Recommend a yixing teapot for green tea

[bagua7]

I would like to read your suggestions. All welcome.

Please refrain from typing "do not use this specific teaware for Chinese greens."

Thanks in advance.

[Geekgirl]

Please refrain from typing "do not use this specific teaware for Chinese greens."

Thanks in advance.

Then why are you even asking? And besides, why would you come on the forum seeking advice on how to find genuine, quality, LJ, then ask us which yixing you should use for brewing it? The answer is "none." But okay.

[Chip]

Please refrain from typing "do not use this specific teaware for Chinese greens."

OK ...

[tingjunkie]

Are we talking Chinese or Japanese greens? You want something quite high fired with a fast pour either way. If Japanese, make sure it has a good filter built in, or you will need to invest in one of those metal filter inserts.

I can not speak from personal experience, but I've been told by experienced friends that low to medium fired Yixing will hold on to the more vegetal aromas in green tea and end up smelling rather funky/swampy. Not to mention that lower fired pots will generally reduce aroma and flavor in exchange for smoothness. Unless you are drinking some really bitter greens, then you don't want that.

You want a fast pourer because the infusion times with green teas can be quite short, and you don't want to be waiting around for the pot to drain for 10+ seconds.

From time to time, you can find Yixing kyusus which have been made for export to the Japanese market. I found one in Queens recently. Something like that would likely be your best bet.

As far as clay type, I've seen several vendors recommend Duanni for green tea. Not exactly sure why- perhaps it's because Duanni is supposed to be fired at higher temps?

[tingjunkie]

See here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Monkey-Ebony-Side-H ... 335bb2315f

Or here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Tang-Yu-Ebony-Side- ... 35a78a8124

No idea of the quality, but I've always thought these were rather sexy.

[Maitre_Tea]

I've also seen the Duan Ni recommendation for green tea (Chinese), somewhere on Tea Masters. I tried that once...didn't work out so great though, so maybe it depends from pot to pot. Maybe Zhu Ni might work? I'm curious to know your reasoning on being so adamant on using yixing for green tea though.

[bagua7]

Okie dokie, I have given up

OK, I trust the experts of this forum.

I am a fanboy of teapots in general and not keen of gaiwans at all. That's why I was stubborn with yixings because I love them so much!

So...could you please recommend me a porcelain teapot for brewing tea for myself? Of course, small sized or whatever size you think is best for brewing Chinese green tea.

Cheers.

[tingjunkie]

Okie dokie, I have given up

Why? I know people who use Yixing pots for green tea, and I gave you more than enough info/suggestions to get started on your search. Stick to your guns and go for it.

[britt]

It's not that you can't get decent tasting green tea from an Yixing clay pot, it's that a further comparison with porcelain or glass shows the latter two to be better. I've been through this and the best clay pots for green tea are certainly okay, but I want to get the best possible taste from the tea and I haven't yet found an Yixing that will do this.

The link below shows a Duan Ni Yixing purchased from Jing Tea Shop. It is extremely thin and light and was recommended for green tea. I found it to be very good, but it mellows out the taste a bit to much compared to porcelain or glass. I now only use it for white tea and it works very well for that.

http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac15 ... rent=6.jpg

Since you don't care much for gaiwans (neither do I ) something like this is a good compromise and works well with many types of tea:

http://s895.photobucket.com/albums/ac15 ... Dragon.jpg

[Tead Off]

There is no problem using Yixing and the right pot will give you both very good tasting and smelling tea. But, my best pots for green tea have been both Japanese Banko and Tokoname teapots. I like the purple but red seems to do a good job, too. Both types are high fired. I also use a porcelain shiboridashi similar to a gaiwan. Aroma seems to be better for the higher notes but I think flavor is better in clay. If I had an appropriate purple clay yixing, I would use that, but I don't, hence the kyusu. Gaiwan is fast and easy, great for the lazy who hate cleaning.

[bagua7]

Thanks for the info guys, but care to give me a link to an online retailer who sells decent porcelain teapots for Chinese greens, small to medium sized, and just to brew tea for myself.

Cheers.

[Geekgirl]

"Qing Bai porcelain pot (I have this one and really like it.)

DTH Porcelain Pots

User coconut might still have this one.

[bagua7]

Thank you, Geekgirl.

Fully agree with this statement:

Unlike Oolong, which performs best when it fills the teapot, green tea needs to get rid of its agressive youthful feel by floating freely in the vessel.

I should have realised before, just pigheaded with yixings.

[Chip]

Thank you, Geekgirl.

Fully agree with this statement:

Unlike Oolong, which performs best when it fills the teapot, green tea needs to get rid of its agressive youthful feel by floating freely in the vessel.

I should have realised before, just pigheaded with yixings.

You live and learn!

[Tead Off]

Thank you, Geekgirl.

Fully agree with this statement:

Unlike Oolong, which performs best when it fills the teapot, green tea needs to get rid of its agressive youthful feel by floating freely in the vessel.

I should have realised before, just pigheaded with yixings.

But, what about Japanese greens being used in kyusu? Does anyone argue that these pots are not best for them?