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It's All About Tea — clay

Yixing Teapots Guide: Handmade vs. Half-handmade

Posted by Misha Gulko on

When it comes to enhancing our tea experience, the vessel we use plays a pivotal role. If you've spent some time exploring the modern tea culture, you've likely come across ZiSha teapots, aka Yixing clay teapots. These teapots, hailing from the Yixing region of China (hence the name), have made quite the name for themselves among Gong Fu Cha enthusiasts. They're favored not just for their aesthetic appeal but primarily for the way they make our tea taste. It's like the difference between listening to music on a regular speaker and a high-quality sound system. 

If you've dabbled in the market for one of these, you might've stumbled upon a distinction that isn't immediately clear: fully handmade Yixing teapots versus half-handmade. What does that even mean? And more importantly, does it affect your brewing? Let's delve into the specifics and nuances of these teapots and see if we can demystify this for you. Whether you're a Gong Fu Cha practitioner or someone just beginning to explore the vast world of tea, this is something worth understanding. (Read more)

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Tea's True Taste: The Baseline and Beyond With Teaware Choices

Posted by Misha Gulko on

Ah, the vibrant world of tea, where passionate drinkers delve deep into the intricacies of their beloved brews. One could easily get lost for hours, scrolling through forum posts and group discussions, reading about the best teapots, the ideal cups, and the recommended ways to experience various teas. "You must get a silver tea set!" one person asserts, while another swears by the transformative powers of a ZiNi or ZhuNi clays. And yet another passionately vouches for the unique characteristics of DuanNi. Recommendations, as abundant as the tea leaves themselves, flow freely in the tea community. So, where does one begin? 

Our exploration will navigate through the vast landscape of tea, from the untainted flavors of loose leaf tea to the nuanced changes in taste achieved by brewing in various teaware. From porcelain's pure embrace to ZiSha's memory and the elegance of a silver tea set – there's a world waiting to be discovered (Read more)

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Yixing Teapot: Spotting Authentic ZiSha by its "Imperfections"

Posted by Misha Gulko on

For a practitioner of Gong Fu Cha, the quest for perfecting the tea experience often leads to a deeper appreciation for the tools of the art. And standing proudly at the forefront of this tea journey is the Yixing teapot. Crafted from the renowned Yixing clay (ZiSha), these teapots are more than just vessels; they are pieces of rich history and function, capable of transforming tea's taste and aroma. 

However, as the popularity of Yixing teapots has surged, so has the market for imitations. Telling a genuine Yixing ZiSha teapot from a counterfeit can be tricky. Sure, there are obvious giveaways, like the price or the dealer's reputation, but what about the physical markers that differentiate the authentic from the fake? (Read more)

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The History of Teaware - Shui Ping Teapot Design

Posted by Boyka Mihaylova on

In today's blog post, we'll talk about one of the most classic teapot designs - the Shui Ping pot. This teapot design has become an integral part of China's prevailing Gong Fu Cha tea culture, while also establishing itself as one of the classic designs in Yixing's ceramic industry. 

Shui Ping is hailed as one of the most proportionate and functional designs in the tea-world, so much so that its design largely remained unchanged in the next half-millennium after its invention. Let's find out the secrets behind this achievement! (Read more)

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A Comprehensive Guide on Choosing Yixing Clay Teapot

Posted by Misha Gulko on

If you are on the path of brewing loose leaf teas and learning Gong Fu Cha, you have undoubtedly heard of yixing clay teapots. You start browsing the subject and find bits and pieces of information that are often conflicting and leave you even more confused. 

We hope that this article will help you better understand yixing clay and figure out what type of yixing teapot you need, why you need it, and what to pay attention to when shopping for one. (Read more)

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