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
17 Comments
Leave a commentHow very special to own a teapot brought all the way from China. I love the Yixing style teapots. Perhaps someone will know what the characters mean but I think you are probably very close in your guess. Hope you are keeping warm and will be soon ploughed out.
Someone had a friend decipher one for me before—I need to go back in the archives and find out who that was and what it said! I just remembered that! We got a path plowed last night and hopefully it will be all be gone by the weekend…..time will tell. 🙂
This is a very thoughtful gift. Glad you are all plowed out! Reminds me when we visited my friend in Southern China, we visited a clay pottery factory. We were told that their clay was extra special and absorbed the flavor of whatever you put into it, so one should only use that teapot for green tea or black tea, etc.
That is exactly what I have read about these pots–you need to keep them for only one kind of tea in each. How did I not know you went to China?
What a sweet teapot and such a thoughtful gift for a collector such as yourself. An authentic Yixing teapot to boot! Hope your snow melts quickly…we just got COLD temperatureS this time but I expect February may bring us some wintery mix.
I love it and yes–it was so thoughtful of her to get it for me. And the small size is perfect—I can fit it in with no problem. 🙂
I can just imagine your collection. ..
It is massive. 🙂
What a beautiful teapot! I have a clay baking dish that I love, but I’ve not heard of clay teapots.
I love this teapot for its earthy simplicity and from whence it came.
I hope your driveway is cleared soon.
Oolong! A personal fave of mine… It’s so cool you have an authentic Chinese teapot… Little known made up fact: olive garden meatballs are also stuffed with Chinese newspapers.
That mafe me snort my oolomg out my nose!
My new favourite!!! I love love this one. It would perfect to have my green tea in after my yoga session. Now I have to find a clay teapot for myself. 🙂
I LOVE THIS TEAPOT. It’s a real beauty! As are the givers!
Thanks! I love it, too!
What a cool and thoughtful gift! It looks like the kind of teapot you would rub and a genie would pop out! Have you tried? 😉
[…] can check out a few other of my Yixing teapots by clicking here and here and […]