Yixing Purple Clay Teapot

Yixing clay teapots come from a specific corner of Jiangsu province and have been made in more or less this way for several hundred years. The clay is unglazed and slightly porous, which is the whole point: it holds a little of the tea's character in the walls of the pot, and a pot kept for one type of tea develops its own patina and depth over years of use.

These are thrown and finished by hand, so the profiles vary from the rounded moon-pot shape through to flatter, more angular forms, and no two are identical in weight or line. Each has a built-in ball filter at the spout, which strains leaf properly without the fuss of a separate infuser and pours cleanly rather than dribbling down the side. Capacities run from 450ml through to 850ml, so there is a size for solo drinking and one for a table.

A six-cup option is also offered for anyone setting up a full table service. Season a new pot by rinsing it thoroughly with hot water before first use. Never wash it with detergent, which the clay will absorb and never give back; hot water and a soft cloth are all it needs. Let it dry uncovered between uses. Handle with care, as fired clay chips if knocked against a hard surface.

• Material: unglazed Yixing zisha purple clay
• Handmade - each pot varies in shape and weight
• Built-in ball filter at the spout
• Capacities: 450ml, 600ml, 650ml, 700ml, 750ml, 800ml, 850ml
• Six-cup set option (110ml cups)
• Rinse with hot water before first use
• Never wash with detergent - hot water only
• Dry uncovered between uses; handle with care