Zini by Lu Wei Feng

An Yixing teapot of another calibre, this exquisite Zini is remarkably dense, and feels weighty in the hand and cool to the touch. Its large form is both long and wide, the body spreading out with gentle curvature while the handle and spout stretch outwards. The leaf motifs which adorn the latter complicate the geometric form, with spines which stand out as the only sharp angles on the pot's surface; the one on the handle doubles functionally as a rest for the thumb. Strained by a built-in clay filter, the contents pour out slowly but gracefully, its large capacity suggesting it as a good choice for company. Its nuanced formality and glossy surface is the result of master Yixing potter Lu Wei Feng, and you can read more about the teapot's provenance and sourcing in our blog post.

The clay

This teapot is made of Zini (紫泥) clay, a dark brown ore extracted from the famous mountain Huanglong shan (黄龙山).

Zini is ideal for steeping black teas and post-fermented Pu'er (Shu Pu'er); it is also a very good match to roasted and aged oolong teas.

The form

The teapot's shape and ornamentation is an original design by Lu Wei Feng, a variation on the classic Xishi shape, named after a famous royal concubine. She has therefore called it Ruyi Xishi, 'ruyi' meaning 'dream'. The flatter and more ornamental design with its curving spout has caught on, and Ruyi Xishi is becoming a style in its own right, which Ms. Lu refers to as "innovation in tradition".

Why do I need a Yixing teapot?

The material and the shape of Yixing teapots are ideal for brewing tea. They bring out the tea flavour like no other tea vessel. Hand-made Yixing teapots are also valuable handicrafts sought after by collectors. Their value raises with time, usage, and artist popularity.

Yixing teapots are made of a rare and depleting clay mined in the mountains near Yixing, a city in the Jiangsu province. The high density yet porous nature of the clay absorbs the smell of the tea brewed in it. For this reason, it is advised to use the pot with only one kind of tea (for instance with black teas or green teas). Bring your tea to the next level; allow yourself an authentic Yixing teapot.