Discover Chinese ceramics and porcelain — Longquan celadon, Yixing purple clay teapots, blue and white porcelain, Tang sancai. Guides for collectors and enthusiasts.
Also known in Chinese tradition: Longquan Celadon Pottery and Jade-Like Glaze There is a moment in every celadon collector’s life that they remember with unusual clarity. The first time they hold a piece of genuine Longquan celadon up to the light, and the glaze does something that no photograph, no description, and no video can […]
Real Longquan Celadon Has ‘Kiln Sweat’ at the Foot Rim Read More »
Short answer: A fake Yixing teapot can be spotted in 10 seconds with the sound test — real Zisha makes a dull clay “thud,” while fake clay rings like ceramic. 90% of “Yixing” pots under $40 on Amazon contain chemical dyes and may leach lead into your tea. HandMyth tests every pot for heavy metals
Pour Boiling Water—If It Smells Like Plastic, Run Read More »
Short answer: For most beginners, a half-handmade Yixing teapot in Zini (purple clay) at 120-180ml is the best first choice — authentic craftsmanship without the $400+ master-artisan price. HandMyth sources directly from certified Yixing workshops, so you get real Zisha clay, not industrial stoneware. Start with one pot, dedicate it to oolong or pu-erh, and
Your First Yixing Should Cost Under $80—Not $800 Read More »
Longquan celadon has been made continuously for over 1,000 years in Zhejiang, China. Here’s what makes it special, how to identify quality pieces, and why it’s still relevant today.
Song Dynasty Celadon Traveled the Silk Road—Then Vanished Read More »
Also known in Chinese tradition: Yixing Teapot Care, Seasoning and Maintenance What is the correct way to season a Yixing teapot for the first time? Seasoning, sometimes called opening, a new Yixing teapot is simpler than many assume. Start by rinsing the pot with boiling water to remove any dust or residue from production. Next,
Never Use Soap on Yixing—Here’s What to Do Instead Read More »
Also known in Chinese tradition: Yixing Teapot Care Trends and Maintenance Methods Yixing Teapot Care: What Most Collectors Get Wrong I’ve handled hundreds of Yixing teapots over the years—from Ming-dynasty antiques to modern works by masters like Wang Guixiang. The one thing that consistently surprises me? How many owners ruin these beautiful, functional objects through
Why Yixing Collectors Ditch Soap for Hot Water Only Read More »
Also known in Chinese tradition: Yixing Teapot Care Data for Owners Why Your Yixing Teapot Might Be Overrated (And How to Fix It) You dropped a meaningful price on that handmade Zisha pot from a reputable dealer in Yixing. You read online that it needs to be ‘seasoned’ like a cast-iron pan. So you boiled
What Yixing Care Data Shows (It’s Not About Soap) Read More »
Also known in Chinese tradition: Yixing Purple Clay Teapot Seasoning Methods Why Your Yixing Teapot Still Tastes Like Mud (And How to Fix It) You spent real money on a Yixing pot—maybe a half-handmade Xiao Shi Piao from an obscure studio in Dingshan. But your first few brews taste flat, earthy, like wet rock. That’s
Does Boiling a New Yixing Pot Really Work? Experts Split Read More »
Also known in Chinese tradition: Yixing Purple Clay Teapot Seasoning for Beginners The afternoon sunlight falls through my kitchen window and catches the ridged surface of a small Yixing teapot I have owned for three years. It sits on a bamboo tray next to my stove, its once-matte clay now carrying a deep, burnished glow
The Yixing Seasoning Step Most Beginner Guides Skip Read More »
Also known in Chinese tradition: Yixing Purple Clay Teapots Transforming Tea Culture What exactly is a Yixing purple clay teapot made of? A genuine Yixing teapot is fired from zisha, a mineral-rich clay mined exclusively in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China. The defining purple clay (zini) contains iron, quartz, and mica particles, which create a porous,
Why the Tea World Can’t Stop Buying Yixing in 2026 Read More »
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