Yixing Clay Tea Sets

Yixing clay tea pots brew the best tea. Period. It is one of the oldest ways of brewing tea and certainly one of the most interesting, beautiful and practical. They are known worldwide for their special tea brewing qualities and beautiful 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.

Aside from the main benefit of tea clay sets, there are still a few more. If you have a new clay tea set, you don’t have to worry if it isn’t “seasoned” yet. Because even if it isn’t old yet, it will still add to the color, flavor and aroma of any tea you brew because the set is made of clay.

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.

If you are worried about the maintenance of your Yixing tea set, don’t be! They are really quite simple to maintain. The only rule is to never use cleanser or soap on your set. This is important to remember: whatever you put into your pot, has the potential to soak into the pores of the clay. So, unless you want your tea to taste like soap, I wouldn’t recommend using it to clean your set. What I would recommend however, is to pour some hot water over your tea set when you’re done using it, and then rinse it again with water. You can then dry it with a tea towel, or simply let it air dry.

Another thing to note, is that you shouldn’t brew more than one type of tea in your clay tea set. Most experts agree that using different flavors will cause the tea to eventually become unpredictable. This is because every tea you brew is soaked into the clay, so eventually, no matter what type of tea you brew, it will end up being some sort of a blend. Once you have mixed teas in your clay sets, it will be difficult to ever again get consistent flavor.

If you want to find your own Yixing tea set, all you have to do is look online. Or you could travel to China, but it isn’t necessary anymore. You can’t go wrong with a clay tea set, and you really can’t get anything that is more traditional.

Want to find out more about Yixing tea sets, then visit Gavin Coleman’s site on how to choose the best tea set for your needs.