Frequently asked questions
Why are these pots so small?
Before the Chinese started making these pots, tea used to be boiled in a large kettle over a fire. When the potters began making these pots they were designed for individual use (see teapot history for more information) The Chinese drank from the spout of the teapot. Many Chinese still do. One of the younger members of the Necessiteas family uses this technique and reports that the tea tastes better this way. However, keep in mind this member is eleven. On occasion you will find larger pots on our site and others but most of the teapots are made in the traditional way which means they will hold 8-11 ounces of tea.
Why are there such big differences in prices for pots that look similar?
One very large factor in the pricing difference is the skill level of the potter. Most of the pots you see can be made by any one of many potters. However, even before reaching a state sanctioned level (see training of an Yixing potter) he/she may develop specific skills that are above ordinary and will create teapots that are only made by them. When you see a pot with a specific artist's name associated with it you can expect to pay more even if the artist has not attained the "craftsman" stage. As they reach various levels of skill their pots will demand a higher and higher price. Pots made by State Level craftsmen demand prices of $5,000-$20,000. These craftsman level pots will come with certificates. The style of these pots are often copied by trainees, that's why you'll see these spreads in pricing.
How do I clean my pot?
The most common school of thought is that the best thing to do is just rinse it out with water after use. When you first get your new teapot you may notice some residue left inside the pot from the carving or some dust on the pot from it's travels from Yixing. You'll want to remove this especially if you will be using it for tea. If you will simply be displaying the pot you can wipe it down with a soft damp cloth. If you will be using it to drink tea follow the directions for seasoning the pot.
If Yixing teapots are made from "Purple Sand" why are they different colors?
There are actually three different varieties of Zisha (Purple Clay). The most common of these are the Zini or rose-brown clays. The other two more rare clays are know as Banshanlu or creamy white to light-brown clays, and Zhuni or red clays. Chemically, all are composed primarily of quartz, kaolin mica and iron oxide.
Purple sand or clay is not really purple only. The coloring of the clay depends on the layering from the ground, different layers have different colors. Yixing clay occurs naturally in the characteristic colors: light buff, cinnabar red and purplish brown. Other colors are created by mixing these three clay. A principal factor in determining the depth of the color is the concentration of iron in the clay. Different types of firing can also create different colors. Click here to see pictures of the different types of clay before processing.
How do I make tea?
If you ask ten "tea experts" how to brew tea, you will probably get ten different answers. Our one suggestion is that you do warm the pot before brewing. Just pour some hot water into the pot, wait a few minutes then pour it out before putting your tea leaves in. If you are a true aficionado then you know that different teas like different temperatures and require different steeping times. One good source of information is Lim Kean Siew's, The Beauty of Chinese Yixing Teapots & The Finer Art of Tea Drinking. He discusses the proper method of brewing tea and also puts forth the interesting notion that different teapots "like" different teas. It's fun reading.
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