The very first tea set produced in the world originated from the very place where tea infusion was born. In the Yixing region of China (the only source of this unique material), purple clay, red clay or “zisha” was the main component in the aptly called Yixing tea sets. Pot making began to rise during the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) but it flourished even further during the reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
However, before purple clay became a staple in tea pottery, tea was used to drink directly from drinking bowls after being brewed. The said clay was used in making jars, bowls and the like until it was later discovered as an ideal element in tea set making.
The set contains one tea pot and two teacups. The teapot can hold water up to 200 millimeters, equivalent to one drinking cup. On the other hand, the tea cups can accommodate 70 millimeters of water. The reason for the cups’ low water-holding capacity is to allow the drinkers to savor the hot brewed tea used in ceremonies and social gathering in ancient Chinese tradition.
The tea’s design is inspired by the ancient Chinese dragon cane. On the
The Yixing Dragon Totem Tea Set
wares, the relief map of this antique cane was intricately pictured. The dragon symbolizes the masculine energy and fertility of an emperor and the emperor himself. In line with the tea session’s reputation as a form of a royalty event; the legendary creature encrypted in a king’s cane is the perfect design.
What are the distinct properties of this purple clay that it has captured the hearts of almost all tea potters in China and even influenced the porcelain-dominated tea ware in the West?
Apparently, the color of the clay commands immediate attraction and beauty. The double layering of the ware is designed effectively to not burn the delicate hand handling the set.The glazed outside part of the set enhances more the ware’s color. However, the inside is left uncoated so that the natural pores of the clay are not blocked and the flavor, aroma, smell and warmth of the tea being brewed remains. Gradually, the teapots and cups become seasoned and the distinct flavor of the tea is absorbed for a long time. This unique property suggests that a set should be used for a certain type of tea so that there will be no mixing of the blends. Some of the teas that are best used with this set are black tea, flower tea, pu er tea, fruit tea, and so on.
The Yixing Dragon Totem Tea Set
The ingenuity of Chinese people and the help of Taiwanese technicians, the product is made to meet the above standards required by the European Union, American Food and drug Administration and the Switzerland SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) which are three of the world’s most organized teams in product inspection.
Literally, the set means “to go as you wish” or “all wishes come true”. There is some truth behind it. From just being a local product, it has spread now to the rest of the world not in its primitive form but in a 280-by-180-by-120 box with a design that tells a story of culture, history and quality. The manufacturers get more than what they wished for.
