Distilling Essential Oil From Tea Leaves to Season Yixing?

[Tead Off]

This only addresses the subjective quality of teapot + water and which tastes better to the drinker. But, how to determine if a teapot is low fired with high porosity or vice-versa is another matter altogether.

Typically, Yixing teapots are not 'earthenware' and need to be fired at a certain temp. I believe they are considered a type of stoneware. The porosity of the clay will be determined by what is in the clay and probably by particle size along with the temp. There was a very good thread awhile back discussing this with some of the potters joining in and keeping us freaks in line with some science.

I think the great contribution that Hojo has made is in the introduction of minerals and how they affect the quality of tea in certain pots. His pointing out of iron as the main source of 'flavoring' teas was an eye opener for me. This is one of the reasons that Yixing clay has become a standard in the tea culture of China.

[kyarazen]

Actually, this is something that has "troubled" me for a long while. How do I judge the porosity and firing of the pot?

Also, from a scientific point of the view how did the surface of the pots get the sheen? How did cha shan developed inside the pot? Most common answer I get is essential oils. I am wondering if anyone have further inputs on this.

In relation to the above, and ultimately what I want to know most is how much benefit derive from using the same tea in the one pot? A stronger tea would leave some of its favour to the next brew but it would be gone in a couple of infusions? No?

would you prefer me to take it to private messaging or prefer me to post in the open? i'm afraid that being too scientific can be too intense for non-believers that like to take a leap of faith towards tea and all the hocus pocus

[kyarazen]

I found most of my answers here ~ http://hojotea.com/article_e/mineral.htm

mehh.. i dont buy many of his theories though.

but its good that he has his own following. he's not a bad guy that is.

[kyarazen]

Actually, this is something that has "troubled" me for a long while. How do I judge the porosity and firing of the pot?

Also, from a scientific point of the view how did the surface of the pots get the sheen? How did cha shan developed inside the pot? Most common answer I get is essential oils. I am wondering if anyone have further inputs on this.

In relation to the above, and ultimately what I want to know most is how much benefit derive from using the same tea in the one pot? A stronger tea would leave some of its favour to the next brew but it would be gone in a couple of infusions? No?

i forgot to add that i'm in opinion that the interior of the pot is to be kept clean and its absolutely not necessary for tea flavour carry over..

its that interesting "legend" in chinese that talks about adding hot water into a pot and getting some tea fragrance, which always gets mistranslated sometimes to getting some tea with just hot water in an empty pot.
if a tea is good, it may not require that much of additional flavours to be leached out from the pot, the tea can stand on its own.. the pot perhaps is just a vessel that provides certain amounts of catalysis, and certain enjoyment in the usage and its aesthetics, temperature control and retension etc.

have you asked mr K how he tells the firing of pots? firing of yixing clay is a very narrow margin, it occurs around 1100 degrees or higher, but just simply 30 degrees differences or 2% difference in temperature can have a very different result depending on composition.

[William]

I found most of my answers here ~ http://hojotea.com/article_e/mineral.htm

mehh.. i dont buy many of his theories though.

but its good that he has his own following. he's not a bad guy that is.

The world is beautiful because it is varied .. Or if you prefer Vive la différence!

[kyarazen]

The world is beautiful because it is varied .. Or if you prefer Vive la différence!

thats true. and perhaps thats wabi sabi, to see differences as the same form as similarity.. a flock of sheep is not different from scattered dispersed colonies