These are good for testing and comparing teas. This “dual-porosity” characteristic is thought to provide additional oxygen to the tea while brewing and as wine drinkers know, oxygen intensifies flavour. (see how to remove this coating below).Antique teapots have a history (verifiable or not) and have been infused with tea oils over many years. Unlike Western pottery-making techniques where “earth-clays” are turned on a wheel, the more rigid quality of Zisha clay enables the component parts of a teapot to be made in advance and then assembled piece by piece. The relationship between Chinese, Japanese, and Korean tea culture warrants a long book rather than a simple Quora answer. Check other sized teapots to ensure the spout is proportional to the size of teapot. In most cases, the higher the pitch and the longer the ring, the finer the quality.Teapots used for Black and Pu-Erh Tea are thicker and made from a more porous clay than other teapots and don’t have the distinctive bright ringing sound – but this has nothing to do with the quality. Does the teapot make me feel good when I handle it? New high quality, high-fired teapots have a clear and distinct ring like a little bell when you lift up the lid about a quarter of an inch and allow it to drop gently on to the teapot (make sure you are holding the teapot on the flat of your hand so it is not damping the teapot in any way). Using the traditional method of Chinese tea-making, called Gong-Fu Cha (Tea With Great Skill), the teapot is perhaps the most important element in this process. These teapots do not perform as well as Zisha teapots and will not look as nice over time as the colour will fade compared to teapots made from Zisha clays which retain their natural colour. May also be used in mixed clay. These processes produce the distorted, warped and crackled effect, which is an embodiment of wabi-sabi in the pottery piece. So, when tea came to Japan from China, it was natural that the shape of Japanese tea cups was influenced by the Chinese and followed a similar form. For centuries, the Chinese have brewed and served tea in a handle-less teacup or bowl, and it’s an essential part of the traditional Chinese tea culture. The Rare Chinese Teapot That Is Made From A Mountain –- Really! We guarantee they won't soon forget it! Different teas are not made in the same teapot unless they are from the same family or class of teas, such as different types of green or oolongs, but even this is not ideal as some teas from the same family have a strong flavour and in time, their taste can transfer to a more delicately flavoured tea.Your teapot will be your friend for many years so make sure there are no cracks or chips. Notice that all the shapes above except for the decorative one follow very simple designs. Chawan is a wide bowl used to drink matcha in the ritualised Japanese tea ceremony. The making of teapots is a highly skilled art and some Zisha teapots from famous artists are collectors’ items and fetch very high prices, especially if from the 1980’s or 1950’s or even from the Qing Dynasty (1644 –1912). Zisha Clay. Knowing antiques requires highly specialized knowledge so only deal with an expert you can trust. Don't know which tea is right for you? Half-handmade is assembling machine-molded pieces by hand with traditional tools. Yes you read this right! High-fired teapots are less porous and retain aroma compared to low-fired teapots which are more porous and used for less aromatic teas. But a high quality, high-fired Zisha clay teapot is still superior to glass and porcelain and like all clay teapots, improves the taste of tea. What size of teapot do I need for the number of people I will be serving most often? These types of teapots are selected by an examination of the clay which usually has a rougher texture than teapots used for other teas.Older teapots have a distinctive patina from the infusion of tea oils and constant use which can dull the pitch. Artificial (Coloured clay). Yixing (Yee-zhing) clay is the famous clay from the Yixing region of Jiangsu Province in Central China from which the finest teapots have been made for centuries. The main five are celadon, painted porcelain, white, black, and rice-pattern decorated sets. This technique produces a rustic style through intentional design, and not from sloppiness, and results in an irregularly shaped yunomi with pits, cracks or uneven colours. Different Types Of Chinese Tea Sets. – Low-Fired or High-Fired. Enjoy your favorite selection of teas with our charming Asian tea sets. Answer a few questions and the Online Wizard will show you all the Chinese teas that suit your taste. The handle and lid should fit your fingers and the lid should fit precisely in the top opening with the opening just large enough to accommodate the size of leaves you will be using. A traditional wedding gift in Japan, the larger cup symbolises the ‘husband’ and the smaller cup the ‘wife’. For centuries, the Chinese have brewed and served tea in a handle-less teacup or bowl, and it’s an essential part of the traditional Chinese tea culture. When you hold the teacup this way, you’re also able to enjoy its warmth—traditionally, Chinese and Japanese tea is served at a much lower temperature than boiling water, in particular as green tea gives the best flavour when the water is at around 70 degrees Celsius. If your teapot does not have a strainer, ask to have one inserted inside the spout. Both yunomi are usually of the same pattern while sometimes in different colours, and make a great souvenir or gift for newlywed couples. If you look closely, you can see fine “wrinkles” in the clay from the shrinkage. If you have a favourite tea that you serve often to many guests, consider getting a larger teapot for that tea. Teapots come in a variety of sizes but can be generally grouped the following way: Chart - Teapot Sizes for Number of People Served, Volume of Teapot (ml / fl oz) (approximate). Shopping for teapots can be confusing so the Size of Teapot numbers indicated above correspond quite well to the number of people being served. Meoto yunomi is a set of two matching yunomi, with one being bigger than the other. High-fired teapots with a finer, thinner clay are excellent for use with any tea and a must for Green, White and Oolong teas. While technically correct, this can be mis-leading. Zhuni teapots shrink during firing, making the clay extremely hard and dense. Can be any combination of Yixing, non-Yixing and artificial clays. This is a striking visual contrast to the aesthetics of Western ceramics, and adds an element of appreciating traditional Japanese art with every sip of your daily cup of tea. And since a teapot is something that may be used every day, it should should be something that is comfortable to handle, long lasting and pleasing to the eye. At Mrs. Lin's Kitchen, cheap Chinese and Japanese tea sets mean affordable sets, and they never compromise quality! Even though molded teapots are not as valuable as handmade or half-handmade teapots, many are made with Yixing clay and are still superior for tea-making than glazed or porcelain teapots.There is a certain pride in owning a handmade teapot, especially if it is made by a famous artist. Are there any chips, cracks or hidden hairline fractures? Rinse the teapot in hot water and brush vigorously inside and outside with toothpaste (which is gently abrasive) and a toothbrush. The charm of stoneware yunomi comes in the form of the changes in its character and colour tones over time, and with its use. Chawan: An Intro to the Gracefully Simplistic Japanese Tea Bowl. Strain out the leaves and any small particles. Both stoneware and porcelain yunomi are made by most potters in Japan, from large-scale production to unique one-of-a-kind designs. Gong Fu Cha (the Chinese method of tea preparation) develops the taste of tea quickly with fast brew times so the hole of the spout needs to be as large as possible to not constrict the flow of tea being poured, which would make the brew times longer. If the idea of a teacup without a handle baffles you, you’re not alone. A smaller opening tends to keep the fragrance of tea in the teapot whereas a larger opening allows the fragrance to escape. Antique teapots are prized because no two are alike, with each one having a unique history, patina, “taste” and “personality”. Mixed (Pingni). Teapots made from more porous clay are low-fired and are made thicker to hold heat longer which is good for Chinese Black Teas (called Red Teas in China) and Pu-Erh Teas. - Handmade, Half-Hand made or Molded, What is the quality of the clay? How to Brew Sencha Green Tea - Art of Japanese Tea, The Secret to a Perfect Cup of Sencha Green Tea - Art of Japanese Tea, The Extravagance of Gyokuro Green Tea Unveiled - Art of Japanese Tea. When you are done finding your Japanese ceramic set, oriental tea set, or other Asian style tea set, we invite your to browse through our high-quality selection of beverage containers, including sake sets and Yixing teaware. But remember, you are in the antique game now so buyer beware!