yixing pot purchase

[stevorama]

In my opinion the modern hongni pots can be quite good, but need a LOT of use before they perform as they should. I don't know why this is, but that's been my experience this year.

What do you mean when you say "perform as they should?" Thanks

Hongni should bring out the flavor quite well with little muting and IMO it should highlight certain aspects of the flavor spectrum. New hongni can sometimes mute the tea quite seriously for quite a while. Once it reaches some point of saturation, it starts brewing better and better tea. Older hongni doesn't seem to have this issue.

Interesting!

[kyarazen]

hello sir,

i'm far from being expert.. this title is better reserved for others. still learning, and still willing to share.

Malaysia's market is sophisticated, because of supply and demand and also good efforts in culture preservation, some pots can be ridiculously priced in Malaysia.

On the other hand, many merchants and many collectors in Malaysia are getting their supplies from Taiwan, and are still actively doing so the last time i checked last month.

In Singapore, you can go to one of the best zisha shops, which is at bras basah complex. items are authentic, prices are current.

China is a messy market, there are opportunities to loot good pots, but there is also a high chance of fakes. it depends on which community you interact with, some only go for refinement in aesthetics and despise factory or CR pots. some love factory/CR pots. some (many) do not know what is the yardstick/benchmark..

Taiwan.. best place for F1 pots, '82 and earlier, 70s, 60s etc.. very expensive! can be 2 times that of the south east asian price. but '85 to mid 90s F1 pots very abundant and very reasonably priced. most of these are fangyuan label and they make their way in huge cartons to malaysia. Taiwan is also the place where you can purchase pots that are well selected, there are pots that have been selected from hundreds just for the perfect shape, seal, function. this is unlike many places where they only have 1 piece that could be aesthetically poor, leaky etc and yet you feel compelled to buy because its the only piece and the "scarcity" pushes you into purchase

Japan... excellent place for F1 pots that are 70s and earlier. prices are good..

One of the experts - kyarazen - has already chipped in. I haven't got any contacts in Hong Kong, and what i know form China is that many Chinese sellers since a few years have bought pots in South East Asia to sell back to China. I believe that the best and most accessible markets for such pots are Malaysia and Singapore.

[ricegeek]

hello sir,

i'm far from being expert.. this title is better reserved for others. still learning, and still willing to share.

Malaysia's market is sophisticated, because of supply and demand and also good efforts in culture preservation, some pots can be ridiculously priced in Malaysia.

On the other hand, many merchants and many collectors in Malaysia are getting their supplies from Taiwan, and are still actively doing so the last time i checked last month.

In Singapore, you can go to one of the best zisha shops, which is at bras basah complex. items are authentic, prices are current.

China is a messy market, there are opportunities to loot good pots, but there is also a high chance of fakes. it depends on which community you interact with, some only go for refinement in aesthetics and despise factory or CR pots. some love factory/CR pots. some (many) do not know what is the yardstick/benchmark..

Taiwan.. best place for F1 pots, '82 and earlier, 70s, 60s etc.. very expensive! can be 2 times that of the south east asian price. but '85 to mid 90s F1 pots very abundant and very reasonably priced. most of these are fangyuan label and they make their way in huge cartons to malaysia. Taiwan is also the place where you can purchase pots that are well selected, there are pots that have been selected from hundreds just for the perfect shape, seal, function. this is unlike many places where they only have 1 piece that could be aesthetically poor, leaky etc and yet you feel compelled to buy because its the only piece and the "scarcity" pushes you into purchase

Japan... excellent place for F1 pots that are 70s and earlier. prices are good..

One of the experts - kyarazen - has already chipped in. I haven't got any contacts in Hong Kong, and what i know form China is that many Chinese sellers since a few years have bought pots in South East Asia to sell back to China. I believe that the best and most accessible markets for such pots are Malaysia and Singapore.

Thanks for sharing such details of the market for the pots! I really appreciate it. I am mostly interested in factory pots of all periods, as long as it brews a nice pot of tea.

Good to hear Japan might be a place to shop as well, since I'll be making a stop there as well. though with limited time, I am definitely not holding my breath for a score, more for the chance to handle some more pots. Any comment of how Hong Kong compares to these other markets? My impression is that there are factory pots there, just not for cheap.

[Alucard]

I'd like to piggy back off this thread, and possibly help OP.

I've been using a Jianshui clay pot from Crimson Lotus for puerh, which I like, but want to try something else - specifically for aged/middle aged raw puerh. Do the experienced here have thoughts on this pot from Chawang? I am worried the single hole will get clogged easy.
http://www.chawangshop.com/index.php/te ... -85cc.html

[jayinhk]

I'd go with hongni if your pu is dry storage. Personal preference. I use a 65ml dark zini pot from Chawangshop for high fire oolongs and quite like it in that role. I'm tempted to pick up that 85ml but I guess I don't really need it. I find Jianshui clay to be much more muting, but maybe I just need to season my pot some more. I have one I use exclusively for pu erh maocha.

[Alucard]

I'd go with hongni if your pu is dry storage. Personal preference. I use a 65ml dark zini pot from Chawangshop for high fire oolongs and quite like it in that role. I'm tempted to pick up that 85ml but I guess I don't really need it. I find Jianshui clay to be much more muting, but maybe I just need to season my pot some more. I have one I use exclusively for pu erh maocha.

Thanks for the input

[theredbaron]

I'd like to piggy back off this thread, and possibly help OP.

I've been using a Jianshui clay pot from Crimson Lotus for puerh, which I like, but want to try something else - specifically for aged/middle aged raw puerh. Do the experienced here have thoughts on this pot from Chawang? I am worried the single hole will get clogged easy.
http://www.chawangshop.com/index.php/te ... -85cc.html

The clay is very good for aged Pu Erh. I have a my second aged Pu Erh pot a pot form Chawangshop from very similar clay. I personally prefer single hole pots. When it gets clogged just use a pinching tool.

[theredbaron]

I'd like to piggy back off this thread, and possibly help OP.

I've been using a Jianshui clay pot from Crimson Lotus for puerh, which I like, but want to try something else - specifically for aged/middle aged raw puerh. Do the experienced here have thoughts on this pot from Chawang? I am worried the single hole will get clogged easy.
http://www.chawangshop.com/index.php/te ... -85cc.html

The clay is very good for aged Pu Erh. I have a my second aged Pu Erh pot a pot form Chawangshop from very similar clay. I personally prefer single hole pots. When it gets clogged just use a pinching tool.

[Tead Off]

I'd like to piggy back off this thread, and possibly help OP.

I've been using a Jianshui clay pot from Crimson Lotus for puerh, which I like, but want to try something else - specifically for aged/middle aged raw puerh. Do the experienced here have thoughts on this pot from Chawang? I am worried the single hole will get clogged easy.
http://www.chawangshop.com/index.php/te ... -85cc.html

I own a zini with the moon stamp inside the lid just like the one that is linked. I've been using it a few years for Wuyi teas. It's an 80's clay and is very good quality. The little silver specks are mica. Not all zini have this.

[Alucard]

Thanks all for the input. I will likely order today - already in the cart along with some samples.

[manolis1978]

Finaly i buy a pot from essence of tea. Here is the site
https://www.essenceoftea.com/teaware/cl ... -ping.html
I hope that this pot is a good pot.
How can i season the pot? thank you very much

[William]

Finaly i buy a pot from essence of tea. Here is the site
https://www.essenceoftea.com/teaware/cl ... -ping.html
I hope that this pot is a good pot.
How can i season the pot? thank you very much

This clay is really really good .. I used exactly the same clay (different volume though) for a couple of months.
It works wonderfully with roasted oolong (especially Yancha), young pu er and even red teas.

This clay season rather quickly, so just use it .. it will improve within weeks.

[manolis1978]

Finaly i buy a pot from essence of tea. Here is the site
https://www.essenceoftea.com/teaware/cl ... -ping.html
I hope that this pot is a good pot.
How can i season the pot? thank you very much

This clay is really really good .. I used exactly the same clay in a different volume for a couple of months. It works really well with roasted oolong (especially Yancha), young pu er and even red teas.

I received it new, it seasoned rather quickly, so just use it .. it will improve within weeks.

Τhank you.

About seasoning i will rinse it with boiling water 3-4 times. I will brew 2 times with Da Hong Pao about 5 - 10 minutes. I think the best season is the itself season along the time.

[TORamarn]

About seasoning i will rinse it with boiling water 3-4 times. I will brew 2 times with Da Hong Pao about 5 - 10 minutes. I think the best season is the itself season along the time.

I also have their smaller F1 Hong Ni's. I found that the tea came out quite nice even without seasoning. I also believe in brewing the tea normally in our pot and observe the progress over time. It's more like raising a baby. No rush. No expectations. Just observe, accept it as it is, and enjoy.

[manolis1978]

thank you for your advices.