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by Fu Dao
(Berlin, Germany)
YiXing Teapot
Traditional Chinese teaware covers the entire spectrum of equipment used in the production of tea. Many components are used in the Chinese traditional tea ceremony.
The equipment of which that spectrum is comprised varies greatly depending on the type of tea being prepared and the cultural setting of the preparation itself.
I personally recommend traditional YiXing teapots. They first appeared during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) in the YiXing region of China, located in the Jiangsu province, about 120 miles northwest of Shanghai. The Jiangsu province is the world's only source for the unique clay from which YiXing teapots are made.
The porous nature of purple clay absorbs the flavor, smell, and color of the tea that is brewed in it. Over time, this teapot develops a seasoning from repeated use, making the tea brewed from a well used teapot a special treat.
For this reason, most people will dedicate a single flavor of tea to this specific teapot, so that the seasoning is not disrupted by cross-brewing.
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