Some notable examples of Duanni include: Sesame Duanni (ZhimaDuanni/芝麻段泥), Gold Duanni (JinDuanni/金段泥), and my personal favorite, Crab Yellow Duanni (XiehuangDuanni/蟹黄段泥).

Yixing Teapots June 5, 2008 A brief history of Yixing Teaware (Zisha Hu or “Purple Sand Pot”) Red Yu Ting Hu Yixing Teapot The type of clay used has a great impact on the characteristics of the teapot. There are three major colour types of Zisha clays: Purple, Red, and Beige. [7] Duan ni is a symbiosis of various clays and will normally turn into beige colour after firing. A subtype of the purple variety, called Tianqing clay, has historically been the most sought-after due to its rarity. It was said that Tianqing clay was exhausted, but it is suggested that it is not the case. [7] Tianqing clay was scarce only in the Ming dynasty as the excavation skills and technologies were limited. It was difficult for potters to excavate purple clay as the clay were normally located 30 meters below the surface. With the technology advancement, the excavation of purple clay has flourished, so has Tianqing clay.Clays are often mixed together and there are an infinite variety of combinations. There are 3 basic types of clay: It is originally found Mainly in Dashuitan (大水潭) mining area being the second most prized Zini variant after Tian Qing Ni. However it could also be found in the south part of Huanglongshan, close to Dashuitan.

There are three things that make Yixing Zisha Pottery unique in the world. The Material, The Processing and the sophisticated way the teapots are made. Previously I wrote about the Main types of Raw ore which is used in Yixing Zisha (you can read it [HERE] ). The main and original material which was Traditionally used is Zini (You can read more about Zini [HERE] ), but the following processing method can be applied to other kinds of Zisha too, with the exception of Zhuni. I’ll explain each step in detail, but you can use this flow chart as a cheat sheet whenever you wonder about how Zisha Processing is done. Flowchart of Traditional Yixing Zisha Processing These natural properties means that Yixing Zisha Clay Teapots and even many cookery wares are naturally finished, without any glaze. The unglazed wares, with their natural porous characteristics mean that they benefit from regular use, absorbing some of the flavour & colour of the tea or food being prepared. Markings: Many authentic Yixing teapots have markings or stamps on the bottom that indicate the potter or workshop that made it. If there are no markings, or if the markings look fake, it may be a fake teapot.CUSTOMS CHARGES: All commercial goods arriving from the UK are subject to VAT, Import Duty and a handling fee in the country receiving the goods. Jet head and jet consistency. Many have seen a viral video demonstrating the difference between teapots with good and with the bad flow. – Bad teapots had an inconsistent jet, breaking too soon, while a good pot's jet was going in a silent continuous flow even from a significant height. It is, of course, stunning. And it is terrific when a master is so good at his craft that he can create such flawless things, which are indeed very pleasant to use. But does it play a significant role in good tea brewing? Zisha clay’s sandy quality makes it porous enough to allow the pot to breathe, pulling the tea fragrance into the walls of the pot. This enhances the tea drinking experience over time. The porosity also reduces the likelihood of mold formation and disburses excess heat in brewing.