Yixing
A traditional Chinese Teapot

Yixing teapots come from Jiangsu province in China, where they have been hand made for many centuries. While they have been made since the Sung Dynasty (960-1279 AD), their production flourished during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1643 AD). It was around this time that Yixing teapots also became popular in Europe.

Yixing teapots are typically made from a locally found clay called "zisha", which means 'purple clay'. Sometimes other colored clays, such as ochre or blue are used. The unglazed, slightly porous interior surface is suitable for bringing out the flavor of the tea and the insides are traditionally never scoured or cleaned with detergent, but only rinsed with hot water. Often, it is even recommended to use only one type of tea for a pot, thus preserving the flavor characteristics that the clay takes on.

Today, Yixing teapots is as prized in the West as much as in the East, and Western potters such as Geo Lastomirsky, Ah Leon, Jon Neely and others find inspiration in their timeless beauty.

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