Here is some information about buying a Yixing teapot for your tea addiction! For those who are fairly new to tea, we advise trying different teas first. Find teas you enjoy drinking. Get the brewing techniques right. Figure out the right tea-to-water ratio. Not over-steeping the tea, etc.
And only when you feel you have really gotten acquainted with certain teas might you want to start looking into buying higher-quality teaware.
But where to start!?
Many tea enthusiasts claim that Yixing teaware is the ideal choice for gongfucha. Undoubtedly, they are marvelous. Unfortunately, there is still some myth and confusion surrounding these teapots. So, let’s start with the basics.
What Is A Yixing Teapot?
The name of Yixing teaware actually comes from the clay that potters use to make these teapots. Potters take this clay from around Yixing city, in eastern China. It is an ancient county (established in 221BC during the Qin Dynasty) in Jiangsu province of China, situated on the delta of the Yangtze River. There, potters have made clayware since the 10th century (Song Dynasty). Yixing teapots, as we know them, took off a bit later, in the Ming dynasty, and have been prized ever since. If an antique, the teapot may demand an exorbitant price.
Yixing is not an actual style of a teapot. There are many teapots produced in other regions of China and Taiwan with the same look. However, they are not made from Yixing clay, so they cannot be called Yixing teapots.
Buying A Yixing Teapot
When you are ready to purchase your first Yixing, here are some factors to consider:
Authentic Yixing teapots made from real ZiSha clay (紫砂) tend to start around $50–$100 USD at retail, for half-handmade pieces. Cheaper pieces are more likely to use lower-grade or non-Yixing clays, but price alone is not a guarantee of quality. Be careful not to overpay. Always inquire why it is of a higher price. Perhaps it's because of the artist who made it or the year of production (the older, pre-2005, clay is considered better). And remember: just because it is a Yixing teapot doesn’t mean it should cost a fortune.
Lower-quality teapots sometimes use inappropriate clay or additives, or may not be fired properly. This can cause noticeable off-flavors or odors in the tea. It’s worth buying from a trusted source.
The Different Types Of Yixing Teaware
Yixing teaware will come in several different varieties. The most famous of them are:
• Zi Ni (紫泥) – purple clay with a micro-porous, "breathable" structure. It’s the most common and one of the most famous Yixing clays.
• Hong Ni – red clay. Slightly less porous than Zi Ni clay.
• Zhu Ni (朱泥) – a dense, reddish-brown Yixing clay with high iron content, and relatively low porosity.
• Lu Ni (绿泥) – a rare, beige, yellowish, or slightly greenish Yixing clay. It’s less common on the market and often prized by collectors.
• Duan Ni (段泥) – DuanNi can fire in many colors, from beige/yellow to speckled or greenish tones. Because DuanNi clay is more porous, these teapots tend to soften bitterness and astringency more strongly and can noticeably change the perceived profile of some teas.
Many tea drinkers and professionals like to use ZiNi clay for Sheng Pu-erh tea, Wuyi Oolongs, Hei Cha. Its semi-porous structure and stable heat retention tend to round off some bitterness and astringency and give a softer mouthfeel.
For delicate teas like Green Tea, lighter oxidized Oolongs, or White Tea, many people prefer neutral vessels like porcelain or glass. A ZiNi pot tends to soften and round off the profile rather than emphasizing maximum brightness and aroma.
For more delicate teas, thinner-walled and denser clays (ZhuNi) or porcelain help avoid overheating and preserve brightness. For more robust and/or more heavily oxidized teas, thicker-walled and more porous Yixing clays (ZiNi, DuanNi) are often preferred because they hold heat longer and soften astringency.
Using A Yixing Teapot
Because Yixing clay is micro-porous and unglazed, some tea liquor and compounds gradually form a thin patina on the inside of the pot. Over time this gives the walls a slight sheen and a faint aroma when the pot is warm. It doesn’t ‘add back’ strong flavor into new brews, but it does slightly change how water and tea interact with the surface. For this reason, many people dedicate one pot to one category of tea and avoid detergents. For this reason, we recommend avoiding soap or detergent when cleaning your Yixing teaware.
Tea enthusiasts favor Yixing clay for its porosity and ability to enhance the tea-drinking experience. Glazed, porcelain, or glass teapots are neutral and don't affect flavor the same way as the unglazed clay does. Yixing clay's micro-porosity and heat behavior tend to soften astringency and slightly change how the aroma shows in the cup. When you are prepared to invest in a Yixing, we recommend comparing different types of teaware and how they play with the tea first.
