Yixing Zisha Teapot 170cc – Red Clay – Purple Peony Painting

This is the pot you buy for the tea, and keep for the way it looks on the table. At 170cc, it is sized for solo gongfu sessions.

Crafted in red clay with a fine grain and a bright, lively brewing character. Traditional yixing clay needs no glaze; the material is the finish — simple, and exactly right. What I like: foot ring is trimmed clean with the maker's stamp underneath. What I like: lid fits tightly enough to keep aroma in the pot. Look closely and let it air-dry with the lid off between sessions. Spout angle is set for a natural wrist motion when pouring; it is the kind of detail you only get from handmade work.

Gift it to a tea drinker, or keep it — either way it will get used. Small investment, daily reward — that is the math on a good teapot. A fine way to start, or continue, a Yixing collection.