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True tea connoisseurs are sensitive to every subtle nuance of flavor and aroma tenderly expressed by each leaf. In their pursuit of delicate tastes and texture, the fine instrument of a zisha teapot
is indispensable.
Made from the unique zisha clay found only in Yixing China, zisha teapots are treasured for their ability to enhance the flavor, aroma and texture of tea.
The porous nature of zisha clay allows the teapot to absorb the essence of tea. As the teapot becomes seasoned over time, the essence captured by the teapot will accentuate the character of subsequent brews.
Zisha clay is the only clay that has all of the following characteristics:
Remains highly porous after being fired attemperatures of approximately 1200˚C. Lesser clays will crystallize, crack or melt when fired at such high temperatures. Compromising by firing clay at reduced temperatures will produce teapots that emit the taste and smell of clay into the brew.
Able to hold water without seepage in spite of its high porosity.
Is structurally strong without the need for glazing.
Does not crack when subjected to large and sudden temperature differences.
The raw clay has excellent balance between flexibility and firmness, along with nominal shrinkage after drying, which allows it to be easily crafted into attractive shapes and designs.
The function of zisha teapots in the art of Chinese tea is as important today as it has been for the last four hundred years. Today, the term zisha is synonymous with Yixing teapots and the art of tea.
When you get a new Yixing teapot, most of the time, it did not touched any water yet. Because the maker or the seller usually want you to be able to tap out the crisp metallic sound. So you need to wash out or rinse thoroughly the Zisha bits in the teapot. If makes you feel better, you can wash with soap. If you will use the teapot to drink green tea, put a lot not so good green tea in the pot, add a lot of hot water and let it soak for a few hours. This will season the pot a little bit. I like to season the pot for hours by letting it sit on the stove for some time with low heat on.
After you used the teapot, you will never need to wash with soap again. Just rinse off the tea leaves in the pot every time you use it.
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