The Traditional Taiwan Clay Yixing Zisha 150 ml is made from a special Chinese clay called Yixing. Yixing accessories, referred to as Zi Sha Hu in China or "purple clay" accessories, are perhaps the most famous Chinese accessories.
Traditional Yixing clay
They are so named because of a small town located in Jiangsu Province, where a specific iron ore compound causes the unique coloring of these accessories.
They were fired without glaze and used to prepare specific types of Oolong tea. Because of the porous nature of clay, the Gaiwan would have to be gradually tempered by using it to steep a type of tea. This seasoning was part of the reason for using Yixing accessories.
Yixing Gaiwans are intended to be used with black (red) and Oolong teas, as well as aged Puer tea. They can also be used for green or white tea, but the water must be allowed to cool to about 85°C before pouring it into the vessel. Yixing Gaiwans absorb a small amount of tea inside them during preparation.
After prolonged use, the Gaiwan will develop a layer that preserves the flavor and color of the tea. For this reason, soap should not be used to clean Yixing Gaiwans. Instead, they should be rinsed with fresh water and allowed to air dry. A wise tea connoisseur uses only one type of tea in a particular accessory so as not to corrupt the absorbed flavor.
Yi Xing, the city in eastern China, is famous for its purple clay teapots and accessories. The teapot carries numerous features such as various types, exquisite design, perfect hand-carved patterns. On the other hand, the ceramic teapot is the typical symbol when it comes to Yi Xing, and has been renowned for decades.
