zisha clay

Often, teapot enthusiasts will send me pictures on WeChat asking, "Mr. Chen, how is the clay of this teapot? Is it good?" When buying or enjoying teapots, one must consider the quality of the clay. However, there are many different opinions about what constitutes good clay, and this can be confusing. Many people struggle with this issue. But if you love teapots, you will eventually have to face this question. It can be difficult, but at the same time, it can also be easy. No matter what type of clay is used, excellent clay will always have certain distinct features. For those of us who love, buy, and enjoy teapots, identifying these features is not too hard. A good teapot should first look comfortable, with a natural and restrained luster. The luster of a Purple Clay Teapot is referred to as having a "subdued glow," meaning that its sheen is restrained and appears to emanate from within, very soft and pleasing to the eye. This matte finish is known in the industry as "water color," and good clay will definitely have a fine water color. When you gently stroke the surface of the teapot, you will find that good Purple…

It is the continuous transformation during daily use that attracts so many enthusiasts of Zisha teapots. This ongoing change is what we call "nourishing the pot."Many pot lovers are puzzled during this process. A good pot may show changes after only ten uses, but some enthusiasts have had no patina develop even after a year of use. What could be the reason for this? Below, we mainly discuss several factors that determine the effect of nourishing a pot:The quality of Zisha clay itselfThe quality of clay on the market varies greatly. Some chemical clays simply do not nourish and remain unchanged after one or two years. On the other hand, high-quality clay makes the pot very delicate; some can even feel the changes immediately when exposed to boiling water.A Zisha teapot's clay is fundamental; even with excellent craftsmanship, without good clay, it would be like building a castle in the air, unable to withstand scrutiny.We often refer to Zisha clay as "original mountain, original mine," which refers to Huanglong Mountain. Compared to clay from other areas such as Changxing and Anhui, original mine Zisha clay from Huanglong Mountain is easier to nourish. Original Mountain ClayMost original mountain clays are flaky…

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…

A teapot enthusiast asked: My zisha teapot dries almost instantly after pouring water on it, does this mean the clay is of high quality? Many people enjoy pouring boiling water over their teapots while brewing tea to judge the quality of the clay by how quickly the surface absorbs water. They believe that chemically treated teapots have a smooth, wax-like surface that doesn’t absorb water, whereas teapots made from original, pure clay can rapidly absorb moisture due to the superiority of the clay. Today, let’s discuss what the “water absorption” of zisha teapots is all about. Do Zisha Teapots Really Have “Water Absorption”? In fact, the speed at which a zisha teapot absorbs water is related to the crystallization degree of its firing, the shape of the teapot, and the fineness of the zisha clay, among other factors. Generally, new teapots are more absorbent than those that have been used. A zisha teapot cannot absorb as much water as you pour on it; this is fundamentally a flawed theory. For a qualified zisha teapot, we control the level of its “water absorption” within a very small range, typically around 1.5% to 2%. Why Do People Think Zisha Teapots Have “Water…