Looking for a yixing teapot

[solitude]

This is an interesting discussion. I am also looking for a yixing pot and it is difficult to find pots with volume between 50-100ml. Pots with 150ml and more are just to much for one person use

[David R.]

This is an interesting discussion. I am also looking for a yixing pot and it is difficult to find pots with volume between 50-100ml. Pots with 150ml and more are just to much for one person use

It may really depend on what you drink. If you only "gong fu" teas, packing the pot, of course a 150ml teapot won't be ideal. But it may be nice with Taiwanese oolong for example with less leaves and longer brews.

[bagua7]

150mL for Taiwanese High Mountain oolongs is the sweet spot for 1 person, for the rest of teas 80-120mL seems to be the golden rule.

[Bob_McBob]

150mL for Taiwanese High Mountain oolongs is the sweet spot for 1 person, for the rest of teas 80-120mL seems to be the golden rule.

Are you saying you use a lower ratio of tea to water for TW high mountain oolongs?

[bagua7]

Have you ever brewed those oolongs? If you haven't, then go ahead and share with us your experience.

[Bob_McBob]

A couple so far, yes. I am working my way through a bunch of TW oolong samples right now. I settled on a starting ratio of 7g for the 150ml teapot, or 3.5g in a 70ml gaiwan, usually. This seems to work well for all the oolongs I've tried.

I don't get the rationale for using a larger teapot for just high mountain oolongs. Are you saying you use a lower ratio of tea to water because they unfurl more or are stronger, or do you use a similar ratio and find a larger teapot helps in some way? Do you just like brewing more tea at once? I honestly don't have any idea.

[David R.]

I rarely use more than 5g of gao shan cha in my dedicated 15cl teapot. I am using long brews. The result is quite different this way. I prefer it like that. For roastier taiwanese oolongs, it really depends on the mood. Just a few balls with several minutes brew can be great.

You just have to play a bit and find what you like.

[bagua7]

150mL is not a high number considering how much the rolled leaves will swell after a brew or two. This capacity works well for me. I usually add enough tea to cover the bottom of the pot.

[TIM]

150mL is not a high number considering how much the rolled leaves will swell after a brew or two. This capacity works well for me. I usually add enough tea to cover the bottom of the pot.

Wait... I just read that you do not own a yixing teapot yet!! So where are these recommendations coming from

[bagua7]

When I wrote that post I was thinking in terms of capacity, not really the clay topic of discussion:




150mL Chaozhou pot.

[fire_snake]

Anyone get Yixings from Dragon Tea House (their eBay shop)?

They appear to be a trusted vendor and I've bought a few porcelain items from them in the recent past, but I've seen some Yixing pots they sell that use aged clay (i.e., 30 years) for over $70 US. What's the opinion on these? They specify that the pot is new, just made with old clay from Yixing that has been stored in "Yixing Zisha No. 1 Factory", for example.

Very interesting.

[ChinesePottery]

I've seen some Yixing pots they sell that use aged clay (i.e., 30 years) for over $70 US. What's the opinion on these? They specify that the pot is new, just made with old clay from Yixing that has been stored in "Yixing Zisha No. 1 Factory", for example.

I have my doubts, but that doesn't mean much... (I tend to doubt pretty much anything). Anyways, as I already planned a blog post (and TC-report of course) about what No.1 Factory is like these days I'll try and see how soon I can get there. Maybe a little information ahead of my visit. Factory No.1 is afaik populated by individual shops nowadays, and that's about it. Individual shops/studios/potters might well store their own clay and I do actually know for a fact some do, but that Factory No.1 does so I don't believe before I see it. Also, $70 for a pot made of clay that's been hidden away for 30years sounds awfully cheap. A few months ago, just here in the neighborhood, clay worth 60万 (thats 600000元, almost 100k USD) was stolen from a garage.... whatever those $70 pots are made of I can't tell from here of course, but I very much doubt its 30 year old high quality Yixing zisha clay.

I'll try and get some insights from someone who actually has a studio inside old Factory No.1

cheers
Nico

[ycleong]

I've seen some Yixing pots they sell that use aged clay (i.e., 30 years) for over $70 US. What's the opinion on these? They specify that the pot is new, just made with old clay from Yixing that has been stored in "Yixing Zisha No. 1 Factory", for example.

I have my doubts, but that doesn't mean much... (I tend to doubt pretty much anything). Anyways, as I already planned a blog post (and TC-report of course) about what No.1 Factory is like these days I'll try and see how soon I can get there. Maybe a little information ahead of my visit. Factory No.1 is afaik populated by individual shops nowadays, and that's about it. Individual shops/studios/potters might well store their own clay and I do actually know for a fact some do, but that Factory No.1 does so I don't believe before I see it. Also, $70 for a pot made of clay that's been hidden away for 30years sounds awfully cheap. A few months ago, just here in the neighborhood, clay worth 60万 (thats 600000元, almost 100k USD) was stolen from a garage.... whatever those $70 pots are made of I can't tell from here of course, but I very much doubt its 30 year old high quality Yixing zisha clay.

I'll try and get some insights from someone who actually has a studio inside old Factory No.1

cheers
Nico

Are there any practical approach to assess whether a pot is made from 30-year-old Yixing zisha clay or zisha clay that was just mined recently?

[ChinesePottery]

It was not exactly a pleasant day to go for a walk or to do any sightseeing, but since there was a power-outage all morning we went out anyways to see Zisha Factory No.1

There are 2 entrances to it, both guarded.

and inside it’s almost all occupied by individual shops.

some bigger than others but also real small studios with potters at work as well as some older interconnected buildings.

More fancy shops with well known owners and there is also a museum.
Well, at least that’s what the sign says but its more a collection of pots and objects the artists made who have a shop in the building. Some have rather interesting pots on display, like the one in clay-mill style or the extremely flat fei xiang hu. (see my blog for pics)

Some studios do have a bit of clay for the work at hand.
Now, we asked people and walked around to see if there is any clay stored anywhere or maybe even produced or sold.

Guess what, after wading along a muddy road we found it and there is a massive amount of clay!



And the equipment on the next pictures might look familiar if you read my post about Yixing clay a while back. Clay is also made right here.


Now, if you paid close attention to the picture with the little pushcart and if you can read Chinese it might dawn on you already. The clay in there is not high quality clay used for teapots, but to make large flower pots like these:


Sorry to disappoint you, but no old clay is being stashed away in Factory No.1

The artisans we spoke to there had of course already told us that the clay they use is not from inside Factory No.1 but that they have their individual sources and storage.

Because it’s just across the road we also had a quick look in Factory No.4, they too make flower pots and other clay accessories, some of which are rather pretty.

Full version and more and higher resolution pictures in my blog.

cheers
Nico

[fire_snake]

I'm at a loss for words. I had no idea you would actually have a look at Factory #1. Thank you! In fact, you've performed quite a service for the rest of us. Fascinating, this bit of investigative work.

Christian