yixing teapots
This teapot got its name from the place where it was first handcrafted by a monk from Jinsha Temple. It was made of local clay. Today yixing teapots continue to be produced in big numbers in a neighboring location known as Dingshu. These are sold in shops that dominate the town’s crowded streets and are bought by tourists. Aside from teapots, they also produce and sell fine pottery, flower vases, glazed tiling, and other ornaments.
Yixing teapots are special in that it absorbs tiny amounts of tea so that after prolonged use the pot develops a coating that retains the flavor and color of the tea. It is for this reason that yixing teapots are never washed with soap. They are just rinsed with fresh water and allowed to air-dry. The pots are small because they are meant for individual use. Nevertheless, the Chinese follow a beautiful ritual in steeping tea leaves and pouring it into the ceramic cups.