Gongfu Yixing Zisha Tea Filter

This filter is used to strain the leaves after brewing, so that the tea can be poured into the drinking and aroma cups without any leaves or residue. This filter is made of a particular type of Yixing clay, well-crafted with its surface smooth while still retaining its resilience, an excellent complement to any Yixing teapot. The fabric mesh of the filter is very fine and highly dense, perfect for usage with tea.

Material

Qing Shui Ni: The ore for this purple clay is a type of mica-rich hematite, often used for drinking mugs in ancient times. Because this clay contains relatively fewer impurities than other raw materials, and because it does not change shape or glaze when firing, it is widely used for crafts. It is mellow and ruddy as well, often earning the name of “red purple clay” or Hong Qing Shui. The clay has a quaint look to it, and after using a teapot made of this material for brewing the same type of tea over and over, the taste of that tea in further sessions will gradually deepen. For these reasons and others, both teapot makers and tea drinkers love this kind of clay.

Zi Ni: Zi Ni is a classic and widely recognized Zisha clay on the market, refined from Zisha ore dug out of the mine of Huanglong, Yixing. This clay has a stable, mature color, a high iron content, and good breathability and structure. Along with this, it barely contracts when fired and molds easily, marking it as a good choice for large crafts and also the first choice of clay for many Zisha makers. Teapots made out of Zi Ni can easily maintain a lustrous shine, and are generally preferred for brewing light-roasted oolong or pu-erh teas.

Origin

Yixing County is known as the Pottery Capital of China for its extensive 6500-year history of the craft. The area boasts abundant resources of argil, tea, bamboo, and charcoal, each of which contributes an important base material for the making of pottery. Yixing Zisha products have earned countless prizes both at home in China as well as abroad, with a few exceptional works presented as national gifts during international diplomacy.