Yixing clay tea pots brew the best tea. Period. It is one of the oldest ways of brewing tea and certainly one of the most interesting, beautiful and practical. They are known worldwide for their special tea brewing qualities and beautiful designs.

The uniqueness of Yixing clay tea sets comes from the clay being very porous, instead of smooth and hard like a bone china tea sets or porcelain. This porousness lets the tea set actually soak up the tea, which means that after years of usage, it no longer is necessary to add tea to the water, because the flavor of the tea itself has been preserved within the pores of the pot. The pot and cups will naturally add flavor to the water. This is the what sets Yixing tea sets apart from the rest.

Aside from the main benefit of tea clay sets, there are still a few more. If you have a new clay tea set, you don't have to worry if it isn't "seasoned" yet. Because even if it isn't old yet, it will still add to the color, flavor and aroma of any tea you brew because the set is made of clay.

Yixing clay sets are the pefect example of craftsmanship and quality. They are usually ornate; decorated with beautiful depictions of ancient Chinese culture and tradition. These days there are numerous modern versions of clay tea sets, including ones that are painted or dyed different colors. If you don't think you would ever drink from a clay tea set, they still make beautiful decor and awesome conversation pieces.

Taking care of clay tea sets is pretty easy. But remember to never use soap or cleanser when cleaning your set! This is vital! Just remember that anything you put into the tea set, could potential be soaked into the clay; you don't want your tea to taste of soap. Aside from this, they aren't very much trouble. When your finished using your tea set, simply pour hot water over the clay and then rinse it again with water. No scrubbing is necessary. It is nice to dry the set with a tea towel if you have one, but if not, you can just let it air dry.

Another thing to note, is that you shouldn't brew more than one type of tea in your clay tea set. Most experts agree that using different flavors will cause the tea to eventually become unpredictable. This is because every tea you brew is soaked into the clay, so eventually, no matter what type of tea you brew, it will end up being some sort of a blend. Once you have mixed teas in your clay sets, it will be difficult to ever again get consistent flavor.

If you want to find your own Yixing tea set, all you have to do is look online. Or you could travel to China, but it isn't necessary anymore. You can't go wrong with a clay tea set, and you really can't get anything that is more traditional.

Learn more about traditional Chinese tea sets. Stop by Gavin Coleman's site where you can find out all about Chinese tea sets.

Posted under Tea