I have featured several Yixing style teapots on the blog before and am happy to add one more to my collection. These traditional type of Chinese teapot are made from Yixing clay. This style is very commonly used to brew tea and originated in China, dating back to the 15th century. They are made from clay produced near Yixing in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. I have several in my collection already but this one is extra special.
The fun thing about this teapot is the fact that it did indeed come all the way from China. Our oldest son, Micah and his girlfriend, Wendy, went to China over Christmas to visit with her family. While they were there they shopped and her parents picked out this special little teapot for me. I love it and I love that it came wrapped in authentic newspaper. 
Traditionally a Yixing teapot is small and the clay nature of the teapot can soak up the flavor of the tea that is brewed so I have seen it suggested that it is good to have a separate one for each type of tea you are brewing. The best teas to brew in this type of pot are black and oolong as well as the fermented pu-erh teas. 
Wendy told me that she could not read the writing on the teapot so I have no clue what it says but I think it probably says something like “the person that drinks from this teapot will have a long and happy life”. Doesn’t that sound like a good thing to put on a teapot?
These are traditionally small in nature compared to our westernized versions. The reason is simple. Chinese people usually drink from small cups that hold 30 ml or less of liquid and they are constantly refilled. Using these small pots make them the perfect size to quickly brew a pot and reuse the leaves multiple times . The tea stays warm and when poured into the cups it cools to the perfect temperature.
You can see the size in comparison to a regular paper clip in this final picture. Perfect size for a little cup on a cold and snowy day in North Carolina as I wait for someone to come plow my driveway like they promised days ago. 
“The soil.
The elevation.
The climate.
The sunshine.
The rain.
The tea.Body.
Mind.
Equanimity.
Harmony.
Water.
Tea.” – The Minister of Leaves
