Since Zisha teapots became popular, the market has been flooded with imitations, creating chaos. Nowadays, consumers often focus on the ore material, as if the ore alone defines the teapot. They seek "original ore" but cannot recognize it, leading to claims that all teapots are made from original or aged clay. This has shifted to another extreme, with rumors like "There’s no real Zisha anymore, so it’s risky to buy." The core issue is not the lack of authentic Zisha but the inability to identify it.

Historically, Zisha teapots were called "sand teapots." Those with crystal reflections are the best; those with a moist luster are very good; while those with a greasy, shiny surface like a monk’s head are the poorest. This identification method is precise, simple, and efficient—straight to the point.

A Zisha teapot with a crystalline luster has been fully fired in the kiln. Without reaching crystallization, it cannot emit such light. Its craftsmanship must also be superior, as only skilled polishing can achieve this effect. Inferior teapots often show a muddy or watery gloss. Furthermore, teapots with crystalline luster must use high-quality clay. Only clay with uniform sand particles and high purity can produce such light, while impure or unevenly sintered clay will not.

"To identify a Zisha teapot, just learn to recognize crystal and moist light. This is the simplest yet most profound method." Many people confuse crystal light, moist light, and greasy shine, leading to judgments based solely on color. However, Zisha is known as "five-colored earth" or "seven-hued clay," with rich color variations. Color does not determine quality; luster reflects its intrinsic value. After being used and polished, a genuine Zisha teapot reflects light at different depths due to tea oil absorption. "A real Zisha teapot doesn’t look flashy but appears warm and gentle under strong light."