Duan Ni, formerly known as Tuan Ni, is named after a mountain called "Tuan Mountain" in the Huang Long Mountain range, where this type of Zisha clay is found. Therefore, the clay from Tuan Mountain is called Tuan Ni. In the Yixing dialect, the pronunciation of "Tuan" and "Duan" is the same,Additionally, most Tuan Ni clay, when fired, has a variety of yellow satin-like tones, which led to the alternative name "Duan Ni" (with "Duan" referring to Chinese spelling of satin).

In Zisha clay, there are three primary types of clay: [ Zi Ni ](purple clay), Hong Ni (red clay), and [ Lv Ni ](green clay). Duan Ni is a coexistent mineral that contains combinations of Zi Ni and Hong Ni, Zi Ni and Lv Ni, Hong Ni and Lv Ni, or even all three types of clay. Duan Ni is abundant in reserves, but due to the varying proportions of the minerals, different mining regions, and firing temperatures, Duan Ni teapots come in various shades, including light yellow, reddish yellow, deep yellow, yellow-brown, brown,grey,etc.

The more representative original Duan Ni minerals include "Gold Duan Ni" and "Jiangpo Ni." With advancements in technology, merchants have started artificially blending Zi Ni, Lv Ni, Hong Ni, and chemical materials to create various types of Duan Ni, but these artificial blends are not discussed here. We will focus solely on the original minerals.

1.(Gold) Duan Ni

(Gold) Duan Ni is a coexistent mineral formed by the natural combination of Lv Ni (green clay) and Zi Ni (purple clay). It is a layer of material that forms after prolonged weathering of the Duan Ni mine. It has a distinct golden yellow color and excellent breathability. The texture of the clay is delicate and smooth, with an oily sheen and a jade-like feel. Occasionally, the surface of the raw ore shows red iron-like markings. The clay is firm and warm to the touch. The firing temperature is around 1150-1200°C, and the shrinkage ratio is approximately 12-13%. The teapot made from this clay takes on a "cold golden" color. Since its color is closest to the gold, it is named (Gold) Duan Ni. In traditional Chinese history, golden color has always symbolized nobility, brilliance, and supreme power. Due to its rarity, (Gold) Duan Ni is highly sought after by teapot collectors.

Recommended teas: Pu-erh tea, Tie Guan Yin (Iron Goddess), semi-fermented teas (such as black teas), lightly roasted oolong teas, green tea, Longjing tea, and black tea.

Unlike Zi Ni, which is sandy, or Hong Ni and Lv Ni, which are finer, Duan Ni's most significant feature is its larger grains, rich in iron oxide particles and minerals. The resulting teapots have a strong grainy texture and rich layers. Over time, the yellow particles become more vibrant, and the reddish-brown particles take on a slightly red hue, making the teapot more visually appealing.

However, there is a notable drawback: Due to its excellent breathability and strong adsorption properties, Duan Ni easily absorbs the color of tea leaves. Brewing two or more types of tea in one teapot may stain the teapot, so it is recommended to use one teapot for one type of tea.

2.Jiangpo Ni

Unlike other ancient Zisha clay materials in China, Jiangpo Ni was discovered in 1990. The local government of Yixing began a road construction project between Ding Mountain Town and the city of Yixing, digging through Huang Long Mountain and Qing long Mountain to make the road flat. In the process, they accidentally uncovered Zisha clay ore, which was later named "Jiangpo Ni" (Jiangpo means "make the road flat")

Jiangpo Ni is a coexistent mineral formed by the combination of Hong Ni, Zi Ni, and Lv Ni. It can be categorized into different types, with red Jiangpo Ni being the best quality. Red Jiangpo Ni, where red clay is dominant, yields a teapot that is primarily red. Yellow Jiangpo Ni, where green clay is dominant, results in a primarily yellow teapot. Lastly, Qing Jiangpo, where purple clay is dominant, produces a teapot with a greenish hue. Of these three, red Jiangpo Ni is the highest quality and is typically referred to when mentioning Jiangpo Ni.

Jiangpo Ni has a distinct color of purple-red with green, a clear structure, rich layers, and noticeable grains. The firing temperature is about 1180°C, and the shrinkage ratio is around 12%. The biggest feature of raw Jiangpo Ni is its rich variation of red and yellow particles, which over time make the teapot shimmer like stars, with vibrant colors that become even more beautiful with long-term use.

Jiangpo Ni has the same advantages as regular Duan Ni, such as its grainy texture and breathability. Compared to the rarity of Gold Duan Ni, Jiangpo Ni is more abundant, making it more accessible. It is also more beginner-friendly, much like Zi Ni, and is highly versatile. If you are new to Duan Ni, it is recommended to start with red Jiangpo Ni, and once you are familiar with the characteristics of Duan Ni, you can move on to Gold Duan Ni.

Other types of Duan Ni are typically artificially blended using the characteristics of Duan Ni with added Zi Ni, Lv Ni, and Hong Ni in various proportions. Since the quality of these artificial blends cannot be determined, we only use original minerals, handmade high-quality teapots to ensure a good tea-drinking experience.

Visit our [(Gold) Duan Ni Teapots ] and [ Jiangpo Ni teapots ] here.