Flowerbud Yixing Teapot

For those who value symmetry and poise, the smoothened lines and raised posture of this teapot will be as pleasurable to behold as to steep with. It is an apparent evolution of the old Duo Qiu form, composed of stacked spheres, influenced by the image of a burgeoning flower bud. The resultant narrow mouth and wide body suggests use with rolled oolongs or aromatic black teas, which can expand without their scents evaporating; try smelling the domed lid, however, which will catch volatiles that do escape. With a built-in net filter and a flat surface on the handle for better grip, neither is function forgotten, but this is certainly a teapot that puts carefully crafted beauty front and center.

The clay

This teapot is made of Zini (紫泥) clay, a dark brown ore extracted from the famous mountain Huanglong shan (黄龙山).

Zini is ideal for steeping black teas and post-fermented Pu'er (Shu Pu'er); it is also a very good match to roasted and aged oolong teas.

Why do I need a Yixing teapot?

The material and the shape of Yixing teapots are ideal for brewing tea. They bring out the tea flavor like no other tea vessel. Hand-made Yixing teapots are also valuable handicrafts sought after by collectors. Their value raises with time, usage, and artist popularity.

Yixing teapots are made of a rare and depleting clay mined in the mountains near Yixing, a city in the Jiangsu province. The high density yet porous nature of the clay absorbs the smell of the tea brewed in it. For this reason, it is advised to use the pot with only one kind of tea (for instance with black teas or green teas). Bring your tea to the next level; allow yourself an authentic Yixing teapot.