Yixing Zisha Teapot 190cc – Duan Clay – Purple Shipiao Tea – Tripod Bridge Lid

The shape tells you how it pours before you ever lift it. What caught my eye in the main photo was the tripod. Expect the green-grey clay to look just as it does in the listing pictures. At 190cc, it is sized for solo gongfu sessions.

The clay is duan clay, sandy to the touch with a muted, earthy finish. The shipiao form keeps the profile distinctive without getting in the way of the pour. In practice, yixing zisha clay is famously porous, letting the pot absorb tea oils and mellow the brew. Shoulder leaves room for leaves to swirl and expand; it is the kind of detail you only get from handmade work. One detail worth noting: handle gives a secure three-finger grip, even when the pot is full. It turns out the matte clay feels better in the hand the more you use it. Look for the bridge lid — it gives this piece its personality.

The pot does its job so well you will forget to notice it. The pot arrives as pictured, ready for its first rinse and seasoning. Your future self, mid-gongfu-session, will approve of this choice.