buying teapot with real, high quality zisha clay

[lotustea]

Would like to put my comment here thought I am new in teachat.

I 'm not sure if anybody have go more details in the zisha teapot. The benefit of the zisha is it is porous, the air still could go through the surface of the teapot and the porous surface could accumulate the favour and the tea itself in long term.

So, one type of tea for each zisha teapot and in long term, the teapot itself would give the favours of the type of tea itself even with hot plain water. We use call "teapot awakening" by pouring hot water the zisha teapot which will give the "old tea flavours" as well as warming up the teapot temperature.

By proper maintenance, the zisha teapot colour will change in long term. In most cases, the colour would be deeper with shining effect. In Chinese, to keep a zisha teapot, we call it "养“, and if translate in english, it is "rear" same as you keep your pets. The same goes to some type of ceramic with cracks effects as part of its aesthetic value.. The longer you use, the more crack would be observed on the ceramic.

Of course you need to practice and learnt to appreciate a good zisha teapot. Generally, a good zisha teapot is more expensive than Japanese tetsubin and in China they have already clarified the grade of the craftsmanship level. There is no way general public could afford the highest master zisha teapot which is only available under professional auction and in term of 10k use and above. However, other category of craftsmanship is still available to public in the price range from 300 a few thousand usd. A brand new handmade zisha even by the lowest grade should be about 50 USD and above. Below that, it could be suspected mass produced by mixing the clay with some silicon base liquid and poured into the standard moulds. Basically this type of teapot loose the "breathing effect", although much cheaper, not recommendable.

A good zisha clay product would generally have the sand texture on its surface, exceptional is made to certain type of zisha clay . The name of zisha itself is purple (zi), sand (she) in Chinese. Glazing zisha and teapot produced under spinning process has generally lost the porous effects and not acceptable by the zisha enthusiastic.

That is my experience in my zisha collection. Any further comments from other are most welcome.

Can you actually get a real zisha teapot for around $100 usd? Low quality zisha clay I can live with, I can even live with fake zisha teapot that make from other clay. However, I can not live with fake teapot that use chemical. It is just not healthy. Some people just tell me too many fake zisha teapot and the real one are rare so it is best stay away from zisha. The zisha market is highly profitable and often dishonest. People who truly know zisha clay are small in the number.

[lotustea]

Is anyone in this forum know zisha clay well and live in Northern Virginia? I bought a zisha teapot for around $130. I read online how to authenticate a zisha teapot. After some tests I'm still not sure if it is real. There is one test that give me a concern. If someone in northern virginia I can bring over for examination.

[tingjunkie]

Can you actually get a real zisha teapot for around $100 usd?

Absolutely! I'd say real, entry-level Yixing these days starts around $50 *IF* you know where to look. Hint... http://www.ebay.com/sch/lukevecent/m.ht ... pg=&_from=

If you're willing to spend closer to $100, go for Essence of Tea, Tea Masters, or Cha Wang. Those would be the next level (or two) up.

[lotustea]

Good luck finding fancy shaped Yixing pots made from the clays you've listed below that do a better job than a simple porcelain pot with those three teas you've mentioned, especially DJ silver tips.

+1
Also to give you a sense of how "good" that hei jin clay is, you can get pots made of that on taobao for 12 bucks: https://world.tmall.com/item/5345434182 ... 0.0.2kdyVZ

For now, I'm going to buy a set of nice Taiwanese porcelain teapot with cups to use to be on safe side. Someday when I find a trustworthy seller and someone who can help me find a real zisha teapot then I'll buy a high quality and nice artistic design zisha teapot to satisfy my curiosity.

[chrl42]

Would like to put my comment here thought I am new in teachat.

I 'm not sure if anybody have go more details in the zisha teapot. The benefit of the zisha is it is porous, the air still could go through the surface of the teapot and the porous surface could accumulate the favour and the tea itself in long term.

So, one type of tea for each zisha teapot and in long term, the teapot itself would give the favours of the type of tea itself even with hot plain water. We use call "teapot awakening" by pouring hot water the zisha teapot which will give the "old tea flavours" as well as warming up the teapot temperature.

By proper maintenance, the zisha teapot colour will change in long term. In most cases, the colour would be deeper with shining effect. In Chinese, to keep a zisha teapot, we call it "养“, and if translate in english, it is "rear" same as you keep your pets. The same goes to some type of ceramic with cracks effects as part of its aesthetic value.. The longer you use, the more crack would be observed on the ceramic.

Of course you need to practice and learnt to appreciate a good zisha teapot. Generally, a good zisha teapot is more expensive than Japanese tetsubin and in China they have already clarified the grade of the craftsmanship level. There is no way general public could afford the highest master zisha teapot which is only available under professional auction and in term of 10k use and above. However, other category of craftsmanship is still available to public in the price range from 300 a few thousand usd. A brand new handmade zisha even by the lowest grade should be about 50 USD and above. Below that, it could be suspected mass produced by mixing the clay with some silicon base liquid and poured into the standard moulds. Basically this type of teapot loose the "breathing effect", although much cheaper, not recommendable.

A good zisha clay product would generally have the sand texture on its surface, exceptional is made to certain type of zisha clay . The name of zisha itself is purple (zi), sand (she) in Chinese. Glazing zisha and teapot produced under spinning process has generally lost the porous effects and not acceptable by the zisha enthusiastic.

That is my experience in my zisha collection. Any further comments from other are most welcome.

Nicely written.

[tingjunkie]

Someday when I find a trustworthy seller and someone who can help me find a real zisha teapot then I'll buy a high quality and nice artistic design zisha teapot to satisfy my curiosity.

Can you be more specific about what you're looking for in an "artistic" design? Depending on what you mean, you definitely don't have to spend $1000 and over for a non-simple teapot.

Here is a nice peach motif with quite decent real clay for less than $100.

Here is a classic bamboo theme pot for $176.

Happy to help you, but you have to be more specific about what you're looking for. You wrote, "What am interested to find out is if Wan Ling tea is reliable and from them I'll try to find out how much it cost for a good quality grade teapot. I'm not going to buy what they currently have. Seeing their prices I know the teapots are not good quality. I'm going to ask them to find what I'm looking for." It doesn't make much sense to ask a shop selling crap teapots like Wan Ling to find you a nice teapot, does it? You don't go to Olive Garden and ask if they can bring in a chef to make you some authentic Italian food. You don't go to Old Navy and ask if they can make you some high quality designer clothes.

[steanze]

For now, I'm going to buy a set of nice Taiwanese porcelain teapot with cups to use to be on safe side. Someday when I find a trustworthy seller and someone who can help me find a real zisha teapot then I'll buy a high quality and nice artistic design zisha teapot to satisfy my curiosity.

I think that is a good plan. You can get real zisha for under $100, the ebay store that tingjunkie linked is one example. However, my opinion of their decorated pots is that they are not very delicate, they look a bit clumsy - the proportions are off.

Do you drink any aged puerh? It's a fascinating type of tea and goes very well with Yixings.

[lotustea]

Someday when I find a trustworthy seller and someone who can help me find a real zisha teapot then I'll buy a high quality and nice artistic design zisha teapot to satisfy my curiosity.

Can you be more specific about what you're looking for in an "artistic" design? Depending on what you mean, you definitely don't have to spend $1000 and over for a non-simple teapot.

Here is a nice peach motif with quite decent real clay for less than $100.

Here is a classic bamboo theme pot for $176.

Happy to help you, but you have to be more specific about what you're looking for. You wrote, "What am interested to find out is if Wan Ling tea is reliable and from them I'll try to find out how much it cost for a good quality grade teapot. I'm not going to buy what they currently have. Seeing their prices I know the teapots are not good quality. I'm going to ask them to find what I'm looking for." It doesn't make much sense to ask a shop selling crap teapots like Wan Ling to find you a nice teapot, does it? You don't go to Olive Garden and ask if they can bring in a chef to make you some authentic Italian food. You don't go to Old Navy and ask if they can make you some high quality designer clothes.

Thanks, the peach one look nice. A bit small. I like a pot between 220ml to 300ml. Closer to 300 ml is better. The flower in a different color would be nicer. I like this plum blossom and the black xishi.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-handmade-L ... 2266184895
http://www.yixingclayteapot.com/hn106ch ... p0968.html

[lotustea]

For now, I'm going to buy a set of nice Taiwanese porcelain teapot with cups to use to be on safe side. Someday when I find a trustworthy seller and someone who can help me find a real zisha teapot then I'll buy a high quality and nice artistic design zisha teapot to satisfy my curiosity.

I think that is a good plan. You can get real zisha for under $100, the ebay store that tingjunkie linked is one example. However, my opinion of their decorated pots is that they are not very delicate, they look a bit clumsy - the proportions are off.

Do you drink any aged puerh? It's a fascinating type of tea and goes very well with Yixings.

I tried puerh once and it taste like asian herbal medicine, not very good. I didn't know about puerh so maybe I didn't get a good one and didn't know how to brew it. I will try it again sometime. Right now I'm testing out famous tea with top quality like west lake lotus tea, shi feng longjing from Seven Cups, Darjeeling Imperial Silver Tips. Currently I'm drinking shi feng longjing, a very good tea, but too expensive and only slightly better than a good Vietnamese green tea I have as a gift. To me shi feng longjing is not worth the money, pay too much for the name. Do you have any puerh you recommend?

[tingjunkie]

Ok, gotcha. As others have mentioned, genuine hei ni clay is quite rare. The only real (non-chemical powder) hei ni pots I've seen are 80's or earlier. If you are looking for real un-doped clay and a non-simple design, I think that's almost an impossible mission.

As far as teapots with different clay colors on the same pot, I've seen vintage ones with really crappy craftsmanship, or modern ones with really junk clay. Again, I think you have your work cut out for you unfortunately.

I'll keep an eye out for you though.

If I was in to larger size pots, I'd snag this one. Pretty damn sexy if you ask me.

[lotustea]

Ok, gotcha. As others have mentioned, genuine hei ni clay is quite rare. The only real (non-chemical powder) hei ni pots I've seen are 80's or earlier. If you are looking for real un-doped clay and a non-simple design, I think that's almost an impossible mission.

As far as teapots with different clay colors on the same pot, I've seen vintage ones with really crappy craftsmanship, or modern ones with really junk clay. Again, I think you have your work cut out for you unfortunately.

I'll keep an eye out for you though.

If I was in to larger size pots, I'd snag this one. Pretty damn sexy if you ask me.

Thanks. I thought high quality luni is very rare and expensive. Is this seller reliable? This is an acceptable price. It is a nice pot. A bit big and I prefer xishi style. I think for design decoration that has another layer on the teapot wall then the layer should be in different color to stand out like the plum blossom teapot. Carving into teapot wall like the black xi shi tea pot or this luni teapot is nice too. A xishi pot with carving purple zini or duan ni or luni are nice. Let me know when you find something.

[lotustea]

Anyone has experience with Purion? How is that compare to zisha?

[steanze]

Thanks. I thought high quality luni is very rare and expensive. Is this seller reliable? This is an acceptable price. It is a nice pot. A bit big and I prefer xishi style. I think for design decoration that has another layer on the teapot wall then the layer should be in different color to stand out like the plum blossom teapot. Carving into teapot wall like the black xi shi tea pot or this luni teapot is nice too. A xishi pot with carving purple zini or duan ni or luni are nice. Let me know when you find something.

I'd probably call that some kind of duanni, I am not very confident it's actual benshan lvni. It does not look like the benshanlvni of the 60s or late Qing. However, that kind of clay gets called benshan lvni a lot, so it's ok for the seller to call it that way imo (a bit like modern zhuni vs zhuni). The seller is reliable.
My opinion about decorations is that either they're really artistic or they are tacky. That is really only my very personal opinion. Personally, that pot does not make the cut for being artistic.

On Purion, it's really not worth it in my opinion. Can work well as a kettle, but I would not get a pot made of purion: it's entirely different from Yixing. Very porous, does not pick up a shine as nicely as Yixings.

[steanze]

For puerh, I think the Wistaria cakes are quite good teas with a bit of age on them.
If you can find pre 2003 Dayi cakes that would be also nice, but they can be expensive.

For your reference, here is an example of late Qing hei ni:

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a63 ... exps9d.jpg
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a63 ... b9tsyd.jpg
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a63 ... sv5p8b.jpg

[lotustea]

For puerh, I think the Wistaria cakes are quite good teas with a bit of age on them.
If you can find pre 2003 Dayi cakes that would be also nice, but they can be expensive.

For your reference, here is an example of late Qing hei ni:

http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a63 ... exps9d.jpg
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a63 ... b9tsyd.jpg
http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a63 ... sv5p8b.jpg

Thanks. I will try this someday.