These Yixing clay cups are 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.
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 brew specific types of Oolong tea.
The porosity of Yixing clay
Because of the porous nature of the clay, the accessory 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 accessories 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 accessories absorb a small amount of tea inside them during brewing. After prolonged use, the accessory will develop a layer that preserves the flavor and color of the tea.
For this reason, soap should not be used to clean these types of vessels. 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. YiXing, 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 YiXing, and it has been renowned for decades.
