Tea Sets & Tradition

Undoubtedly, the best tea is brewed in natural clay pots.  This is perhaps the oldest method for brewing tea, but quite certainly one of the most  beautiful, traditional, and even practical methods.  Yixing clay tea sets are know all over the world for their elegance and intricate designs.

What makes clay tea sets unique, is that the clay is very porous, as opposed to bone china tea sets, porcelain, silver, etc.  This porousness actually allows the pots and cups used to soak up the tea, so that after many years of usage, it is no longer necessary to add tea to the hot water, because there are small traces of the tea in the clay.  So, the pot and cups will flavor the hot water naturally.  Yes. Very cool.

In addition to the most obvious benefit of tea clay sets, there are a few more points I would like to touch upon. When you do get a new clay pot, although it isn’t seasoned to perfection yet, the simple fact that it is made of clay will enhance the color, aroma and flavor of any tea you do steep.

Yixing clay tea sets exemplify craftsmanship and quality.  They are often carved with very delicate, ornate designs; depictions of ancient Chinese life, culture, and traditions; these are the most traditional.  Of course, nowadays you can find almost any variation.  There are clay pots that have been dyed different colors, or painted with contemporary art. If nothing else, a Yixing clay tea set makes a great conversation piece.

The care and maintenance of Yixing clay tea sets is really quite simple.  Never use soaps or cleansers to clean your clay set!  This is probably the most important thing to remember if you own a Yixing tea set.  Remember, anything you put in your pot can be soaked into the clay itself.  You don’t want you’re tea to start tasting like soap.  Aside from this very important factor, they really aren’t much trouble at all to take care of.  When finished drinking, just pour some hot water over the clay you wish to clean, and gently rinse the tea away.  No scrubbing or even drying with a tea towel is recommended, just let air dry.

Also, one should note that most tea experts who use Yixing clay tea sets are very careful not to use more than one type of tea in each set.  Which is to say that if you use flower tea in a clay pot, you should always and only use flower tea.  If you start mixing different tea leaves, their flavors will all be absorbed into the pot, and you will never again be able to expect consistent flavor.

The internet has made it much easier to learn about and purchase Yixing clay tea sets.  You no longer need to make the long trek to China. If you love tea, then you really can’t go wrong with a clay tea set, after all, you can’t get any more traditional.