1.Why should one buy a handmade Zisha teapot?

A Zisha teapot is made from Zisha clay ore minerals by handmade. Zisha teapots feature a double-hole design with numerous fine pores, which help to maintain the tea’s rich, deep flavor while eliminating any unpleasant odors. This structure preserves the tea's true aroma and taste.

[learn more about zisha teapot]

A fake zisha teapot is made from chemical clay by machine.  It does not have these advantages and may even affect one's health.

2. Is it possible to buy a real zisha clay teapot, made by machine,i don't care if it is handmade.

I'm sorry to say, no possible.

Good craftsmanship deserves good materials. A handmade teapot won't be made with Chemical clay, and on the flip side, a fake teapot won't be made with quality ingredients either.

If real zisha clay materials are used and processed through machine rolling or compression, it would damage the breathability of the Zisha clay, making it no different from using chemical-based clay. Due to cost and craft process issues,they prefer to use chemical additives clay because it is easier to shape and can be mass-produced,more colors,litte cost,more profit. All machine-made teapots must contain chemical additives and small amounts of metals, such as "manganese oxide," "cobalt oxide," and "iron red powder," to make the teapots look more attractive but low price.This is also the reason why you might be attracted to fake Zisha teapots.

if you can buy a real handmade Zisha teapot,you can avoid the above issues and enjoy drinking tea without worrying about health problems.

To avoid purchasing chemical teapots,consider the following:

1).Price:

Do not buy any Zisha teapot that is priced below $200,It is difficult to find a true handmade Zisha teapot below this price range.An average artisan can make 2 semi-handmade teapots in a 12-hour per day.Their daily wage is around $100 (higher for skilled artisans).The labor cost for each teapot is close to $50.During the High temperature firing process,the success rate is only 70%-80%,after the kiln firing is completed, there are still manual processes such as finishing the mouth and handling the teapot body.So,the cost of materials and production for an ordinary teapot is at least $100.Additionally,there are packaging fees,shipping costs,company operating costs,etc.The cost of an ordinary teapot is close to $170,this cost not including the breakage rate of fragile items during transportation.This is the most common cost price for a Zisha teapot.Therefore,it is difficult to buy a handmade Zisha teapot for less than $200.

If it is only used for tea drinking, it is recommended to buy a semi-handmade teapot priced between $300 and $500, as there is no difference in tea-drinking experience between fully-handmade and semi-handmade.

[learn more semi-handmade and fully-handmade].

Fully-handmade Zisha teapots are generally sold for over $1000, with no upper limit.

2).Avoid buying rare material teapots.

The clay materials used for Zisha teapot include Zi Ni,Hong Ni,Duan ni,and Lv ni and Jiangpo Ni.

Currently,all mines in Yixing,China,are prohibited from being mined. The most common clay materials available on the market are ZI ni,Duan ni,and a small amount of Lv ni,Hong ni.

All fake Zisha teapots made from rare materials are added with chemical raw materials,such as green、blue 、bright red teapots.

In addition,Zhu ni is a type of Hong ni (red clay) with a fine structure and low internal mineral content.The teapot made from it has a delicate surface,but it is not easy to show the porous and breathable characteristics of the purple teapot.Moreover,due to its characteristics (30% shrinkage ratio),Zhu Ni is not easy to shape,so it is recommended to buy Zhu ni teapots with a small capacity.

We suggest you to be cautious when buy Zhu ni teapots as most of the fake teapots in the market are disguised as Zhu ni teapots (like dahongpao).This is because the material of chemical teapot is very similar to that of Zhu ni teapot.   Merchants often use chemical teapot as a substitute for Yixing Zisha teapot."

For Beginners:

For those just starting with Zisha teapot collection, it’s essential to choose clays that are easy to access, well-recognized, and simple to work with.

• Zi Ni (Purple Clay)
• Duan Ni
• Jiangpo Ni

These clays are abundant, reducing the chances of encountering fake products. As a result, they are perfect for newcomers.

For Those with Some Experience:

For collectors with a bit more experience or those looking to expand their understanding of Zisha clays, the following clays are worth exploring. they not be of higher quality than beginner clays, but they are rarer than them. 

• Dicaoqing Ni
• (Gold) Duan Ni
• Lv Ni
• (Yellow) Jiangpo Ni
• Zhu Ni

Museum-Grade Clays:

Museum-grade Zisha clays are incredibly rare and unavailable on the market. Authentic pieces are highly sought after by collectors, making these clays almost mythical in their desirability:

• Tianqing Ni (disappearance)
• Dahongpao Ni (The most used for fakes)

While many sellers claim to offer these clays, true Tianqing Ni and Dahongpao Ni are unattainable. Abandon illusion.

[Learn more zisha clay].

3).Check after buy.

After being fired at a temperature of over 1000 degrees,the Zisha teapot can be rinsed with boiling water for the first use. Then pour out the water and smell the inside of the teapot. A hand-made teapot should have no pungent odor. On the other hand,an inferior Zisha teapot typically contains chemical additives and smells pungent.

By achieving these 3 points, as a beginner, you can avoid more than 90% of counterfeit teapots.

4.I'm not a beginner anymore; I want to buy a better teapot. What should I do?

A Zisha teapot is not only a functional tea tool but also a traditional Chinese art piece.For those looking to move beyond beginner level and truly appreciate Zisha teapots, it's essential to focus on three key aspects: the clay material, the aesthetic of the teapot's shape, and the craftsmanship.

The clay material forms the foundation of the teapot, and it represents the baseline quality. High-quality clay is unlikely to be used in low-quality teapots.

The level of craftsmanship determines the overall quality of the teapot, including the harmony of points, lines, and surfaces, as well as the handling of intricate details in the body.

The final teapot should be appreciated for its precision, vitality, and spirit. A high-quality teapot should not only have an elegant form but also exhibit a lively essence and spirit, with smooth water flow and practicality for everyday use.

So, the most basic method is to be able to distinguish whether the teapot is handmade or machine-made. This can help you rule out 90% of teapots made from chemical synthetic clay. If you can identify this, you can be confident that the teapot is safe for tea brewing, because a handmade teapot ensures that the clay material is authentic. Next, you should learn the basics of clay materials so you can assess the quality of the Zisha clay. High-quality clay is mostly used for semi-handmade and fully-handmade teapots. Rare and precious clays are generally reserved for fully-handmade teapots. If you're collecting teapots as art pieces, your choice will almost certainly be limited to fully handmade ones, as these focus more on the artistic design of the shape, engraving, calligraphy, and the exquisite beauty of traditional Chinese art.