Gongfu Cha Hai Yixing Zisha Tea Pitcher

A tea pitcher is a tool used for properly sharing tea during a gongfu ceremony: it holds the tea liquid after brewing so that it does not steep for an excessively long time, and from there is distributed throughout each of the guests’ cups for drinking.

Material

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.