*110ml 30% Old Zini + 70% Japanese red clay (He Zhong Tai)

30% Old Zini + 70% Japanese red clay (very similar to Yixing HongNi/ZhuNi but with better heat retention) blend, multi-hole filter. This super versatile teapot goes really well with “first aging”, semi-aged and aged Sheng Puerh (anywhere from 5 to 30+ years old), and all types of oolongs (particularly light roasted ones), will brew other light coloured teas very well too. Due to its heat retention, it’s also very suitable for shou puerh!

In the artist words: “This clay is versatile. It has an excellent purification effect on aged or ripe (shou) teas, enhancing their aged character. For newer teas with strong aromas, it improves their flavour profile. The teapot is highly breathable, allowing the tea aroma to permeate through the teapot and release a more intriguing aroma”

This is a unique teapot fully hand pinched by the master himself. About 6 of these can be made in a month, and 1 or 2 will break in the firing on average. Occasionally, a teapot won’t pass his extremely stringent proportion and harmony standards and will be rejected too.

The attention to detail is stunning, the clay is excellent, the harmony of proportions and overall beauty is perfect, and it really has a spirit of its own. Master He Zhong Tai full introduction. We’re extremely pleased to be able to offer these teapots to western tea lovers at lower than their price in China.

He Zhong Tai’s full notes on the clay blend (translated from the Chinese):

The Breathing Philosophy of Dual Mineral Teapots: 70% Kyushu red clay provides excellent and long-lasting heat retention, while 30% Yixing old purple clay imparts double-pore activity, forming a composite structure through co-melting at 1251°C. When water is poured in, the micropores in the teapot wall can be seen expelling water vapor. Actual measurements show that the permeability is 30% higher than that of a single clay material, allowing for rapid tea awakening while maintaining a warm and fragrant aroma.

After trying multiple blends, a 70% Kyushu Red Clay and 30% Yixing Old Purple Clay were finally selected. At a high temperature of 1251 degrees Celsius, a mineral fusion effect is achieved. The iron oxide in the red clay intertwines with the aluminum silicate in the purple clay to form a honeycomb-like microcrystalline structure, which can quickly release tea components while maintaining appropriate temperature retention. This makes the aged flavor of Pu’er tea more mellow, and the brewed tea even more refreshing and crisp.