You may know that Yixing purple clay teapots enable you to fully enjoy your favorite tea, but when you make up your mind to actually buy one, a question comes up: How do you pick a quality purple clay teapot? I'm here today to tell you what you need to look for in order to select a great one.

There are three different categories that you should think about when picking a purple clay teapot: how practical it is, what the level handiwork is, and what materials it consists of.

Is it practical for your needs?

1. Right volume: How many people would you usually like to drink tea with? If the answer is not more than five, a purple clay teapot with a capacity around 300-400 milliliters is best. Generally, purple clay teapots are much smaller than coffee pots, because the Chinese sip tea slowly and gracefully. You should carefully enjoy each small mouthful of tea, and let it ease your mind. Plus, tea flavors and aromas tend to come out best in a small pot.

2. Appropriate height: Purple clay teapots of various heights have various uses. A relatively tall pot is usually used to brew black tea, while a relatively short pot is appropriate for making green tea. A pot that's too tall tends to let tea aromas lose, and a pot that's too short may easily overflow. So a teapot that's not the right height might spoil the fun.

3. Large mouth: A larger mouth allows you to easily take out the used tea leaves. For instance, dry tea leaves are usually easy enough to get into the pot. But after several infusions, the leaves will expand and fill up inside. If the mouth of the pot is too small, it will be difficult to get the leaves out. And if you forget to get rid of them in time, they might cause tea stains or even mold on the inner wall.

4. Perfect pour: The flow from a good purple clay teapot should be straight and even. And as you lift the spout, the flow should end immediately without a single drop of water slipping off. So stay away from spouts that are crooked or have imperfections hidden inside.

Was the artist careful in his work?

A good purple clay teapot is most likely handmade. It should display its artistic value and the potter's level of skill. So keep your eyes open, and make sure that your purple clay teapot is flawless.

1. Proper firing: Only an experienced expert can make the correct judgments when firing a purple clay teapot. You can detemine the quality of the work by tapping the body of a pot with its lid. If tapping the pot produces a sound like a small bell, it means the firing was done correctly. If the noise ends quickly or sounds like metal clanking, the potter did a poor job. Note: Don't use the outer rim of the lid, since that is the most fragile part of the whole pot.

2. 'Three Points One Line': To guarantee a great flow from a purple clay teapot, each potter must carefully place the button, spout, and handle in perfect alignment. When shaping a pot, even a moment of inattention may cause a major defect. So as a shrewd customer, you should pay attention to this rule as well.

3. Perfect cover: Except a tiny hole on the top, the cover of a purple clay teapot should fit perfectly on top and not allow any air through. This way, the hot steam and tea aromas can be kept in the pot for a longer time. To check the air-tightness of a pot, just press the tiny hole while pouring, and the flow should stop right away.

4. Other aspects: Pay attention to the details of a purple clay teapot before buying it. It should be impeccable from every angle. For instance, the flat surfaces must be absolutely level, the inside should not be coarse or bumpy, and the craftsman's stamps on the pot should be clearly visible. Whether or not a potter seeks perfection in his work can be seen in these details.

Is the material good enough?

The quality of the purple clay used is crucial to the overall value of a purple clay teapot. You can judge whether the material is good or not by observing and touching the surface. Real, superior purple clay shines with a natural gloss. Be aware of pots that are too bright or look like something has been added to enhance the color. When touching the pot, you should feel very tiny particles, much like sand at a beach.

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Posted under Tea