Yixing Teapot and the Evolution of Tea Drinking

Tea can be considered as the national drink of China. In fact, in this country tea drinking is considered a national pastime. Because of this, it's not surprising that the Chinese take their tea seriously. In fact, they have created specialized equipment in order to enjoy their tea to its fullest. And one of the most famous vessels or "special equipment" is the Yixing teapot. How did the value and demand of these pots grow? And how did the evolution of tea preparation and its unique design create this phenomenon?

To better understand and appreciate the development and value of these teapots, we're going to first talk about the evolution of tea preparation. There used to be a time when the sole method available for preparing tea was by grinding tea leaves then boiling them in pots. After boiling the leaves or dust, they were then transferred into tea bowls, and served to the people. While this was a very reliable practice for drinking good-quality tea, they found this system both difficult and limiting. As such, steeping tea leaves in pots became a popular practice because of its inherent convenience.

This newfound level of convenience allowed tea enthusiasts to carry their tea anywhere they went. Because of this convenience, there was a sudden, driving force to make teapots designed for steeping tea. This sudden increase in popularity also meant one thing: an increase in the value these pots. Still, no pot is more valued than the legendary Yixing teapot. But, what makes it such a precious clay commodity?

Let's first start with the clay. These teapots are made of Zisha, a type of clay that is unique in China's Yixing Province (hence its name). These pots have the unique property of actually absorbing some of the flavor from the beverage prepared on it and in the process, intensifying its flavor. It's this property that is the most profound feature in Yixing's value as a teapot. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it was designed to be portable enough for carrying in trips. And last but not least, its unique designs, made by the expert hands of a craftsman, have quality that is second to none.

As the times evolved, the drinking habits of the Chinese also changed. And with this evolution, the value of teapots such as the Yixing pot exponentially increased. Now, these teapots are considered as legendary equipment, as their design and their purpose have stood the test of time. Not only are they attractive, but they also have intimate ties with China's long history of tea drinking.


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Karen Davis is an Yixing Teapot enthusiast and collected her first pot back in the 1980's. She is the founder of Brownstoneshopper, an online webstore that sells Yixing teapots. We have a variety of teapots showcased in our online gallery. If you enjoyed this article, visit us now online at http://www.brownstoneshopper.com/contact-us/ and sign up for your FREE Report!


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