Mud

“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.…

Recently, the super typhoon Doksuri has approached with great intensity, prompting continuous red warnings from the China Meteorological Administration. Alongside this super typhoon comes extreme weather such as strong winds and heavy rainfall. To cope with the arrival of this super typhoon and protect the property safety of tea farmers, please keep the following points in mind. I. The Super Typhoon Doksuri is about to make landfall: a quick overview of domestic weather conditions Strong Winds: According to the China Meteorological Administration, the fifth typhoon of the year, Doksuri (Super Typhoon level), is expected to make landfall along the coast from Fuqing, Fujian to Huilai, Guangdong tomorrow morning (July 28th). The maximum wind force near its center could reach up to level 15 (wind speed of 50 m/s). Affected by this typhoon, the coastal regions of Taiwan Island, Fujian, Zhejiang, and eastern Guangdong will experience strong winds ranging from levels 6 to 8 and gusts reaching levels 9 to 10 on July 27-28. Some areas in southern Fujian and the southern coastal regions of Taiwan Island may experience winds of level 9 to 12 and gusts of level 13 to 15. Heavy Rainfall: On July 27-28, some regions of the…

The gloss of a Zisha teapot, also known as "water color," can appear lustrous or dull. What causes this difference? Is it the clay, the craftsmanship, or something else?... (Close-up) After a Zisha teapot is fired to crystallization, surface contraction forms wrinkles. Most light is absorbed by these wrinkles, which is why new Zisha teapots appear relatively dim compared to other objects. Only a small portion of light is reflected from the crystalline surfaces, making the pot visible. After a period of care and use, tea and oils are adsorbed onto the different depths of the wrinkles, increasing the density of reflective points. Since these reflections come from various depths, the light appears to have depth, resembling a luminous cloud. The light scattered from crystalline points also creates an effect similar to a misty glow. Thus, genuine Zisha teapots do not appear overly bright and are not glaring under strong light, giving off a warm and lustrous feeling. Observing the gloss sounds simple but requires experience. A Zisha teapot with good gloss is made from pure, high-quality clay and crafted with skillful techniques at the correct firing temperature: 1. The clay must be pure and of high quality. Only clays…

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…

On July 1, our city experienced heavy rainfall, with 24-hour accumulated precipitation exceeding 100 millimeters at 23 monitoring stations, the highest being 172.9 millimeters at Changling station. The intense short-term rainfall led to landslides, collapsed embankments, mud accumulation, and waterlogging in some tea gardens, causing varying degrees of flood damage and related secondary disasters. To minimize losses from tea production due to disasters, Tongcheng Kangzhiyuan Family Farm promptly launched science popularization activities for disaster mitigation in tea gardens. Tea farmers can take the following remedial measures: 1. Drainage and Clearing of Silt and Waterlogging For tea gardens with standing water, drainage ditches should be promptly cleared and dredged, and deep trenches opened to drain the water as soon as possible, avoiding waterlogging that could harm the tea trees due to prolonged water accumulation. At the same time, mud, sand, stones, and other debris that have washed into the tea garden, as well as mud on the branches and leaves of tea plants, should be cleared away promptly. Efforts should be made to reduce soil moisture and environmental humidity as soon as possible to prevent root rot or decay caused by prolonged soaking of tea trees. 2. Restoration of Tea Gardens…

According to forecasts from our city's meteorological station, from 14:00 on July 10 to 08:00 on July 11, the average precipitation in our city was 52.6 millimeters, with a maximum of 179.2 millimeters. Four towns and streets experienced heavy rainstorms (100–250 millimeters), 24 towns and streets experienced storms (50–100 millimeters), and 13 towns and streets experienced heavy rain (25–50 millimeters). Other towns and streets experienced moderate rain (10–25 millimeters). To effectively mitigate the impact of disastrous weather on tea gardens and tea production and stabilize summer and autumn tea production, the following technical guidance is proposed. I. Strengthen Patrols and Preventive Measures in Tea Gardens The flood season has arrived, and strong winds and heavy rains may occur at any time. We should closely monitor weather forecasts. Before heavy rains, strengthen patrols of tea gardens and reinforce greenhouses and other production facilities. Check and dredge drainage ditches in advance; dig drainage trenches where necessary, especially in low-lying or high groundwater areas, where trenches should be at least one meter deep. Move tea, production materials, and equipment from low-lying areas as a precaution against heavy rains. II. Promptly Drain Flooded Tea Gardens After heavy rains, organize labor to drain water from…

Purple clay is a type of mineral, and many enthusiasts are aware that it is a mixture of "sand and mud," where "mud is the flesh, and sand is the bone." The sandy texture is also an important characteristic of purple clay teapots, and many friends enjoy examining this feature when looking at the pots. As makers of purple clay teapots, we have developed various techniques for preparing the clay, including "sand blending" and "sand laying." After undergoing these processes, the teapot's sandy texture becomes significantly richer, presenting a more striking visual effect with unique charm. Purple Clay Sand Blending In the past, any master potter was first and foremost skilled in clay preparation and sand blending. Each renowned potter had their secret technique to ensure uniqueness. Sand blending involves adding a certain proportion of cooked or semi-cooked sand particles to the raw clay to increase particle density during the clay preparation process. When both the clay and added sand come from the same mineral source, it's called tone blending; if they come from different sources, it's called contrasting tone blending. Sand blending not only enhances the sandy texture but also improves the malleability of the clay. If the clay…

The sheen of a purple clay teapot, also known as "water color," can appear either lustrous or dull. What causes this difference? Is it the clay material, the craftsmanship, or something else?... We see various colorful substances with our eyes because these substances reflect light. The less reflective they are, the darker they appear. If they don't reflect any light at all, we wouldn't be able to see them even in sunlight, which is the principle behind invisibility. After being fired to crystallization, a purple clay teapot forms a sandy texture due to surface contraction. Most of the light is absorbed by this texture, which is why new purple clay teapots appear relatively dim compared to other objects. Only a small portion of the light is reflected from the crystal surfaces, allowing us to perceive their presence. When a purple clay teapot has been maintained and polished for some time, it reflects light from the tea and oils that have been absorbed into the varying depths of its textured surface. This greatly increases the density of the reflective points, and since the light is refracted from different depths, it appears to have depth, creating an effect similar to a luminous…

According to the Zhejiang Meteorological Bureau, starting from July 4th, the subtropical high will shift northward and control Zhejiang Province, marking the end of the plum rains season and the arrival of scorching summer days! The forecast for the next seven days in Zhejiang Province shows no widespread heavy rainfall. Most areas will experience sunny and hot weather with daily maximum temperatures reaching 36-39°C, and some regions may exceed 40°C. Afternoons will often see scattered thunderstorms. Since entering the plum rains period on June 9th, many areas in Zhejiang have experienced heavy precipitation. Prior to June 18th, the heavy rainfall was concentrated in central and southern Zhejiang, but it shifted to northern Zhejiang thereafter. Statistics show that by June 28th, the total rainfall over 18 days approached the average amount for the entire 30-day plum rains period, exceeding nearly twice the total rainfall for 2023. Multiple tea-producing areas in Zhejiang have suffered varying degrees of damage due to continuous widespread heavy rainstorms. Heavy rain can wash away soil in tea gardens, which can lead to exposed root systems, making tea plants susceptible to toppling in strong winds. Additionally, mud and debris can flow into tea gardens, potentially carrying pathogens and…

The reason many friends like purple clay pots is that they "become increasingly mellow with prolonged use and tea drinking," but few are truly well-nourished in daily use. ▲Nourished patina When you see the pots that experts have nourished, they are warm and restrained, noble and elegant, making one envious. Yet, your own pot can easily become "dirty or patchy." Today, let's talk about the issues of nourishing a pot. Unable to Achieve Results The nourishment of a purple clay pot, also known as the patina, has a warm and subdued color, emitting a natural glow. This is the state of a purple clay pot after it has been nurtured. If you cannot achieve these results, there are several reasons: 1. The pot has been waxed or over-polished. 2. It is a slip-cast pot or a hand-pulled pot. ▲Not a natural shine These types of pots either have been treated on their surface or have added water glass and different processes. They are "already relatively shiny." Therefore, when using them, pot enthusiasts might feel that the effects of nourishment are not significant. A purple clay pot itself has a sandy texture. Before being fully nourished, it appears plain and simple,…

If conditions permit, consider the following types of purple clay teapots: Clay: Purple clay, red clay, slope mud, etc. Pot shape: Large belly (considering that Yunnan black tea leaves are relatively large) Capacity: Over 200 milliliters Black tea is a fully fermented tea made from new shoots of appropriate tea trees, processed through withering, rolling (cutting), fermentation, and drying. Drinking it regularly not only aids digestion but also nourishes and protects the stomach, making it very suitable for winter consumption. Some people are casual about their tea drinking and will brew black tea in any cup, while others are more particular and use a purple clay teapot to enhance the lingering aroma of the black tea. Not all purple clay teapots are suitable for brewing black tea. Firstly, black tea is named for the red color of its tea soup and leaf base when brewed. Due to the dark color of the tea soup, clays such as purple clay, bottom groove green, clear purple clay, and sky blue clay are suitable. You can choose darker colored clays. If using original green or duan mud, be sure to clean them promptly to avoid unsightly tea stains. The color of the purple…