Why is it that when you first get your hands on some teapots, even before you start brewing Tea in them, they feel very smooth and oily? Have you ever wondered why?
While it's true that the aging of the Clay and the artisan's skill in burnishing contribute to this, without a good base quality, the Teapot wouldn't come out of the kiln with such an oily finish.
The term “oily” confuses many enthusiasts. You might often hear statements like, “This teapot is made from Hongjiangpo clay, which has a very oily texture.” Clay with oil content?
High-quality clay naturally contains an oily component. When you repeatedly smooth the cross-section of good ore, you can faintly see signs of oiliness, much like how high-quality jade is naturally lustrous and over time becomes more like sheep fat. However, lower-quality jade will never achieve such an effect no matter how many years pass. Purple clay is similar in this regard.
The oily texture of purple clay teapots is inherent in the clay itself. Other characteristics of purple clay can be artificially adjusted, but the oily texture is difficult to change. If the ore has good oiliness, then the teapot made from it will also have good oiliness. When nurturing the teapot, you're essentially bringing out its natural oiliness, enhanced by the oils from tea leaves seeping onto the surface and forming a natural patina. For teapots with poor oiliness, the patina formed is artificial, relying on the absorption of tea and hand oils, lacking depth and stability.
With high-quality clay, when hot Water is poured over it, it feels as if oil is seeping out from within, only to seem to retract back in when cooled. The formation of a natural patina takes longer compared to an artificial one. Each type of clay is different, requiring hands-on experience and gradual comparison to truly appreciate.
Lower-quality clays, due to insufficient sand particles, have a glossy surface that appears glass-like when nurtured, giving the impression that everything is superficial, while the interior remains unchanged.
Some merchants use finely ground clay to make teapots, which they then polish to give a shiny appearance, and these teapots develop an artificial patina quickly.
High-quality clay, on the other hand, is characterized by its understated richness and depth. Because it contains sufficient sand particles, the surface exhibits a diffused reflection, which is pleasing to the eye. During the process of nurturing, you can clearly sense the changes not just on the surface but also in terms of texture, color, and feel.