The “Scrolling Clouds” Handmade Gong Fu Cha set brings together four handmade pieces: a Jianshui Teapot, Teapot Rest – Hu Cheng (壶承), and two Teacups.
All pieces are made from Jianshui Zitao (建水紫陶) – the unglazed purple pottery of southern Yunnan. Jianshui clay is dense, iron-rich, and low in porosity, which makes it more versatile than many other clay teawares. It doesn’t absorb aroma too strongly or lock itself to one tea type, so the set can be used for pu-erh, oolong, black tea, and other fragrance-forward teas.
The red-brown and black tones come from reduction firing. The kiln atmosphere changes how the iron in the clay develops, creating the two-tone effect naturally. After firing, the pieces are polished to a smooth finish, giving the surface a soft, semi-matte sheen that will deepen with use.
The Teapot has a rounded, stable body, a clean ring handle, a short, straight spout, and a sculpted lid knob. The scrolling clouds reliefs wrap around the body, with a small seal-like detail breaking the pattern. At 150ml, it works well for two or three drinkers but remains comfortable even for a solo session.
The Teapot Rest gives the teapot a proper place on the tea table. It catches small drips and rinse water during brewing. The carved clouds motif inside the plate echoes the teapot without making the whole set feel overly matched.
The two cups, at 40ml each, are sized for peaceful, unrushed tasting – enough to hold aroma and taste, but small enough for many repeated infusions.
What's in the set:
- 1 "Scrolling Clouds" Teapot (150ml)
- 2 Teacups (40ml each)
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1 Teapot Rest (the plate)
- Material: Jianshui Zitao (建水紫陶)
NOTE: Avoid using detergents when cleaning.