It's All About Tea — teapot

When visiting Dingshu town in Yixing, we were lucky to meet with an amazing ZiSha artist, Shen Si Yu, whose deep knowledge and understanding of ZiSha clay made a big impression on us and changed some of our previous ideas about Yixing clay. We spent two days drinking tea and talking about tea and ZiSha clay. In the end, Si Yu agreed to an interview. (Read More)

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)

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)

Silver is an age-old symbol of wealth. It has served various purposes throughout history. Some of them include the usage as a currency, adornments, and utensils. Additionally, people used silver to create tokens, religious symbols, and even tools for poison detection! Traditional medicine valued silver not only as a precious metal but also for its potential health benefits believed to surpass even those of gold.

Royal nobles have been cherishing and using silver teapot for generations. While not widely collected even in its home country China, their exceptional craftsmanship and rich cultural heritage have garnered collectors' attention in recent years. Handmade silver pots showcase intricate techniques and boast exquisite appearances. You can check these blog posts for more information on the history and the crafting techniques of a handmade silver teapot. In this blog post, we'll cover the essential benefits of using a silver teapot. We'll talk about how silver benefits the tea brewing process and its influence on the water, the tea leaves, and the human body, making it a preferred tea brewing tool and a prized possession. (Read More)

From ancient times, handmade silver tea pots have symbolized prestige and were highly valued. The tradition of using silver pots for boiling water and making tea has been passed down through generations. It gave birth to the saying: "Boiling water is most precious in a silver teapot, and brewing tea is most respectful in a silver teapot" (煮水以银壶为贵, 泡茶以银壶为尊). 

Tea culture and the pursuit of a higher quality of life have further fueled the popularity of handmade silver tea pots. They have become a fashionable choice for personal use and thoughtful gifts for health-conscious households. However, many tea lovers new to silver pots may wonder about their craftsmanship. Coming across silver pots with various appearances, such as white, bright, old black, or even engraved designs, can make people question their authenticity. How can silver pots exhibit such diverse styles when made from the same material? (Read more)