League of Pots #32

Code Name: Serenity

Material: Ceramic

Height (without handle): 11.5 cm

Length (back to spout): 19 cm

Volume:  900 ml

Weight:  470 g

Brews: Any type of tea.
Specialty: Great for brewing a few mugs of black tea for friends and family.
Story: I purchased Serenity a few days ago at Goodwill for $2.99. I had been looking for another "work horse" teapot to replace Chip (who unfortunately past away a year ago). I'm very happy with my newest teapot.
Super Powers: Serenity has a hypnotic gaze. If she looks into your eyes she can read your mind. If she focuses her powers she can control your mind or even make you permanently forget selected memories.

Steeping Clay - Experiment # 1

I once read that if you poured boiling water into a well-seasoned yixing clay teapot, without tea leaves, you would still get a little tea flavor and color. I don't think I have any teapots that would qualify as "well seasoned" but three of my pots, El Greco (aged puer), Sandy (heavily roasted oolong), and Sam (high mountain Taiwanese oolong) have each been used dozens of times to brew great teas.

El Greco (top left), Sandy (middle), Sam (bottom right)

For today's experiment, I filled each of these three teapots with freshly boiled water, covered them with a thick towel, and then waited 1 hour before pouring the water into three separate tea bowls.

Each cup of warm water had the faintest hint of yellow color. Sandy's cup had one tiny speck of old leaf in it.

I started with Sam's water. It had a subtle sweetness and the water felt soft and creamy. There was also a hint of citrus in the water but it hid in the back of my throat and peeked out only when I exhaled.

Sandy's water was soft and thick in my mouth. It had a lick of nuttiness and a floral-mineral aftertaste that reminded me of Tie Guanyin oolong.

El Greco, like Sam and Sandy, also yielded delicate sweetness and substantial mouth-feel. It had a "brighter" taste than the other two pots. While Sam had citrus in the back of the throat, El Greco had an up front lemongrass note.

I was pleased with the results of this casual experiment and plan to repeat it in a few years using this blog post as a baseline. Next time I'll include a few other tea lovers in the tasting to "blind taste test" the water in hopes of limiting the possible effects of "power of suggestion."

Please let me know if you have ever tried anything like this or if you have any other ideas for ways to improve this experiment.

Using a Second Clay Teapot as a Chahai

Tea lovers have been decanting their brew from one teapot to another for ages so this post offers nothing original. However, when it comes to gongfu style tea preparation, it often seems like I, and everyone I drink tea with, always uses a decanting pitcher (aka chahai, fairness cup, etc.) or we'll just pour the tea directly into our cups.

Lately I've been experimenting with using two clay teapots, one to brew and one to serve, while drinking Chinese tea.

In the cases where I already have two well-seasoned teapots that hold similar volumes of tea, this method has yielded some wonderful results. High quality clay teapots are always such a pleasure to use... so it makes sense that having two on your tea tray at the same time may "double your pleasure."

Some other possible benefits include: quicker seasoning of your clay teapots and the second teapot's lid can, if desired, be used to keep your tea much hotter than a typical decanter.

Please comment if you have any more information or personal experiences regarding this technique.

Test Driving a Brand New Teapot

Recently my friend Chris Shaw (featured in yesterday's post) stopped by my house with a pretty little teapot that had just come out of the kiln less than 24 hours before!

The ~ 140 ml teapot is a pleasant off-white color with several tiny black dots. It is glazed on the inside and the outside and sports a 2.5 inch handle off the side. It feels smooth and balanced.

This pot is an example of Chris's newest work and the reason it's now temporarily in my possession is because Chris asked me to take it for the first test drive!

I selected a beloved aged puer (this one) for the pot's inaugural tea. After rinsing the pot I filled it half-full of large, dry, curly leaves and did a quick rinse.

Next I steeped the tea ~30 seconds and poured. Ahhhh.

This tea is always so good and nearly-impossible to mess up... but the resulting infusions, brewed in Chris's brand new teapot were extra amazing! It may have been some sort of placebo effect, but that doesn't matter to me. The tea was sublime.

But I'm not here to talk about the tea... I'm supposed to be test driving the pot!

The pot had two minor, common problems (of which Chris is already aware). The pour was slightly slower than desired and the lid-handle was a bit too small for me to get a good grip on. Nothing I can't work around. The pot did however pour smoothly and fully empty itself of tea liquor after each infusion. I rank this pot highly and look forward to brewing a few other teas in it before it must be returned to its creator.

League of Pots #30

Code Name: Koroibos

Material: Ceramic
Height (without handle): 8.5 cm
Length (back to spout): 14.5 cm
Volume: 600 ml
Weight: 375 g

Brews: Any type of tea.
Specialty: Unfortunately Koroibos doesn't really brew any teas very well. Sometimes he will make a decent pot, but his lid is too small to fit a basket infuser inside and he doesn't have an infuser in his spout so leaves always slip in and get stuck. The tiny lid also makes it very difficult to get the spent leaves out of the pot once they have been steeped.
Story: Koroibos was a gift from my dear friends S and B who traveled around the world in 2008. They spent time in China while the whole country had Olympic Fever. Koroibos is shaped liked the iconic Bird Nest Stadium (actually called Beijing National Stadium). This stadium is a symbol of many different things to many different people.
Super Powers: Koroibos has super speed. He can run the Stadion race much faster than any other Chinese-made Olympic souvenir!

League of Pots #29

Code Name: Pebbles

Material: Stone
Height: 7 cm
Length (handle to spout): 15.5 cm
Volume: 230 ml
Weight: 300 g

Brews: Any type of unscented tea.
Specialty: Lightly Oxidized High Mountain Oolong.
Story: Pebbles was an unexpected gift from my neighbor.
Super Powers: Pebbles' rock hard exoskeleton makes her virtually indestructible. She can transform into a massive boulder and crush her enemies flat.

League of Pots #28

Code Name: Panther (豹)

Material: Black Clay
Height: 10 cm
Length (handle to spout): 15 cm
Volume: 440 ml
Weight: 315 g

Brews: Hong Cha (紅茶)
Specialty: Big Leafed Taiwanese Hong Cha
Story: I found Panther last month at a south Seattle rummage sale for just $1. He appears to have never been used.
Super Powers: Panther is a ninja assassin who can transform into a "dark shadow cat" which allows him to sneak undetected into any place, and even go through the cracks underneath doors.

Tips for Buying Yixing Clay Teapots

A few of my readers recently asked me for some advice on where to buy Yixing (宜興) clay teapots here in North America. Each of these potential buyers did not want to spend a lot of money and they wanted pots that they could use often (rather than just sitting on a shelf looking pretty). They also appeared to have already done a fair amount of online research and had run across tons of (sometimes contradictory) information and a baffling array of options and prices.

So for those readers and any others who might be interested, here are my tips for buying Yixing clay teapots:

1. Buy teapots that appeal to you aesthetically, feel well made and balanced, and pour well. Easier said than done eh?

2. Buy local if possible. Small retail tea businesses are truly a wonderful thing and deserving of local support. If you live near a place that sells Yixing teapots you should feel really lucky. Ask the buyer where they get their stock. Some may import directly (which is wonderful) while others will wholesale from larger domestic distributors (such as a notable Bay area company called CCCI). There is really nothing too special about these mass produced teapots but they can still be a good choice if they look nice, pour well and are well priced.

3. Buy used. This might be a controversial tip when talking about a porous, flavor absorbing, highly personal item such as Yixing clay. (Sort of like buying used underwear.) But I'm a big fan of thrift stores, antique stores, garage sales and rummage sales and you really never know what is going to turn up. All I'm saying is keep your eyes open. Even if the teapot is well used it may still brew great tea or be otherwise salvageable... and for just a couple dollars it is probably worth the risk. You could even get lucky and score a well seasoned treasure. Also, sometimes clueless people will receive unwanted teapots as gifts, never use them, and then just give them away. In fact, just last weekend, I found such a pot for $1 at a rummage sale. I am drinking Alishan out of it as I type this. It looks like a panther. I'll add it to my League of Pots later this month.

4. Who said you have to "buy" anything. No, I'm not suggesting you go out and steal a teapot, but there may be other ways for you to score your dream pot. If you have a marketable skill, art or craft, perhaps you could make a trade with another tea loving friend (including an online tea friend). If that's not going to work, you could always start dropping hints with friends and family around Christmas or your birthday.

5. Don't buy teaware at a corporate chain store (especially if it's in a mall). This last tip is just my own personal opinion. You're invited to do your own research about individual stores and make up your own mind about where to spend your own money.

I hope some readers will find this post to be a useful tool. I'm certainly no expert on this hugely intricate subject and I'd really appreciate it if some of my truly Yixing savvy readers would add more helpful comments. I'm also inviting readers and trustworthy vendors to share links to themselves or their own favorite places to buy Yixing teapots.

League of Pots #027

Code Name: "Old Brown"

Material: Thick Brown Ceramic
Height: 15.5 cm
Length (handle to spout): 25 cm
Volume: 1110 ml
Weight: 937 g

Brews: Any type of tea.
Specialty: Strong black tea and spiced chai.
Story: I found Old Brown last year at the Burien Value Village (a thrift store) for only a couple dollars. I had always wanted a fat brown English teapot so I snatched him up!
Super Powers: Old Brown enjoys a quiet kingly existence on a small island... but if he is ever angered or annoyed he will transform into an enormous super-strong owl and bite the legs, head or tail off of anyone who wrongs him.

League of Pots #026

Code Name: "Nutkin"

Material: Dark Brown Clay
Height: 5.5 cm
Length (handle to spout): 9.5 cm
Volume: 70 ml
Weight: 79 g

Brews: Nutkin has yet to brew any real tea.
Specialty: He's very good at brewing imaginary tea!
Story: Nutkin was a gift to my daughter from my friend Shiuwen about a year ago.
Super Powers: Although Nutkin is very impertinent, he is extremely clever, great at riddles, and can transform himself into a stealthy squirrel.

League of Pots #025

Code Name: "Carrot Top"

Material: Ceramic
Height: 15.5 cm
Length (handle to spout): 17 cm
Volume: 400 ml
Weight: 325 g

Brews: Any type of tea.
Specialty: Chinese Greens
Story: Carrot Top was a gift from my mother-in-law. He belonged to her mother.
Super Powers: Carrot Top can talk to all plants and manipulate them with his mind. He can also make them grow super large instantly and have them do his bidding.

League of Pots #024

Code Name: "Princess"

Material: Ceramic
Height: 24 cm
Length (handle to spout): 24 cm
Volume: 1350 ml
Weight: 840 g

Brews: Any type of tea.
Specialty: Black tea
Story: My wife and I got Princess as a wedding present 6 years ago.
Super Powers: Flight. Invisibility. Fire balls. I'm telling you - don't even mess with Princess!

League of Pots #023

Code Name: "Funny Guy"

Material: Unglazed Red Clay
Height: 12.5 cm
Length (handle to spout): 12 cm
Volume: 275 ml

Brews: Puer Tea
Specialty: Loose leaf ripe puer tea.
Story: I purchased Funny Guy nine years ago at Teacup and he is my first official "puer pot." He was imported by CCCI so he is "nice but not too nice" plus he didn't cost too much. Interestingly, Funny Guy's head is also his lid and the tea flows right through his mouth... so you have to hold on to his head while pouring or else it will just fall off!
Super Powers: Funny Guy can fully twist his head around in circles preventing any bad guys from sneaking up on him. He can also use this power to pull off an amusing "Exorcist" style party trick!

League of Pots #022

Code Name: "Sapphire" (藍寶石 )

Type: 2 cup Chatsford teapot

Material: Ceramic
Height: 10 cm
Length (handle to spout): 18 cm
Volume: 355 ml

Brews: Most types of tea brew well in Sapphire.
Specialty: She can always be counted on for a nice pot of Darjeeling.
Story: I bought Sapphire 8 years ago at Teacup. I used her to brew herbal blends and chai for a few years, back when I used to drink those types of infusions more regularly. Sadly, Sapphire has been sitting unused in a drawer for almost five years now... but due to a recent wave of small teapot breakages at Teacup, she will soon "come out of retirement" and make tea for my clients at work!
Super Powers: Sapphire can transform herself into a bolt of hot blue electricity which she can use to fry people, travel quickly through power lines, damage, repair or "talk to" electronics or simply to recharge her cell phone.

League of Pots #021

Code Name: "Da Tong" (大同 )

Material: Ceramic
Height: 15 cm
Length (handle to spout): 25 cm
Volume: 950 ml

Brews: Any type of tea does well in Da Tong!
Specialty: He always does particularly well with loose leaf ripe puer (熟普洱).
Story: Da Tong was a gift from my friends Brandon, Jessie and Laura about three years ago. I think they found him and his six matching cups at an antique store. I call him "Da Tong" (big same) because those words are tattooed on his bottom. I use him quite often with an infuser basket to brew tea at my Teacup tea classes.
Super Powers: Da Tong has the miraculous power to turn water and leaves into delicious refreshing tea! (I must really be running out of ideas for super powers eh?)

League of Pots #020

Code Name: "Little Plum" (小梅 )

Material: Black Clay
Height: 6 cm
Length (handle to spout): 11 cm
Volume: 140 ml

Brews: Lightly oxidized oolong teas from Taiwan
Specialty: Alishan High Mountain Tea
Story: Little Plum is a very inexpensive clay pot from CCCI (a wholesaler based out of California). She was purchased by a friend last year at Teacup (the tea shop I work at here in Seattle) but the good chap didn't really like the way she poured so I gave him a store credit and adopted Little Plum. I have since overcome her "quirks" and now use her frequently to brew tea at work.
Super Powers: She may be small but she is loud! Little Plum has the ability to generate vocal sounds at any decibel level. Little Plum can also "throw her voice" making it appear to be coming from any source she chooses (which would explain her day job as a ventriloquist).

League of Pots #019

Code Name: "El Greco" (希臘人)

Material: Black Clay
Height: 8 cm
Length (handle to spout): 13 cm
Volume: 175 ml

Brews: Sheng Puer (生普洱)
Specialty: Wild leaf, old tree, aged sheng puer.
Story: El Greco is the teapot that I bought during my first trip to Fenqihu, Taiwan (奮起湖, 台灣) back in 2006. I wrote about the day I bought El Greco in this old blog post.
Super Powers: El Greco is a code and language master. He can speak, read and write any language fluently and has never come across a code he couldn't break!

League of Pots #018

Code Name: "Black Peony" (黑牡丹)

Material: Ceramic
Height: 8.5 cm
Length (handle to spout): 15 cm
Volume: 200 ml

Brews: Any kind of tea.
Specialty: Chinese white teas.
Story: I purchased Black Peony at the Capitol Hill (a neighborhood) Value Village (a thrift store) five or six years ago. He was only $6, which included a matching tray and six matching cups!
Super Powers: Black Peony is a demolition and explosives expert. He has the amazing ability to self-detonate and reform.

Xiao Xiao's big day

You may already know that quality loose leaf tea is a great value. I usually tell my clients that a pound of tea brews 180 to 200 cups, which means that the price per cup can fall anywhere from one penny to a few dollars. While I'm sure this all varies greatly from person to person and tea to tea, I still feel this statistic is a pretty accurate rule of thumb.

One day Xiao Xiao and I decided to find out just how much brewed tea we could make using my last 8 grams of 1997 Nannuo shou cha. This tea cost $128 per pound, so 8 grams would be $2.26.

Xiao Xiao!
(What he lacks in size he makes up for in spirit.)

Xiao Xiao holds enough tea to fill three small teacups, but because I was drinking solo, I poured a third of each infusion into a large mason jar, a third into another small drinking cup, and the rest into my own cup to savor. We went for 13 delicious infusions.

After I was done the mason jar held 10 ounces of tea:
(This room temperature mix of all 13 infusions tasted great too!)

... and the cups looked like this:
(I didn't drink all of these, because I was already feeling a super puer buzz.)

(They are shown here in order from left to right, top to bottom.)

30oz of tea is 3.75 cups so this time a $128 per pound tea worked out to about $0.60 per cup!

After our little experiment, Xiao Xiao was very sleepy (brewing 30 ounces of tea can be very hard work when you're the size of a golf ball) so I made him a nice little "nest" out of some used tea leaves and let him rest.

A member of the League has fallen!

Many of my readers are familiar with the "League of Pots." The League is a tea brewing superhero team that uses my house as its headquarters. Last week, while fighting the forces of evil and defending the weak, Sara was critically injured by an ill-tempered monster named "Galgo" who shoots tornadoes out of his mouth. In the end, several other members of the League were able to destroy Galgo but they returned home with very heavy hearts.

Poor Sara