Teapots

Teapots and especially yi xing (I-Hsing) teapots stock at Wan Ling Tea House are constantly changing. Wan Ling can help you select a suitable teapot for your preferred use whether for your collection or to savour your favourite tea. If she doesn't have what you need, the antiques market where her shop is located has a number of other specialist dedicated to tea pots so you won't be disappointed. If you need assistance please ask Wan Ling and she will be happy to help.

Yi Xing Zhi Sha Teapots

One of the best and most renowned materials that teapots in China are made from is called Zi Sha. The most famous source of ZiSha is YiXing city in JiangSu province. There are numerous designs, all of which have many different levels of quality and prices vary tremendously depending on the person who made it.

Zi Sha clay is naturally slightly porous and very importantly lead free, thereby allowing yi xing teapots to be naturally finished without the need to be glazed. Such characteristics mean yi xing teapots benefit from regular use, absorbing some of the flavour & colour of the tea being prepared, so over time, whether months or years, it is believed that the quality of the tea that is made in the pot improves too. This means that prices for 'used' yi xing teapots can become astronomical.

Due to the exchange of flavours & colour it is common for people have different teapots for different teas, for example one for Oolong, one for green tea and one for Pu Er. This approach has meant that many tea pots are specifically designed for specific teas. It is worth noting that teapots with wider openings are more suited for Oolong teas which leaves expand considerably after water has been added.

Interesting although zi sha literary means purple clay, there is a diverse range of naturally occurring coloured clays available. These range from varying shades of brown and red, through black, green and white.

It is highly recommended that if you purchase a zi sha teapot for drinking use that you first rinse it with boiling water before then preparing a good quality tea which should be left to stand for 24-48 hours prior to use. Alternatively you should look at boiling the teapot in a pan of the chosen tea for 5-10 minutes, allowing the teapot to absorb the tea liquor.