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Line 1: − '''Yixing clay''' (zh|s=宜兴|t=宜興) is a type of clay from the region near the city of Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Its use dates back to the [[Song Dynasty]] (960 - 1279) when Yixing clay was first mined around Lake Taihu in China. From the 17th century on, the Yixing wares were commonly exported to Europe. The finished stoneware, which is used for teaware and other small items, are usually red or brown in color. They are known as Zisha ware, and are typically unglazed. The clays used for the Yixing wares are very cohesive and can be formed by slip molding, coil forming, or most commonly, slab forming. The clays can also be formed by throwing. The most famous wares made from yixing clay are Yixing clay teapots . + Line 18:
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[[File:Tea pots.jpg|thumb|right|Five Yixing clay teapots - showing a variety of styles from formal to whimsical.]]
[[File:Tea pots.jpg|thumb|right|Five Yixing clay teapots - showing a variety of styles from formal to whimsical.]]
'''Yixing''' teapots are fired from Yixing clay. The clay for the pots comes from the city of Yixing in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu. The traditional use of Yixing teapots dates back to the the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). Yixing wares were commonly exported to Europe from the 17th century on. They are known as Zisha ware. The color of Zisha ware is red, brown or purple and is unglazed.
==Types==
==Types==
== Use ==
== Use ==
Yixing teawares are prized because their unglazed surfaces absorb traces of the beverage, creating a more complex flavour. For these reasons, yixing teawares should never be washed using detergents, but rather with water only, and connoisseurs recommend using each tea vessel for one kind of tea (white, green, oolong, or black) or sometimes even one variety of tea only.
Yixing teapots are meant for use with black, oolong teas or puer tea. The teapots absorb a tiny amount of tea and will develop a coating. This why only hot water and no soap should be used to clean the teapots. Yixing teapot are usually used only for one type of tea because it could influence the flavor. They are smaller than typical teapots and usually, a bigger amount of tea leaves is used which are infused several times.
Early pots were designed for travel use hence you will see the simple classical look of the pots produced during the Ming Dynasty. Most tea drinking enthusiast will have one teapot for travel use, these tend to be less expensive and compact in design. It was not until during the mid-Qing Dynasty (18th century) that tea connoisseurs started to use the pot at home and the artisan begin to form them into different shape and sizes. Many exotic forms were conceived. Vessels were decorated with poetic inscriptions, calligraphy, paintings and seals were incised onto the surface of the teapots.
Early pots were designed for travel use hence you will see the simple classical look of the pots produced during the Ming Dynasty. Most tea drinking enthusiast will have one teapot for travel use, these tend to be less expensive and compact in design. It was not until during the mid-Qing Dynasty (18th century) that tea connoisseurs started to use the pot at home and the artisan begin to form them into different shape and sizes. Many exotic forms were conceived. Vessels were decorated with poetic inscriptions, calligraphy, paintings and seals were incised onto the surface of the teapots.