Lead in Yixing

[teachat]

Aloha,
I just bought my first yixing pot in China town at a going out of business sale. It wasn't something I thought I would be doing, but I soon became quite interested and began searching for my pot on the internet. I noticed some web sites were selling "lead free FDA approved" yi xing pots. I still haven't found my pot anywhere else. How do I find out if my pot is lead free?
Mahalo,
Shea

[teachat]

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Bunni

[teachat]

I think the lead is contained in the dye that typically is an exterior ornamentation. You would not be able to eat off a decorated plate or bowl, but would be able to drink from a pot if the interior is unpainted. Better safe than sorry and use your pot for decoration only.

Cathy

[rabbit]

I know that they use trace elements to dye the teapots (at least that's what I'd heard), and one of my (unused) yixing teapots is green, do you think they would have used something like led to color it? And if it was not in fact led, but say some other type of metal, could that still be bad for you?

[Warden Andy]

Rabbit, I also heard they use different minerals to color the pot. It should be lead free, as long as the clay wasn't mixed with mud.

[rabbit]

ya, it's funny because I asked this question, and then I picked up a book on tea and started reading and it was on the subject of yixing teapots and my question was answered right away