Anyone who knows at least a little bit of Chinese tea culture is familiar with the famous Yixing tableware. Clay has been mined in Isin for many centuries. Teapots made of this material are an order of magnitude, or even two, higher than usual, but the difference is worth the extra cost. The unique Yixing clay is porous, that is, it “breathes” and allows air to pass through. This allows the tea prepared in such a dish to be especially aromatic and tasty. This is the touch that makes a real masterpiece out of an ordinary work of art! It is very easy to check if the teapot is real Yixing or a fake.
Instructions
Step 1
Even outwardly, products made of Yixing clay differ from ordinary, factory ones. Such dishes fit into the hand easily and pleasantly. Externally, the dishes may seem a little greasy (this is the natural shine of Yixing clay). Below, on the bottom, there should always be the stamp of the master who made this item.
Step 2
To begin with, it is worth remembering that dishes from such material are always made only by hand. No mass production. The lids of such teapots will always be tightly ground in, they have a small hole for air, and the spout is located exactly in line with the level of the lid. Roughly speaking, if you remove the lid and put the kettle upside down on the table, it should stand up straight, resting on its main hole and spout so that the bottom is parallel to the table. For gaiwan, a neat unevenness of the lid will be allowed.
Step 3
Teapots in Isin are made only ceremonial, that is, very small, the maximum size is about 200 ml. You will definitely not find large teapots made of such clay anywhere.
Step 4
When tapping on the product, the sound should be thin, not dull.
Step 5
The criterion that will not deceive you and will not let you down is water. If you pour water on the Yixing teapot from above, the droplets do not just roll down, but begin to dance intricately on its surface. This effect can only be observed on Yixing hydroscopic clay, and nowhere else.
Step 6
One more thing. Isinskaya clay perfectly absorbs odors. After several brews such dishes smell very, very, very tasty. The aroma vaguely resembles oriental incense.
