How to Choose a Yixing Teapot

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How to Choose a Yixing Teapot
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i. Size
Size Approx. Volume Persons To Be Served
       1 70 ml./2.4 fl.oz      Max 2 persons
       2 100 ml / 3.4 fl.oz      Max 4 persons
       3 175 ml / 6 fl.oz.      Max 5 persons
       4  225 ml / 7.6 fl.oz.      Max  6 persons
Determine how many persons you will be serving
tea so that you can get the right size. The table
above is the best guide.
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ii. Shape
  Taiwan Oolong (High Profile)
Green/White Tea (High Profile)
Tie Guan Yin (Low Profile)
Da Hong Pao Phoenix (Low Profile)
Chinese Black Tea (High Profile)
Decorative (Low Profile)
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iii. Body
Sphere-shaped pots are most efficient for
convection and infusion.
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iii. Body
Flat pots, despite their round bottoms, are best
for short infusion time when using plenty of  tea
leaves. 
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iii. Body
Tall ones, especially those that are rectangular
in shape, are best when the pots  body is thick 
and heat resistant.
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iii. Body
Tubular ones are less effective for convection.
The best ones are designs that have thicker
material in the bottom and thinner top for
maximum infusion.
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iv. Handle
A good one would have easy but firm hold and good
balance when you lift the pot. The wrist should
be able to comfortably tilt the pot when pouring.
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iv. Handle
The spout should be perfectly aligned  to form
the main axis of the pot.
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v. Lid and Neck
It is standard to expect for it not to fall off
when the pot is tilted at 45. The lid must also
be close-fitting with the opening.
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v. Lid and Neck
Small openings are ideal for brewing fragrant
teas. The neck reduces the water exposed to air
to reduce loss of heat.
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vi. Spouts
The spout must be big enough to pour the tea
easily to avoid constriction and results in
shorter brewing time.
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vi. Spouts
Mesh Style
Half-Ball Mesh
Single Hole Spout
Popular in the Ming and Qing Dynasty.
The end of Qing dynasty, has 6 or more holes.
For export to Japan in the 1970s. Filters tea
leaves efficiently.
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vii. Manufacturing
Molded by hand and uses tools like wood picks
paddles.
Molded by machine and assembled by hand.
Mass produced using pre-molded parts with a
machine.
Semi-handmade
Handmade
Moulded Teapots
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viii. Clay
Earth Clay
Zisha Clay
Makes 2nd grade quality, affordable pots. Natural
color is white.
Purple Clay. Original or natural clay. This is
a superior type.
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ix. Clay Composition
Mixed (Pingni). May be a combination of Yixing,
non-Yixing and artificial clays.
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ix. Clay Composition
Zisha Clay. (Sometimes called Qing Shui Ni)
when not mixed with other types of clay or has
color.
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ix. Clay Composition
Artificial (Coloured clay). Can also be mixed
with other clays.
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x. Clay Color
Zisha clay is often mixed, resulting in many
different colors. Adding dyes to Artificial clays
often replicate real colors of Zisha but these
will fade in time.
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xi. Zisha Clay Colors
Zhini (Purple)
Hogni (Red)
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xi. Zisha Clay Colors
Luni (Green)
Duani (Yellow)
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xi. Zisha Clay Colors
Zhuni
Heini/Wuni (Black)
Zhuni  is  a rare Zisha red clay. These are rare
and expensive teapots.
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xii. Firing Type
Teapots from absorbent clay are low-fired and are
made thicker to retain heat longer which works
best for Black Tea and Pu-Erh Tea.
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xii. Firing Types
They are usually brown in color and used for less
fragrant teas.
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xii. Firing Types
High-fired teapots use finer, thinner clay and
will lose heat  faster, preventing over infusion.
They are best for Green, White and Oolong Teas.
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xii. Firing Types
They are usually red in color, are less permeable
and retains fragrance.
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Yixing Teapot Facts.
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