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Yixing clay, explained.

Everything a non-collector wants to know before buying — what zisha purple sand clay actually is, how to season a teapot, what a tea pet means, and the Chinese tea words that show up on every product page.

All guides

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  Yixing Clay 101

  What is Yixing clay?

  Yixing clay (zisha, 紫砂 'purple sand') is a mineral-rich stoneware quarried near Yixing, China, prized for unglazed teapots that breathe and season with tea.

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  Care Guide

  How to season a Yixing teapot

  Season a new Yixing zisha teapot in six steps: clean it, dedicate it to one tea, brew regularly, rinse without soap, and build a lasting patina over time.

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  Tea Pet Culture

  What is a tea pet?

  A tea pet (茶宠) is a small unglazed clay figure kept on the gongfu tea tray and ‘raised’ on leftover tea. Learn the meanings, the lucky forms, and the Journey to the West cast.

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  Care Guide

  How to care for a tea pet

  Caring for a tea pet (茶宠) takes five simple steps: give it a tea bath, brush it, skip the soap, dry it, and let the Yixing clay build a patina over time.

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  Reference

  Yixing & gongfu tea glossary

  A plain-English glossary of Yixing teapot and gongfu tea terms — zisha, zi ni, zhu ni, duan ni, di cao qing, gongfu cha, gaiwan, patina, and more.

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