Yixing teapots: rare earths shaped to perfection
When we visited Mr. Xu's* ceramics factory in Yixing (Jiangsu province, China), home to generations of potters, we wanted to realize an old dream: to be able to hand-make teapots from the region's exceptional soils, with a beautiful variety of shapes and colors.
The factory works from a stock of its own clay, which is carefully preserved, as withdrawals from the surrounding quarries are now very limited.
After patient collaborative work supervised by Xuemei Qian, the renowned potter who signed our designs, we are delighted to be able to offer a range of authentic Yixing teapots, the fruit of local know-how that has developed over the centuries and whose manufacturing techniques are unique in the world of ceramics (use of a spatula instead of a wheel).
History of Yixing teapots
Ceramic production in the region dates back to prehistoric times (Neolithic), with basic, fragile earthenware fired at low temperatures.
The "hard paste" techniques that enable the manufacture of high-quality ceramics such as stoneware and porcelain, the result of combining kaolin clay with high-temperature firing, came much later.
The earliest stoneware in the region dates back to the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD). These glazed ceramics, with a grey-green feldspathic glaze, are the origin of the famous celadons and had nothing to do with what we know today as "Yixing".
Today's famous "zisha" (purple sand) terracottas, with their rough appearance and no glazes or coverings, first appeared under the Song (960-1279), when everyday objects such as bowls and pourers were made..
It was during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), when tea began to be prepared in whole leaves rather than from decoctions, compressed bricks or powder, that the manufacture of Yixing teapots began (around 1500).
Since then, generations of master potters specializing in tea implements have succeeded one another uninterruptedly right up to the present day. Their creativity and techniques, developed over the centuries, are impressive, and the quality of Yixing clay, whose elasticity allows for all manner of fantasies, has done the rest..
Every one of our teapots is made on site, and every detail has been taken care of (fit, ergonomics, quality of flow...). They live up to our exacting standards and, above all, are a pleasure to use, just as we wanted them to be..
Designed primarily for the preparation of wu long teas, dark teas such as pu'er and great black teas, these slightly porous terracotta teapots literally breathe, while remaining perfectly watertight. They retain the memory of the teas they brew, gradually impregnating themselves with their essential oils and mineral compounds. In other words, they "improve" with repeated use.
Since then, generations of master potters specializing in tea implements have succeeded one another uninterruptedly right up to the present day. Their creativity and techniques, developed over centuries, are impressive, and the quality of the Yixing clay, whose elasticity allows for every fantasy, has done the rest..
Every one of our teapots is made on site, and every detail has been taken care of (fit, ergonomics, quality of flow...). They live up to our exacting standards and, above all, are a pleasure to use, just as we wanted them to be..
Designed primarily for the preparation of wu long teas, dark teas such as pu'er and great black teas, these slightly porous terracotta teapots literally breathe, while remaining perfectly watertight. They retain the memory of the teas they brew, gradually impregnating themselves with their essential oils and mineral compounds. In other words, they "improve" with repeated use.
Some combinations are better than others
Of course, any type of tea can be used in any of our teapots, but certain combinations of tea type and clay type are preferable.
The red clays hongni and zhuni, which reduce a lot during firing, enable the manufacture of teapots with relatively thin, hard walls, which are particularly suitable for delicate wu long teas.
The thicker walls of zini teapots retain heat well over time, making them ideal for infusing pu'er and thick-leaf wu long teas.
Finally, duani clay, rich in mineral inclusions, is both porous and absorbent, and retains heat for a long time. It gives remarkable results with cooked pu'er or roasted wu long teas, whose flavours benefit from being "rounded".
Over time, regular use of these exceptional teapots creates an intimate relationship between the tea brewed, the teapot and its owner. A "marriage of passion" that most lovers of tea and beautiful objects are looking for..
* Mr. Xu is also a member of the board of the Yixing ceramists' union and works for the city's ceramics museum, to which he contributes his expertise.
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