As a powerful tool for brewing tea, to utilize the full potential of a purple clay Teapot, one must understand both the pot and the tea. As the saying goes, “one pot for one type of tea.” Different pots pair with different teas. Here we will use six types of clay as examples to illustrate how to match the pot with the tea to achieve the best results. Today, we will explain from the perspective of clay properties how to correctly pair a purple clay teapot with tea to enhance the flavor.

[Original Segment Mud]

Original segment mud appears as pale green layered soil. After firing, it turns a milky yellow color. It is mined from the strata of Huanglong Mountain, where it coexists with purple clay. This layer is only a few centimeters thick and is located between the purple clay and the rock layer, often referred to as “more bones than flesh.”

Brewing Suggestions: Oolong tea (lightly roasted series) and Green Tea are perfect matches; Tieguanyin (moderately or heavily roasted series) and others.

[Bottom Trough Qing]

Purple clay can be divided into three categories: top, middle, and bottom trough Qing. Bottom Trough Qing is found at the very bottom of the purple clay layer. Its high quality has been praised by potters throughout history and has been used in classic pieces for centuries. Due to its location at the bottom of the purple clay layer, it is especially pure, with a fine texture and a stable color, appearing brown. It has been widely used by famous modern potters.

Brewing Suggestions: Pu'er, oolong tea, Longjing, Flower tea, Biluochun, black tea, green tea, etc.

[Original Purple Clay]

Original purple clay is extracted from the raw ore mined from the Huanglong Mountain in Yixing, Jiangsu Province. At that time, the iron content in the ore was relatively high, resulting in small molten spots on the produced Teapots. The clay contains larger particles, forming a loose structure with visible double-pore characteristics. The unique double-pore structure gives Yixing purple clay teapots the ability to quickly conduct heat and retain warmth, which is beneficial for preserving the temperature, color, aroma, and taste of tea when brewing.

Brewing Suggestions: Oolong tea is the most suitable choice; Pu'er aged tea, Tieguanyin, black tea, and others are also good options.

[Red Mud (Zhuni)]

Zhuni is a type of red mud and is considered a high-quality clay among red muds. Currently, the supply of Zhuni ore has significantly decreased. However, as long as there is red mud, Zhuni will not disappear. The quality development of this clay mainly depends on the speed of “slurry formation” and the “luster.”

After firing, it displays a warm orange-red color. When hot water is poured over it, it instantly reveals a tender, bright red hue, which is mysterious and charming. It stands out like a lotus rising from a pond or a winter plum bud in the snow, captivating tea lovers with its unique charm. With prolonged use, it becomes increasingly lustrous and rich in depth and layers, with stunning changes. It produces excellent water color when brewing tea, and the changes are immediately noticeable after just two or three brews. Over time, it develops a jade-like texture.

Brewing Suggestions: Tieguanyin, Taiwanese high mountain tea, raw Pu'er, oolong tea (lightly roasted series), etc.

[Red Skin Dragon]

Red Skin Dragon is a type of purple clay. It is generally found below the yellow stone layer, with a reddish-brown color that turns red after firing. Red Skin Dragon has a higher quartz content and more mica impurities, making it highly breathable. It is easy to handle when brewing tea and has great user appeal. The temperature is simple to control. The longer it is used, the redder it becomes, making it an excellent tool for brewing tea that is appreciated by both the refined and the common.

Brewing Suggestions: Tieguanyin, Taiwanese high mountain tea, Pu'er tea, oolong tea (lightly roasted series), Longjing, black tea, etc.

[Jiangpo Mud]

The original ore contains many coexisting minerals such as segment mud, red mud, and purple mud. After firing, a wide range of colorful spots of different sizes, depths, and shades of red and yellow appear on the deep “orange-red” base. The difficulty of production increases due to the tendency to produce iron oxide melting points, sand popping, and uneven coloration, leading to fewer finished products. It has a strong earthy quality, and over time, its qualities become more pronounced, giving it a warm and dignified appearance after being well cared for.

Brewing Suggestions: Oolong tea (lightly roasted series), Tieguanyin, and Pu'er tea are perfect matches.

The geometry of teapots and the myriad ways of tea – different kinds of clay require different types of tea. Only when the purple clay complements the tea can the tea's aroma be enhanced.

Source: Purple Clay Teapot Encyclopedia, Author: Teacher Chen