Art Pottery

Yixing Teapot

EARLY YIXING ZISHA CLAY TEAPOT ENAMELED $75.00

Yixing clay teapot zisha ‘Squirrel’ hand-crafted 190ml(6.4 fl Oz) Gongfu $37.00

Yixing clay teapot zisha ‘Stone Gourd’ hand-crafted 320ml(11 fl Oz) Gongfu $27.00

History of the China Teapot

If you study the history of the china teapot and the discovery of tea, some give the credit of tea to Shen Nung, a Chinese Emperor in the 3rd Century BCE. The story has been told that he sat under a tree while boiling his drinking water and Camellia leaves fell into the bowl, giving his water a palatable flavor – and this is how the history of tea came to be.

Teapots were not used upon the first discovery of tea. From the 8th century CE, tealeaves were rolled by hand, dried, and ground into a powder. In the beginning, the powder was mixed with salt and formed into cakes that would then be dropped into bowls of hot water to form a thick mixture. Later on, the powder was left in loose form, mixed in a bowl with boiling water, and whipped into froth.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), some of the first versions of the china teapot were made. The teapots were first made in the YiXing region in China with purplish clay also known as “zisha”.

The evolution from drinking bowls to teapots was a smooth one. Chinese teapots were, and still are, used to brew tea. YiXing teapots gradually season over time with the unglazed clay absorbing the flavor of brewed tea. This is said to add special flavor making the tea even more succulent.

Eventually the trend of the china teapot started to influence the entire world. As British and Dutch colonialism was at its height, the teapots quickly were found in far-away homes. The development led to the porcelain paste that we know today that makes the china teapot.

If you are searching for a great selection of Yixing and Jingdezhen teapots, you can find them at www.thinkbeijing.com, along with more information about the history of teaware.

For more information log onto :

http://www.thinkbeijing.com/

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Yixing teapot Can I be saved?

I'm an idiot. I was told that oolong tea leaves used in my Yixing teapot for a few days after each use so that the flavor will seep into the porous clay. However, I forgot the tea leaves soaked for a few months and when I opened the pot to today's tea was horribly moldy. Is this it? I get rid of the pot? It is an artisan pot and it cost me over $ 50. Can anyone help me save my teapot? Thanks!% Http: / / photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7456/3064/1600/tea 20pot% 20close.jpg

i think you can wash out, youll lose the seasoning, but you lose the pot. I have one of these, it is also a large pot. ohh only wash with hot water soup err dont use soap water.