“The Lotus” Handcraft Chinese Yixing Clay Teapot

The Lotus hand-carved Yixing zisha teapot, 150ml

A Yixing zisha teapot is a small unglazed pot made from Yixing's purple clay for gongfu brewing, and this one is carved with a lotus across its face. On the reverse, four characters read 心静莲开, "a calm heart, and the lotus opens." The flower grows out of still water; the carving is a reminder to slow down before you pour. Under it the pot is zisha, porous and unglazed, which is why it takes on the tea you brew. It holds 150ml, with plain straight walls that sit upright and steady on the tray.

Pu-erh, oolong or black tea is what we'd put in it. Green tea isn't a match for clay, so we'd leave that to glass or porcelain. Zisha holds the aroma of whatever you brew, and over a few months of regular use the pot seasons; the tea comes through rounder and a little deeper. A glazed pot never does this.

Lift the lid and you'll see a cluster of small holes at the spout rather than a single opening. It pours quickly and the leaf stays behind. The base carries the maker's seal, and because each pot is carved by hand, the lotus and the calligraphy vary a little from one to the next.

Product details

• Material: Yixing zisha (purple clay)
• Capacity: 150ml, sized for gongfu brewing
• Shape: plain straight-sided body
• Carving: hand-carved lotus, 心静莲开 calligraphy on the reverse
• Filter: cluster of holes inside the spout
• Seal: maker's seal on the base
• Gift set: box, certificate, brocade pouch, tea cloth, pot mat, pot cord

This works well for

• Dedicating to one tea, most often a pu-erh or an oolong
• A gift for someone who already brews gongfu
• A small daily pot for one or two people

This is a handmade pot, carved one at a time. If you'd like to see the carving up close, it's at our Salamanca Tea Bar in Hobart.

Seasoning your new Yixing teapot

Rinse it well in warm water, then soak it or give it a gentle simmer with the tea you'll dedicate it to. Never use soap; the clay holds the smell.

Care

Water only, inside and out. Dry it with the lid off, and keep to one tea per pot.

Shipping

Ships from Hobart, Tasmania. Free shipping on orders over $95 Australia-wide. The gift box goes inside a padded outer carton so the pot and lid can't move in transit.

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Chinese Yixing Clay Teapots · Teapots