Handmade

“Mud door” is a term often heard by enthusiasts of purple clay teapots. What does it mean? Simply put, it's a term used to describe the density or tightness of the particle distribution in the clay body of a purple clay teapot after firing. Low density is referred to as loose mud door, while high density is called tight mud door. Specifically, it relates to the preparation of the clay, the use of a slicking tool, and the pot-making technique. When identifying whether a teapot is fully handmade or semi-handmade, checking if the tightness of the mud door is consistent inside and outside the pot is one of the key methods. In brief, a fully handmade teapot is formed by hand using a bamboo paddle, so the characteristic of the mud door on the body is tight on the outside (surface) and loose on the inside (interior). The particles on the outer surface are densely distributed and become even tighter after the application of a slicking tool. However, the inner wall has not been pressed hard by hand but rather lightly shaped, so the particle distribution in a fully handmade teapot is relatively loose, meaning the mud door appears loose.…

Believe it or not, most of us have had the experience of keeping pets from a young age. When we were little, our parents were usually the main caretakers, so our experience was more about having fun. Later on, when you became financially independent, you had more options for pets—cats, dogs, fish, birds, and so on—but how many successful experiences did you have in raising them? A tea lover's pet is an emotional bond, different from typical pets, as a tea pet can truly be kept without being discarded or abandoned. The pet of a tea lover is known as a tea pet. A tea pet, as its name suggests, is nurtured with tea water. It is actually a small handicraft made of purple clay or yellow mud, such as elephants, turtles, toads, Pixiu, pigs, and so on. Different tea pets carry different meanings; some symbolize wealth and contentment, while others represent happiness and good fortune. People collect them according to their preferences and place them on their tea tables. A beautiful tea pet is one that a tea lover spends time and effort slowly "cultivating." When drinking tea, a tea lover gently waters their pet with tea or brushes…

"Internal cracking," "external cracking," and "cloud disk" are issues that occur during the making of purple clay teapots, commonly seen in ribbed designs. Why is this so? Because ribbed designs have a distinct concave and convex profile, where the "ribs" act as the "bones," representing the contracting force; the "cavity" represents the "breath," showing the bulging force. The requirements for a ribbed-cavity teapot are: both the inside and outside of the teapot should feature ribs and cavities; the rib and cavity formations must be lively and smooth; the ribs and cavities on the lid and mouth of the teapot must correspond and connect tightly. This combination of convex and concave profiles can lead to cracking due to the sandy nature of the clay, resulting in "internal cracking" and "external cracking." Internal cracking refers to cracking on the inside of the teapot. If you purchase such a teapot, you may not notice it at first, but when brewing tea in winter, the sudden temperature change might cause a thermal shock, leading to a crack. This is one reason why thermal shock cracks often occur in purple clay teapots during winter. In the full-handmade process for ribbed design teapots, the maker shapes…

Many people complain about the high price of a handcrafted purple clay teapot. In contrast, there are many inexpensive purple clay teapots on the market, ranging from tens to a few hundred yuan, which are quite popular. But do you know how these "cheap purple clay teapots" are made? These types of teapots are mostly made using slip-casting technology, where the clay is mixed with kaolin and water glass and then ground into a 200-mesh slurry, almost devoid of particles. The slurry is then heated and wax added before it is poured into plaster molds. After cooling and demolding, the teapot body is formed, fitted with spout and handle, and becomes a poorly porous body. After forming, it is coated with a slip for finishing. Thus, they become cheaper and cheaper to produce. Many enthusiasts' first lesson in purple clay teapots involves buying a slip-cast pot. A slip-cast teapot is not the same as a semi-handmade one; don't confuse them. A slip-cast teapot has no handmade components and is mass-produced. Semi-handmade teapots use molds only for shaping the body and require manual work for other parts. How to identify a slip-cast teapot: 1. Low Price Slip-cast teapots have low material…

As tea culture continues to evolve, people’s requirements for tea ware have become increasingly higher. Not only is there a demand for its functionality, but also for its aesthetic value. It can be said that the more exquisite the tea ware, the more pleasant the tea tasting experience becomes. Therefore, fine tea ware often adds much enjoyment to tea drinking. Due to their different materials used in production, tea wares can be categorized into earthenware tea ware, porcelain tea ware, metal tea ware, glass tea ware, and bamboo & wood tea ware. Each type has its own unique charm and brings a different kind of enjoyment during tea tasting. 1. Earthenware Tea Ware Earthenware tea ware is the earliest type of tea ware in China. As early as the initial period of Northern Song Dynasty, earthenware tea ware had already taken shape. Since it is fired at high temperatures and densely sintered, it is both leak-proof and has microscopic pores invisible to the naked eye. This means it neither heats up too quickly nor gets too hot to handle. Furthermore, the shapes of earthenware tea ware are often simple yet elegant with various forms and colors that are rustic and…

Many pot enthusiasts cherish their Yixing clay pots, yet they may be unclear or even completely ignorant about the relevant knowledge. Here are some essential facts about Yixing clay pots that are commonly asked by enthusiasts, which we would like to share with everyone. ① Why do Yixing clay pots made from the same type of Dicong Qing have different colors? The color can vary due to differences in firing times and temperatures, among other factors. As a result, even clay sourced from the same location can produce Yixing clay pots of different colors when fired. As shown in the following image (taken at the China Yixing Ceramic Museum), there are color variations even among samples of the same type of Dicong Qing clay. ② Does a lack of an inner stamp always mean the pot is not handmade? This is not necessarily true. Some individual artisans have different habits, and there are handmade pots without inner stamps. The presence or absence of an internal stamp cannot directly determine whether a Yixing clay pot is entirely handmade; it needs to be evaluated holistically. As a beginner, you don't need to worry about whether the pot is fully handmade or partially…

In recent years, the JieXi DaYang International Ecological Tourism Area has deepened the integrated development of culture, tourism, and sports by establishing the JieXi County Tea Provincial Modern Agricultural Industrial Park and hosting tea tourism activities. These efforts have further enhanced the reputation of JieXi's tourism industry and strengthened its cultural and tourism brand, contributing to the construction of the "Hundred Thousand Projects." Recently, when reporters visited the production workshop of the JieXi County Tea Provincial Modern Agricultural Industrial Park in the JieXi DaYang International Ecological Tourism Area, they observed the modern, intelligent tea-making process. Workers were busy transporting freshly picked tea leaves onto the production line, where machines would automatically carry out processes such as withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying. Zou Junhong, staff member at the JieXi DaYang International Ecological Tourism Area Tea Provincial Modern Agricultural Industrial Park: "Since the start of spring tea season this year, we've produced a batch of black tea with excellent quality. Today, we are starting the second batch of black tea production. The distinctive feature of our black tea is its strong aroma and sweet taste. Our ecologically grown teas are harvested from elevations above 850 meters, in high mountains with significant temperature…

 When selecting a purple clay teapot, enthusiasts usually fear two things the most: first, buying a fake purple clay teapot, and second, purchasing one made from chemical-laden clay. So, how should one choose a good purple clay teapot? Look at the Texture Pure mine purple clay has a restrained luster, feels like warm jade, displays a stable color, and has an aged appearance. When using high-quality clay, noticeable results can be seen within half a month. Teapots made from chemically treated clay show little change no matter how they are cared for; they remain dry and brittle. Although they may achieve a so-called green bean paste effect, the surface glaze (caused by the addition of wood shaving water, also known as quartz water) is too heavy. The tea water does not penetrate, nor do the oils from handling, which means such a teapot cannot be properly conditioned over time. Check Water Absorption Genuine purple clay teapots, with the exception of those made from red clay and some segment clays, generally have strong water absorption capabilities. This is why it is often said that tea tastes better when brewed in a purple clay teapot compared to other types of teapots. Teapots…

Pu'er tea has storage value mainly because it becomes more fragrant over time through natural transformation. For teas from the same mountain, the older the vintage, the higher the price. This has led to one of the chaotic phenomena in the tea market—age fraud. However, in reality, for a Pu'er tea that has been stored for many years, it is very difficult to determine the specific storage time by blind tasting; only an estimate can be made. This is because the moisture content of the dry tea at the time of production, the storage environment (dryness/humidity, temperature, light), etc., can cause varying degrees of transformation differences in the same cake of tea, with the differences becoming more pronounced over time. This is the change that time brings to the tea, and also the pleasure of storing tea. So, how do we determine the age of a tea cake? Criteria for Determining the Age of Pu'er Tea First, color: The clearer and more transparent the tea liquor, the older the vintage. Clear transparency refers not to the depth of the tea liquor but rather to a slightly oily luster. Second, taste: Considering the overall balance of taste, excluding storage issues, the…

Many teapot enthusiasts snub half-handmade teapots and are eager to acquire fully handmade ones. But what are the actual differences between these two crafting methods? Differences Between Fully Handmade and Half-Handmade (1) Firstly, from a craft perspective: Half-Handmade: These teapots still involve manual work. Simply put: First type: The spout, handle, and lid are handcrafted while the body is made using a mold. Second type: The body is handmade while other parts are made with molds. Third type: The entire teapot is formed using molds, so half-handmade teapots can also be called mold-made teapots. Fully Handmade: This involves using tools without molds to create a teapot, making the process more challenging and time-consuming. (2) Half-Handmade Teapots Cannot Be Mass Replicated Indefinitely Some enthusiasts worry that half-handmade teapots can be endlessly replicated using molds. In reality, half-handmade teapots still contain the maker's creativity and are unique. For example, the Ti Bi Teapot by Gu Jingzhou and the Curved Teapot by Wang Yinxian both use molds for shaping. Even contemporary masters or senior artisans cannot achieve the same effect when using the same molds. Some teapots, especially those with intricate designs, cannot be crafted without molds. (3) From a Practical and Collectible…

Mom's younger sister is middle-aged now, her thick black hair streaked with silver. Her voice, when calling out to her children, is strong and powerful, tinged with the wear and tear of time. Grandma, smiling warmly, like many other women who pick tea, has long since melded into the tea mountains. That tea affair, that long-haired girl drinking tea, who would remember any of it? It only appears in my mind, transformed and shifting, that smile like a spring breeze through the forest. The tea-picking aunt is elderly now, suffering from rheumatism, her hands shaking as she walks alone around the house. Grandpa, who used to make tea, is skin and bones; he no longer has the strength to stand by the large iron wok and stir-fry a pot of handmade tea for his children and grandchildren, much less go out to attend a tea event. This man who loved socializing and kept up appearances, after a serious illness, his face turned the color of tea. He gasped for breath and waved his hand, unwilling to eat meals at the same table as his children and grandchildren. Sometimes, getting out of bed required Dad's help. He took the food cooked…

 When purchasing a purple clay pot, enthusiasts usually fear two things the most: first, buying a fake purple clay pot, and second, buying one made with chemical additives. So how do you choose a good purple clay pot? Look at the Texture Pure purple clay pots have a restrained luster, a texture like warm jade, a stable color, and an aged appearance. With high-quality clay, you can see the effects of use within half a month. Pots made from clay with chemical additives show little change no matter how much they are used; they remain dry. Although they can create a so-called mung bean paste effect, the surface glaze (due to the addition of wood shaving water, also known as quartz water) prevents the tea water from being absorbed, and oils from handling cannot penetrate the surface. Thus, such pots will not develop a patina. Check the Water Absorption Genuine purple clay pots, except for red clay and some dun clay varieties, generally have strong water absorption properties. This is why it's often said that tea brewed in a purple clay pot tastes better than in other types of teapots. Pots made from clay with chemical additives typically lack water…