There is an ancient saying, “The vessel is the father of tea, and water is the mother of tea.” The relationship between the vessel and tea is as inseparable as that between tea and water. The shape of the teaware can influence the tea taster's mood, while the material of the teaware is directly related to the quality and efficacy of the tea. A good teapot not only optimizes the color, aroma, and taste of the tea but also activates the water, turning it into truly natural “nectar.”
Purple Clay Teapot (Ceramic Type)
The purple clay teapot is a unique handcrafted ceramic art of the Han nationality in China. It is made from purple clay, with its original production site in Dingshu, Yixing, Jiangsu Province, also known as Yixing purple clay teapot.
1. Flavor Preservation Function
The purple clay teapot preserves the flavor well, keeping the original taste of the tea when brewed. It gathers fragrance and retains the aroma, ensuring the tea's color, aroma, and taste are all excellent, and the true flavor of the tea is captured. According to “The Catalogue of Superfluous Things,” it “neither overwhelms the aroma nor imparts a boiled taste.”
2. Prevents Spoilage of Tea
The lid of the purple clay teapot has holes that absorb steam, preventing droplets from forming on the lid and disturbing the tea water, accelerating fermentation. Therefore, using a purple clay teapot for brewing tea results in a rich and fragrant taste, and the tea is less likely to spoil. Even if the tea is stored overnight, it does not easily develop a slimy coating, making it easier to clean and maintain hygiene. After being unused for a long time, it will not develop a stale odor.
Purple Clay Teapot
Silver Teapot (Metal Type)
Metal utensils refer to tools made from materials such as gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin. They are one of the oldest daily-use items in China. Before Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BC, bronze vessels were widely used for about 1,500 years. Our ancestors used bronze to make basins for water, goblets and vases for wine, which could naturally be used for tea as well.
1. Softening Water Effect
When water is boiled in a silver teapot, it softens the water, producing a significant softening effect. Ancient people described it as “silk-like water,” referring to the soft and smooth texture of the water.
2. Eliminates Odors
Silverware is clean and odorless, and its thermal chemical properties are stable, so it does not impart any odors to the tea. Silver has strong heat conductivity, which can quickly dissipate the heat from blood vessels and effectively prevent various cardiovascular diseases.
3. Sterilization Effect
Modern medicine believes that silver can kill bacteria and reduce inflammation, detoxify and promote longevity. When water is boiled in a silver teapot, silver ions are released. These silver ions are highly stable and have low activity, conduct heat quickly, have a soft texture, and are resistant to corrosion by chemical substances. The positively charged silver ions produced in the water have a sterilizing effect.
Silver Teapot
Iron Teapot (Metal Type)
1. Enhances Aroma When Brewing Tea
The boiling point temperature of water heated in an iron teapot is high. Using hot water to brew tea can enhance and elevate the aroma of the tea. This is particularly true for aged teas where the high temperature helps bring out their inner fragrance and character.
2. Sweetens the Tea
Mountain spring water, filtered through sandstone layers in the mountains, contains trace minerals, especially iron ions and very little chlorine. This water is sweet and is the ideal choice for brewing tea. An iron teapot releases trace amounts of iron ions and absorbs chlorine ions. The water boiled in an iron teapot has similar benefits to mountain spring water.
3. Iron Supplementation
Scientists have long discovered that iron is an essential element for the production of blood. Adults need 0.8 to 1.5 milligrams of iron per day, and severe iron deficiency can affect intellectual development. Experiments have shown that drinking and cooking with iron teapots and iron pots made of wrought iron can increase iron absorption. Because iron teapots release iron ions that are easily absorbed by the human body, they can supplement the iron needed by the body and effectively prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
4. Good Heat Retention
Due to the thickness of the material and the excellent seal, combined with iron's moderate heat conductivity, an iron teapot maintains a good internal temperature during tea brewing. This natural advantage is unmatched by other types of teapots.
Iron Teapot
Copper Teapot (Metal Type)
1. Improves Anemia
Copper is a catalyst for the synthesis of hemoglobin. Anemia is a common blood system disease, often due to iron deficiency. The reason muscles lack copper directly affects the synthesis of hemoglobin, making anemia difficult to improve. Thus, appropriately supplementing copper can improve some forms of anemia.
2. Prevents Cancer
Copper can inhibit the transcription process of cancer cell DNA, helping people resist tumors. In some regions inhabited by ethnic minorities in China, there is a tradition of wearing copper jewelry and using copper utensils like pots and cups in daily life. These areas have a low incidence of cancer.
3. Copper Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
In recent years, American scientists have confirmed that a deficiency of copper in the body is the main cause of coronary heart disease. The substances that keep the heart and blood vessels intact and elastic are collagen and elastin, both of which require copper-containing oxidase in their synthesis process. Clearly, when there is a copper deficiency, the synthesis of this enzyme decreases, contributing to the occurrence of cardiovascular disease.
Copper Teapot
Ceramic Teapot (Porcelain)
Ceramic teapots do not absorb water, and they produce a clear and resonant sound. They are prized for their whiteness, which reflects the color of the tea infusion. Their heat conduction and heat retention are moderate, and they do not react chemically with tea. Using them to brew tea yields good color, aroma, and taste, and they are beautifully crafted. They are suitable for brewing lightly fermented teas that emphasize aroma.
Ceramic Teapot