tinyurl.com/2np88v
I think it's mostly a matter of thinking about how the tea will expand as it steeps and finding a shape that will let it do so without resistance, and matching the thickness to the tea's heat requirements.
Beyond that I would imagine that it's primarily a matter of experience and trial and error.
http://tinyurl.com/2np88v
I think it's mostly a matter of thinking about how the tea will expand as it steeps and finding a shape that will let it do so without resistance, and matching the thickness to the tea's heat requirements.
Beyond that I would imagine that it's primarily a matter of experience and trial and error.
Nov 26th, '07, 19:46
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ABx
Nov 26th, '07, 20:01
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Hehe, I still have a bunch of pots to break in.. just a matter of deciding what to dedicate each to.
I was also just thinking that there are going to be other variables involved, such as how it was made:
- A pot that had the clay pounded much harder than another is going to be more dense
- One that has grog (bits of already fired dust mixed in with the raw clay, often added to make the clay stronger) will likely impart different qualities
- One that was fired more, or re-fired for whatever reason, may impart different qualities
- One that's worked more while being made may impart different qualities
- The initial processing of the clay, or clay from different areas, may impart different qualities (slightly different mineral balances)
- and so on...
Some of these things may not be readily apparent in the final product unless you've been making them yourself for a very long time, and some differences may be so subtle that it's not worth noting. <shrugs>
I was also just thinking that there are going to be other variables involved, such as how it was made:
- A pot that had the clay pounded much harder than another is going to be more dense
- One that has grog (bits of already fired dust mixed in with the raw clay, often added to make the clay stronger) will likely impart different qualities
- One that was fired more, or re-fired for whatever reason, may impart different qualities
- One that's worked more while being made may impart different qualities
- The initial processing of the clay, or clay from different areas, may impart different qualities (slightly different mineral balances)
- and so on...
Some of these things may not be readily apparent in the final product unless you've been making them yourself for a very long time, and some differences may be so subtle that it's not worth noting. <shrugs>