Problem with Yixing teapot

[bagua7]

A few days ago, I received from a well known provider 2 new teapots, in order to use each one on a certain Oolong type. The first one was slightly broken (a very, very small part of the lid's edge). The vendor proposed me to be refunded for 50% of the buying price which I accepted...

Proposed? One broken pot? One they can't sell in his shopfront. Dishonest vendor. You should have returned both pots and asked for a refund.

Before buying anything online, especially if one is a beginner, you should have asked for help in this forum to avoid being ripped off.

[Teaism]

Personally I am really doubtful over the new Yixing pot. Compared with the 70s-90s pot, the new pot alway have something that don't make you feel comfortable. Even worse when it obtained via online. I suggest for newbie, take your time to learn and search for 70s-90s pot and use gaiwan in the meantime. You really need to be very careful when pursuing new Yixing pot.

[Cha Arles]

Thanks for all your replies.
I don't know if the vendor is honest or not, but he proposed me to refund for the second teapot, I asked to be refunded for the cups too, which have the same clay and taste the same.

I think I will invest a little more for having a nice teapot. Target tea are mid to high roasted Oolongs.

Could you please give opinion on this links:

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessori ... fl-oz.html

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessori ... l-5oz.html

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessori ... 0ml-s.html

Feel free to propose other matching teapots, price range not exceeding the 250 $ and pots from 100 to 160 ml.

[futurebird]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200867678665?ss ... 1439.l2649

I'm very happy with this pot. The quality of the clay is very nice, no issues at all.

I tend to use a smaller even less expensive pot more often since the ideal pot size is about 60ml for me.

I think the pots at dragon teahouse might be a little better in their craftmanship (it's hard to tell though) --but I don't think anyone could tell if a tea was brewed in this vs one of those pots.

I've bought from dragon teahouse before too. They are selling what they show in the photos. I bought a tea-caddy-- it's good quality, but at times I feel I over paid because of the shipping etc. I have not bought yixing from them so I can't talk about that (I've love to hear from someone who has, is the price mark-up worth it?)

[futurebird]

Personally I am really doubtful over the new Yixing pot. Compared with the 70s-90s pot, the new pot alway have something that don't make you feel comfortable. Even worse when it obtained via online. I suggest for newbie, take your time to learn and search for 70s-90s pot and use gaiwan in the meantime. You really need to be very careful when pursuing new Yixing pot.

I have never found such pots for less than $280. More often than not it is $500+ (especially if you want it in the 50-130ml range) For something I use everyday that's just too much.

I have however found many new pots that brew wonderfully. When shopping online one must accept duds. Also, the local teahouses here in NYC sell excellent pots for about $100-$200.

[tingjunkie]

I suggest for newbie, take your time to learn and search for 70s-90s pot and use gaiwan in the meantime. You really need to be very careful when pursuing new Yixing pot.

I have never found such pots for less than $280. More often than not it is $500+ (especially if you want it in the 50-130ml range) For something I use everyday that's just too much.

For those prices, I think you're looking in the wrong places. 90's pots are definitely not jacked up that much, and small 70's-80's can be had for less than $200 too.

[tingjunkie]

Cha Arles, my personal opinion on those DTH pots you posted is that they are good quality, but significantly overpriced. Since you are just starting out, I think you shouldn't be spending that much on pots yet, unless you have plenty of money to burn of course. If that's the case, you should just hire me as your personal Yixing shopper and I'll tack on a 20% finder's fee. Still, that will save you far more money than overpaying and buying the wrong pots.

[Cha Arles]

Well this is all a bit confusing, I understand the arguments of all parties, but they are contradictory. I am living in a small village in Germany and cannot shop in NYC. Where can I find teapots of the 80s-90s reasonnably priced, it seems very difficult... Please advise

[futurebird]

For those prices, I think you're looking in the wrong places. 90's pots are definitely not jacked up that much, and small 70's-80's can be had for less than $200 too.

I've been searching every tea shop in town for about two months. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places. My current plan is to just wait till I go back to Hong Kong next year, buy a good pot then, till then I'll make do with what I can find on ebay.

I'd rather like to have a pot from the 90s. The thing is I'm picky about the stye and size.

Well we all are, right?

[tingjunkie]

Ah, that's the problem. Aside from The Mandarin's Tearoom (which is more of a tea speakeasy and online shop) there are no shops in NYC which sell mid - high quality pots for a fair price. Tea Gallery is gone, Luh Yu is gone. The best you can hope for in NYC these days is finding entry level modern pots for a fair price, but even that's getting hard. I've still yet to check out the new place in the Flushing Mall, but it appears that would be in the same category of modern entry level for an ok price (if you have a discerning eye to pick out the decent stuff from the junk).

I'm not saying it's easy to find decent deals online, especially for smaller 15-30 year old pots. But they are out there. Knowing what to look for just takes experience and having the cash to pull the trigger when you find it... and MOST importantly, patience.

PS- Also, don't get hung up on a pot's age too much. Yes, better clay was more plentiful the further back in time you go, but there are great modern pots with great clay being made now too. They're just more expensive.

[NPE]

I have to admit that I am not the biggest expert when it comes to yixing teapots (I prefer the beauties from the European teaware artisans featured here on TC) but how about taking a look at the yixing on offer in Germany - particularly http://www.leastea.com/index.php?lang=DEU&list=KAT23 and http://www.diekunstdestees.de/epages/63 ... 100mL190mL. Maybe one of the Yixing experts here can take a look and let us know what they think about the pots offered there.

[Cha Arles]

I have to admit that I am not the biggest expert when it comes to yixing teapots (I prefer the beauties from the European teaware artisans featured here on TC) but how about taking a look at the yixing on offer in Germany - particularly http://www.leastea.com/index.php?lang=DEU&list=KAT23 and http://www.diekunstdestees.de/epages/63 ... 100mL190mL. Maybe one of the Yixing experts here can take a look and let us know what they think about the pots offered there.

My current teapot is the 130 ml from Leastea, an excellent teapot as far as I can judge, at least better than a gaiwan for light Oolongs!

[tingjunkie]

For the price, the smaller less expensive pot from Lea's Tea look ok. Not a steal, but within the right price range for today's market- especially with local shipping to Germany.

[NPE]

That is good to know. Maybe I will give yixing another try.

[bagua7]

Could you please give opinion on this links:

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessori ... fl-oz.html

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessori ... l-5oz.html

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessori ... 0ml-s.html

Feel free to propose other matching teapots, price range not exceeding the 250 $ and pots from 100 to 160 ml.

Professionally done and very well post-edited photos for average pots. I wouldn't pay that sort of money for any of them.

My personal choices:

1. A.

2. B.

3. The following qing shui ni pots are all good quality. 1 & 3 have sand added to the clay and brew outstanding cooked puerh. My favourite pots for this exercise after Jiang Po Ni clay:

1.
2.
3.

I own one of those.

4. Jiang Po Ni clay pot.

5. I have this old duan ni and it is also very good quality.

But Wisdom China has also some pots (after looking at the pictures) that should be avoided, which is unfortunate since many of the pots in stock are legitimate modern Yixing.