Antique Yixing Caddy w/1914 Puerh

[Tead Off]

I was asking what you based your judgement of Yixing caddy for Puerh tea on. You seem to be saying that it is not a good idea for storage. I was asking why.

Whether the illustrated example is fake or not, I couldn't say. I posted that to show the price that was paid for it, that's all.

[futurebird]

Putting pu erh tea in an almost air-tight container seems like it would not help aging? pottery could have condensation in humid climates? I read more than one source saying it was not a good idea. One was a french website.

Could be wrong.

[Tead Off]

Putting pu erh tea in an almost air-tight container seems like it would not help aging? pottery could have condensation in humid climates? I read more than one source saying it was not a good idea. One was a french website.

Could be wrong.

There are so many variables that one cannot say what will work and what won't without specific parameters. The reason I questioned your post is because it can misleading to someone who reads this and decides that Yixing caddys are not good for storing tea in. We have to be very careful in making generalized statements. One size does not fit all, in this case. Plus, it is always helpful to speak from one's own experience and not recite what we've read somewhere and believer it to be gospel. I think most of us know this but sometimes have to be reminded.

[kyarazen]

great catch.

Can anyone speak to the idea of a "yixing container for pu erh" I have not seen that in any of my antique yixingware books. These seem to be a modern invention and one that is not terribly good for tea storage in some climates anyway.

I have seen a few old yixing tea caddies but that's it.

yixing wares were more commonly used with oolong tea, at least from the ming dynasty. the concept of aging pu-erh and it turning into magical tea is probably a century++ old.

i'm about to conclude an experiment on storing the same tea in a purion container, a yixing container, or sealed for the same duration. at least between purion and yixing, the difference is extremely obvious from the smell of the dry leaf, and will brew them up soon

[TomVerlain]

here is a older tea caddy, I think late qing early republic. Not very big, I was told it was to keep tea used daily.

[futurebird]

That is the only size I've been able to find before about 1995! I can't find big ones big enough for bings from even the 80s (except for this photo) --

Now based on even more reading it may be that this new storage method is great. We innovate in tea all of the time. Also, I'm still looking. Most sources ignore "practical" vessels ... so clay storage jar might escape notice.... but nothing as lovely and large as these...

Could these be old tea in newer vessels made to look old? I've seen that done before and the seller is often upfront about it. (a kind of commemorative container)