Cheap (?) Yixing teapot for a novice

[anabol]

I have searched through eBay (can only buy on eBay - unless you know of others shops that do worldwide delivery for a low shipping fee) for a relatively affordable Yxinig (Purple Clay) tea pot, and found this options (I want about a 200-260ml pot):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-Yixing- ... 51bfca070a

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-Yixing- ... 4ad8b28533

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200cc-Xi-Shi-Hu ... 1e88435d77

http://www.ebay.com/itm/China-Yixing-Zi ... 5b01b6cdf5

Are these any good? I am only planning to drink Puerh from these.
If not, could you maybe recommend any other teapot in the same price range (~250ml for about 30$)?

I'm not sure what i'm doing... maybe these are fakes?...

[Poseidon]

I use two pots that are very similar to the ones you have listed and I like them. They are seasoning well and dont give off odd flavors or odors but they are not "true" yixing clay. Its probably something similar to it though. Due to how much I have in my tea budget, the cheap yixings from ebay were all I could afford. If that deters you from wanting them, get a gaiwan. Cheap, effective, simple to use.

How much are you wanting to spend on a yixing? You can easily find some for 100 or less.

For ~ $30 or less, I would absolutely reccomend a porcelain teapot.

[anabol]

Mhh... so it's as i though. These are not "true" Yixing...
But what does that mean? Will it give off odors?
As to your suggestion - I want the "clay experience" and don't really want a porcelain teapot.

To conclude - Shoul I just avoid these 30-35$ pots and use my glass teapot or would these "fake" Yixing still produce a better brew than a simple glass teapot?

This is similar to what i have right now-
http://i00.i.aliimg.com/wsphoto/v0/1920 ... 20x220.jpg

[bonescwa]

There's a lot written about this topic already, maybe you can search cheap yixing if you want to see the opinion of experienced people

[entropyembrace]

Functional inexpensive yixing-like pots do exist, I have a very small one from ebay which cost $10 that I enjoy, and I know several other members bought them and like them too.

But, I just checked the seller I bought it from and they don't have them anymore or any that really look similar.

There's some chance you could get a pot which alters your tea in a bad way like robbing it of the high flavour and aroma notes (probably the greatest risk) or that smells bad...

If you want an upgrade to what you're using now made of clay try getting a gaiwan or spouted "easy gaiwan" like one of the ones here: http://yunnansourcing.com/en/8014745-gaiwans

They're inexpensive and a safer bet than going for yixing in your price range. Most are smaller than you're asking for, but most people when they start drinking better tea get used to smaller cup sizes too

[chrl42]

no..Yixing can't be cheap..that's a tricky part.

why people look for those ugly factory-made commercial pots of last decades...because that was the bottom-line for genuine yixing categories.


Ruling out factory stuffs (genuine factory stuffs are already very few anyways)..economic Mt. Huanglongshan Yixing can be narrowed down to few.

Like Jing Dian Tao Fang (98~99 ones did use Mt. yellow-dragon clays). While MOST of #4~#5 mine clays are owned by state-owned Factory workers. Early-2000's strip mine called Taixi clays were distributed to private potters and sellers as well. 3 years ago, they existed some...and now these products are hard to find as well..either prices gone very high or stopped producing.

It's always tough finding out 'good stuff' from a land of 1.5 billion population.

[mganz42]

I have three of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251580016874?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
Although I really don't know what they are, they work really nicely for my oolongs - perfect water seal and decent craftsmanship. They have some of various sizes within your price range.

[tingjunkie]

If you can afford to spend just a bit more, I'd take a look at this pot.

If you want to stay right at the $30 or less limit, this shop on Etsy has a couple options, and shipping is quite cheap.

[anabol]

Thank you all for the suggestions! These are valueble to me... it's not so easy to find good advice on this matter.

I've decided to up my budget to about ~50$.
The etsy shop seems really nice. How do you explain the low price on this one - https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/1720 ... listing-12

How do you explain this one is almost twice the price - why is it better - https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/1786 ... =listing-5 ?

Can you advice whether this two are genuine pots?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/XiShi-Yixing-Zi ... 51bda24964
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LianZi-Yixing-Z ... 5af8cd309d

or this one? (so confusing)

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a23 ... s=1#detail

[kyarazen]

just try your luck, or spend some time learning about the material first before trying your luck

if your objective is clay, and tea, then it will be not so costly if you search carefully.
if your objective is beauty on a "budget", going for some of those faux ROC/Qing red clay type of thingey that is hand made in the 90s is not going to cost you an arm or a leg with decent looks

Thank you all for the suggestions! These are valueble to me... it's not so easy to find good advice on this matter.

I've decided to up my budget to about ~50$.
The etsy shop seems really nice. How do you explain the low price on this one - https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/1720 ... listing-12

How do you explain this one is almost twice the price - why is it better - https://www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/1786 ... =listing-5 ?

Can you advice whether this two are genuine pots?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/XiShi-Yixing-Zi ... 51bda24964
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LianZi-Yixing-Z ... 5af8cd309d

or this one? (so confusing)

http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a23 ... s=1#detail

[William]

no..Yixing can't be cheap..that's a tricky part.

why people look for those ugly factory-made commercial pots of last decades...because that was the bottom-line for genuine yixing categories.

Agree.

If you are unfamiliar with this topic and/or you never handled dozens if not hundreds of true Yi Xing teapots, buying authentic modern-made teapots could be pretty hard, in particular with such a small budget.

In my opinion, you should start with just a simple gaiwan. In the meantime, you should save some money and study this subject.

[anabol]

I have three of these
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251580016874?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT
Although I really don't know what they are, they work really nicely for my oolongs - perfect water seal and decent craftsmanship. They have some of various sizes within your price range.

Thanks a lot!
Unlike others (whom I also understand) - you've really helped point me in the right direction. This seems authentic, isn't it? (pre 93' -YiXing ZiSha Plant). For example - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Chine ... 1588524286
or this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Chine ... 1588524283

Thanks to all others too!

[kyarazen]

Agree.

If you are unfamiliar with this topic and/or you never handled dozens if not hundreds of true Yi Xing teapots, buying authentic modern-made teapots could be pretty hard, in particular with such a small budget.

In my opinion, you should start with just a simple gaiwan. In the meantime, you should save some money and study this subject.

how would you rate the performance of the little zhuni pot (ju lun zhu?) that you had for a while? they're ordered by a merchant in thailand, and are pretty well made, reasonable prices too. i wouldnt mind owning a nice bunch of them

[William]

Agree.

If you are unfamiliar with this topic and/or you never handled dozens if not hundreds of true Yi Xing teapots, buying authentic modern-made teapots could be pretty hard, in particular with such a small budget.

In my opinion, you should start with just a simple gaiwan. In the meantime, you should save some money and study this subject.

how would you rate the performance of the little zhuni pot (ju lun zhu?) that you had for a while? they're ordered by a merchant in thailand, and are pretty well made, reasonable prices too. i wouldnt mind owning a nice bunch of them

Well made, good clay. I loved to use it with Yan Cha.
Why do you ask?

[Tead Off]

Agree.

If you are unfamiliar with this topic and/or you never handled dozens if not hundreds of true Yi Xing teapots, buying authentic modern-made teapots could be pretty hard, in particular with such a small budget.

In my opinion, you should start with just a simple gaiwan. In the meantime, you should save some money and study this subject.

how would you rate the performance of the little zhuni pot (ju lun zhu?) that you had for a while? they're ordered by a merchant in thailand, and are pretty well made, reasonable prices too. i wouldnt mind owning a nice bunch of them

Unfortunately, they are sold out.