This is a new batch of clay that we found recently and have been doing some test firings - I think it's our highest quality zini pot yet. This is made from a high quality aged zini clay, called Zhong Cao Qing, from Yixing's Huanglongshan. It was collected in the early 2000's by someone who deals with small batches of original ore. He stone ground and processed it without any additives (other than water!). This works very well for puerh, wuyi yancha and fermented teas., slightly rounding the rougher edges, bringing fuller mouthfeel while still allowing the character of the tea to shine.
We have a similar old pot in this shape that we'd bought many years ago, which quickly became a favourite in our tea brewing. The simple shape, clay, balance and functionality all came together perfectly for this pot to become a regular on our tea table. Reproducing was more difficult than we imagined - the refined handle, almost imperceptible curve to the spout and the right curve to the body were all areas that we needed several iterations to refine.
This pot is half-handmade - we created a form for the body and lid to allow the potter to recreate these shapes accurately and with regularity. This also helps to keep the price down a lot more than fully-handmade pots. Inside is a single-hole filter. The walls are medium-thin and the pour is fast and smooth.
