When purchasing a Purple Clay Teapot, enthusiasts typically fear two things the most: first, buying a fake purple clay pot; second, and also most feared, is buying a chemically-made Teapot. So how should one choose a good purple clay teapot?

Look at the Texture

Original purple clay, with a restrained luster, appears warm like jade, has a stable color tone, and an aged appearance. With high-quality clay, one can see the effects within half a month.

Chemically-made clay Teapots, no matter how well maintained, show little change and remain dry. Although they can create a so-called mung bean sand effect, the surface's vitreous phase (due to the addition of wood chip water, also known as quartz water) prevents the Tea water from being absorbed, and oils from handling cannot penetrate either, so such pots do not develop a patina.

Look at Water Absorption

Genuine purple clay teapots, except for red clay and some dun-colored clays, generally have strong water absorption properties. This is why it's often said that tea tastes better when brewed in a purple clay teapot. Chemically-made clay teapots usually lack water absorption capabilities, and water poured on the body will simply run off rather than be absorbed by the pot.

A simple test is to touch the pot with your hand; most genuine purple clay teapots will quickly absorb hand sweat, while chemically-made clay teapots generally do not absorb water or sweat.

Smell the Odor

An unused purple clay teapot, when scalded with boiling water, generally has no smell or only the scent of Pottery. A chemically-made clay teapot, when scalded with boiling water, may emit a pungent odor or a peculiar fragrance, and the water stains on the body are difficult to be absorbed by the pot.

Look at Patination

A purple clay teapot, after being brewed and used for a period, develops a patina. A chemically-made clay teapot, no matter how well used, will mostly leave behind only tea stains, and in most cases, there will be no patination.

Look at Workmanship

Due to modern production techniques being standardized and highly efficient, the teapots produced are neat, precise, and very appealing to beginners. Handmade teapots, without a uniform mold, rely solely on the craftsman's skill and experience, crafting according to their own requirements and preferences with confidence.

Therefore, even teapots of the same shape and specifications will differ in the shape of the body, the diameter of the mouth, and the installation positions, thickness, and height of the spout and handle. There will not be any completely identical appearance and specifications. Original purple clay is scarce and valuable, making it impossible to produce large-scale mechanized and molded batches.

So, distinguishing traditional craftsmanship from modern methods is also an aspect of judging the quality of the clay.

Editor: Xiong Er, Cha Pao Pao Network