Wednesday TeaDay 10/01/08 Yixing anyone?

[Victoria]

I wished I did own a yixing. I'm just afraid to start buying one and end up having 10 more by the end of the month because they're so pretty..

Ha! That is what happened to me and gaiwans!

In my cup this morning - Yunnan Gold.

Have a nice day everyone!

[kongni]

I would like to get a yixing sometime soon!

I have some questions though

I've heard that it's best to brew only one kind of tea in these pots because the inside of the pot absorbs the essence of the tea flavor. Is that true?

Had another disappointing pot of Ippodo kaboku sencha this morning. Geeze, this is "premium" tea? More like "prissy" tea! Just a few degrees off on your water and just a few seconds too long in the pot and you're drinking crap.

Moving on to mtacha! Yum!

[Salsero]

Gyokuro Kame-Giru-Shi today.

Great Stuff!

Another fine photo, Trioxin, congratulations!

I have 18 Yixing pots. Someday I hope to own all of them in the world! Here is the one I use to brew Shu Puerh.

[chad]

Don't have one yet.

Darjeeling in the mug this morning.

[Selaphiel]

I would like to get a yixing sometime soon!

I have some questions though

I've heard that it's best to brew only one kind of tea in these pots because the inside of the pot absorbs the essence of the tea flavor. Is that true?

Had another disappointing pot of Ippodo kaboku sencha this morning. Geeze, this is "premium" tea? More like "prissy" tea! Just a few degrees off on your water and just a few seconds too long in the pot and you're drinking crap.

Moving on to mtacha! Yum!

Yes, as far as I have understood the tanins in tea will coat the interior of the pot and thus build up and become increasingly strong. Normally pots are glazed so the tanins can not bind and will simply be washed off with water. Tanins are basically the carriers of the aromatic components in tea (just like alcohol is the carrier of aroma in perfumes), so them remaining in the pot is in a way storing the essence of the teas aroma.
How many teas you can use in one pot I'm not sure of, I'm no expert. As far as I've understood you can use one type of tea, so different fairly similar teas should be fine (like using it for Wuyi oolongs). But brewing an Anxi oolong, then some Earl Grey in a yixing pot will be a disaster I think.

[Maitre_Tea]

oh man, I have way too many yixing teapots, and unfortunately they've been delegated to "decoration" pieces because the volume is bit too big for my taste. I picked up six yixing teapots when I was in China for roughly $60. They're of decent quality, but I think that they looked really nice.

As for utility yixing teapots I have three, one for lightly/non-roasted oolongs and one for wuyi, and one for black teas. I'm hoping to buy a few more for when I get into pu'er

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I have one yixing pot. It hasn't been used yet because I realized that after I got it, it was 9 or 10oz which was too big to use for just me. I will probably clean and prep it for use sometime soon but for now, I like my gaiwan for my oolongs. I would like to get a yixing that is about 4 to 5oz to use with darker oolongs eventually, but it is not a high priority purchase as I haven't found any that said "buy me!" yet.

In my cup: Assam with Orange Blossom Oolong.

[Victoria]

oh man, I have way too many yixing teapots, and unfortunately they've been delegated to "decoration" pieces because the volume is bit too big for my taste. I picked up six yixing teapots when I was in China for roughly $60. They're of decent quality, but I think that they looked really nice.

Is that a teal zisha clay pot in your avatar? I am really drawn to the colored ones.

In my cup at work today - Farmer's Choice Baozhong from Floating Leaves Tea

[horsencl]

I finally caved and have my first Yixing on its way from Seven Cups. It's a beauty and I will be sure to post pictures once it arrives. I know I plan on using it for Oolongs but does it need to be dedicated to a specific type of Oolong? I ordered some of their Huang Zhi Xiang Dan Cong but I'd like to able to use some of the oolongs that I already have if won't ruin the pot.

[daughteroftheKing]

No yixing yet. I'd like to have 1 for Jasmine, but then I'd want one for a different oolong, then another and another and another.... And where would I put them all, let alone keep track of which one gets used for which tea? For now it's a path I'm choosing to avoid and am keeping to the more western brew style of porcelain and glass.

So far today enjoying only Adagio's White Monkey (green). Have had 2 steeps over ice, but 3rd steep was tastier hot.

[leiche]

I don't own a Yixing, but I want one. At some point, I'm sure, I'll cave. But really, what teaware don't I want?

Trioxin, love the composition and color of your photo! Sal, love the cup. Dragons FTW.

Assam Majulighur this morning, and trying to decide what to have next. Time to get back to studying.

[horsencl]

It actually arrived about two minutes after my last post. Here is a quicky picture I took of it. I think I'm in love

[Victoria]

Awww congrats on your new baby!

I would dedicate it to either lights or darks, but
not worry too much otherwise.

[Pentox]

I've got 3 of em. Almost never use them though.

This morning some hojicha from o-cha. Decent stuff, not the best hoji i've had but not bad.

[TIM]

Don't even want to know. Specially after I got married.... Not getting any newly made one anymore, just in love with the older stuff.