The Floating Yixing Teapot

Subtle in its construction and light in the hand, this Hongni Shui Ping convinces with its birdlike shape: plump, with a narrow, pointed spout and tapered handle. The balanced shape and dense material will suit a variety of tea types, and there is unparalleled pleasure in the fountain-like stream when pouring them out, strained by a built-in ball filter. The thin, precise walls belie a stable construction, and it could easily become the daily Yixing pot for a seasoned connoisseur.

The clay

The Floating Yixing teapot is made of the aged Lao Hongni (老红泥) clay, a red ore extracted several years ago at the mine in Lanshan (拦山).

The clay was stored at the entrance of the mine for more than a decade before being shaped into a teapot and fired. The suffix "lao" ("old" in Mandarin) refers to the long storage.

Why is it called 'Floating'?

A centuries-old teapot form, 'Shui Ping' means literally 'water level' or 'balance'; it is characterised by the alignment of the tops of the body, spout, and handle, lending it an exceptional balance—indeed, many empty Shui Ping teapots will float on water, as this one does!

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 flavor 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.