A Newb in need :)

[BreatheEasy]

I don't want to be that guy, but I was hoping somebody here could help me out

I have always been taught (well with yixings anyway) that "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is." I take this to heart whenever I am in search of yixing, and I hope to never run into any fakes again.

Sooooo, here is the dealio. I am looking for two yixings. One to be under 90ml (preferably), and the other to be at around 150 - 170. I have found a few at great prices....but then the thought is always at the back of my head, that it might not be real. Which makes it a very difficult decision for a broke college student like myself.

Anywhoo, before I bore you all to death, here are the small yixings that I was looking at:

(1) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yixing-ZISHA-Te ... 588e4aaef1

(2) http://www.yunnancolorful.com/yixing-sm ... p1164.html

and

(3) http://www.yunnancolorful.com/china-yix ... .html#show

The first one does not have too great of photos, and the clay looks questionable (imo) because of the price, but I read on here that someone bought this yixing and it was a champ. So that gives me a bit of relief.

The next few are a couple of midsize yixings, that range rather drastically in price:

(1) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ping-Guo-Yixing ... 4843512896

(2) http://www.silkroadteas.com/servlet/the ... --6/Detail

(3) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yixing-Zisha-ZH ... 5891886723

The silkroadteas yixing is very cheap and there are no photos to even analyze the pot. This one makes me feel a bit sketched out, but I can't help but think to myself that maybe it is real and that price is just oh so perfect. I might get it to just find out if it's the real deal. But yeah, I hope you guys have a bit of helpful info for someone like myself, who is rather inexperienced with yixings

Also, I become very skeptical about zhuni clay, especially since I have been taught that it is pretty much impossible for a real zhuni pot to be so cheap. That they are more than likely fakes. I do hope you guys can help me out, and make this an easier decision for me

[BreatheEasy]

also...I do not know how to set links to other sites

[debunix]

As someone with a collection of very small and very cheap 'yixing' pots, I can give no help at all with the question of hwich pots to buy, except to point out that even my cheapo little pots can brew some very nice tea with careful use.

And BTW, for spam prevention, new members do not have permission to post links for the first (mumble) days of membership.

[BreatheEasy]

hahah ok well I'll try my hardest not to spam

and thank you for the input. I do not want to seem picky or anything but I just don't want to deal with any lead problems coming from some of the fake pots.

[bagua7]

My opinion:

Small yixings

1. Yes. A slipcast pot but clay is OK.
2. No
3. No

Medium yixings

1. No
2. No
3. No (fake zhu ni, you are right)

Try to spend some more money (or use a porcelain or glass teaware) instead of wasting money in fakes loaded with chemicals.

Good luck.

[BioHorn]

My opinion:

Small yixings

1. Yes. A slipcast pot but clay is OK.
2. No
3. No

Medium yixings

1. No
2. No
3. No (fake zhu ni, you are right)

Try to spend some more money (or use a porcelain or glass teaware) instead of wasting money in fakes loaded with chemicals.

Good luck.

+1 on all of the above.
I have the 50 ml pot. It works quite well.
Buy a good gaiwan.
Like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-White-Gong ... 7348wt_993

or this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zhen-Chang-Shun ... 6359wt_993

[GongFuChan]

Look around at some of the starter sets also. You can get a full zisha set for $40 or under. Just stick with brown pots until your budget increases. The shape and thickness of the pot makes clay pot brewing a treat.

I don't recommend gaiwan if what you're really looking for is clay pot.

[MarshalN]

I echo the call for gaiwan. It's the best thing for a newbie.

[BreatheEasy]

Thanks so much for the advice guys. I really appreciate it

I do have a Gaiwan set that I ordered from JKTeashop not too long ago. It's 150ml, but I plan on getting one at the most of 100ml within the next few months.

Btw, I decided to go with the 50cc brown pot from zen8, and another one of their 160ml zishas. I think it was the right decision for me at the moment. It will be my last tea purchase for a little while....(or until my next paycheck )

It's amazing how you get accustomed to using smaller and smaller brewing vessels as time goes on. I remember getting my gaiwan and thinking it was the smallest thing and that I wouldn't even be able to make any tea in it. And now, well now it seems far too big for just myself

And thanks again for the input guys!