Humble Beauty Yixing Teapot

Understatedly low in profile, this teapot seems to be gently curved everywhere, as if sanded down over centuries. Everywhere? No, not quite: some mischievous kinks remain in the crook of the spout, the bulb of the knob, and the elfin handle, whose flat surfaces fit the fingers for nuanced control. The wide mouth accepts longer leaves which the body grants plenty of room to unfurl and steep, and any finer pieces are caught by the built-in ball filter upon pouring, when the infusion jets out in a lively arc, emptying quickly for its size. The form and name (literally 'cold jade', 'cold' figuratively meaning 'humble', and 'jade', 'beauty') are the coinage of the artist, playing freely with extant tropes. It is altogether a pot with surprising character, a super sidekick for your tea adventures.

The clay

Made of lustrous and dense zhuni (朱泥), mined from Zhao Zhuang and stored in a private collection before it was processed by the artist Jiangli. Shrinking during firing, its resultant density and superior heat retention recommends it for use with aromatic teas or those brewed with the hottest water, such as rolled oolongs or black 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.