RM80k+ and RM100k+ per tea pot? So expensive? i thought 500 - 1k is consider artist already.

In Yixing, there are really a lot of teapots makers trying to make a living claiming to be an artist. There are many levels of artist too. I cannot remember the number of grades, but in layman terms, making teapot is like having a certificate, diploma, higher diploma, degree, masters, phd, etc etc. So depends on what grade the person is, the pot can be more expensive even if it is new.

The higher the person grade is, the lesser quantity he will make. And whenever he/she makes one, it will take some time to complete and the quality is of standard. Otherwise it will spoil their reputation. That day I saw someone made an order for a RM80k+ pot. The pot has not even been made. He just placed the order, paid the deposit and wait for it to be completed.

So less than RM1k artist pot, is most likely a not too high up level grade artist. The more recognition the artist maker has, the more expensive it gets.

I have not reached the level (financially/craziness) to be willing to spend that kind of money for an artist pot. So what I am focusing is on the clay quality. As long if it is of good clay, makes good tea, teapot doesn't leak water, flows smooth... then I am ok with it. I bought a few teapots from Tacha where they claimed it is of good clay. And the pots' clay is from the artist who made the RM100K+ pots. Just the pot is not made by him and made in a studio (semi hand made), therefor it is cheaper...

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Added on January 17, 2011, 9:37 amBesides the pots being made by artist, Why pots of good clay is getting more pricier is because some clays from certain place is getting extinct, depleted or government has stopped issuing of license for them to dig.

So the clays we get is of olden clays which was dug and stored. The quantity of stored clay is getting lesser and lesser cause being used up. Some teapots makers are even mixing clays so that they will use lesser of the good clay.

Gone were the days where you can get good/pure clay at cheap price... but in the future, the price ain't getting any cheaper.

The above explains why teapots price are going up... and of course not to rule out it may be marketing talk by those teapot sellers la...

This post has been edited by auhckw: Jan 17 2011, 09:39 AM

i'm totally agree what you're saying. Instead of looking for artist teapot i will now search for good quality teapot. my budget is around rm 500. What kind of good pot can i get? i want those chi sar clay.

Your profile picture is it the HoJo pot? I saw something similar at Gardens, not cheap but how good is it?

This post has been edited by kuekwee: Jan 17 2011, 11:05 AM

If you don't have zhuni (red clay), i would suggest you get it first as good ones are getting rarer compared to zini (purple clay). People prefer to brew oolong with zhuni as it tends to bring out its higher pitch, but i use it for puerh cause i like it that way too. You can request to try the tea category you like to brew in the type of clay before buying. On one occasion, I tasted the same puerh in Gaiwan, Zini, Zhuni, Hongni, DiCaoQing... and learned how the tea differs from each other, which makes a good learning point of what clay for what tea for me... nearly got tea drunk in the process... hehe

You can visit Tacha, they have few 'pure' modern zhuni left with their own branding. I have got 3 with different design. Their zini own branding all sold out, have to wait for next order which they are not sure when. I was lucky to get one which they brought from Taiwan branch's stock. They will usually bring few designs, and each quantity is not many. So ppl tend to sapu for collection.

I do hangout in teashops on most Sun, PM me if you want me to meet up with you at Tacha. Near Tacha there are few other teashops that I can bring you visit too... All along Jln Kepong.

Yes, my profile picture is Hojo pot. Shigaraki clay. You can read more info here: http://hojotea.com/item_e/shigaraki.htm

The pot makes the water smoother. I don't intend to dedicate a specific tea for it, so I am using it as water vessel for my green tea. Meaning, I pour hot water into the Shigaraki pot, let the water cool down a little then pour it into another glass teapot with my greens in it. Green tea prefers slightly cooler temperature compared to puerh/oolongs.

I also have Hojo's banko (purple clay) teapots too. That is quite nice for japanese green teas, but I don't use it cause size too big for 1 person. You can read up on the purple clay here: http://hojotea.com/item_e/purpleclay.htm

This post has been edited by auhckw: Jan 17 2011, 11:37 AM

zhuni (red clay) how much for a good one? I bought one from Purple Cane dunno what clay is that.. Not very expensive just rm80 for start .

Depending on size, for a 120ml to 160ml, a decent non artist modern zhuni should price from rm150 to rm500.

Not sure what you bought from Purple Cane, they have few kinds of clays. From Yixing and from Taiwan.

wow cool. if got time i will go have a lot .u r from kepong?

If you want independent view on selecting teapot and tea, I suggest you visit the KL tea society at Jln Sultan@Selangor complex on weekends. You can bring your teapot or teas and let the members comment on them. This coming weekend meetup will be on Sunday at 2.30pm

What meet up is that? Is it a gathering or something. I sometimes pass and saw a lot of teapot there, no idea what the shop is doing rofl. What's the price range there?

The society is on 2nd floor. Those on the ground are by tea merchants. The society members meet once every weekend to share about teapots and tea drinking. Non members also can attend but better if you join since it is only Rm100 for lifetime

If you thinking to get teapot there, I can recommend you look for TungTing. It is besides HaiO. The boss is very experience on it and probably have the teapot you have in mind according to your budget.

RM100 for lifetime is not too expensive but what do i get ? What's the age group there? What do you all do there?

It is better you go there one day to see for yourself. Most of the times the gathering is to drink tea and chat. Sometimes there are special activities like invited guest from elsewhere come over to share.

If you are teapot collector, then you be pleased to know that some members owned more than 2000 of them in their home. Fuyoh! Sometimes they will bring their prize collection to show off..hehe

I'm collector with 1 pot only. I don't plan to collect, just wanna drink tea for healthier life. If i'm free i will go have a look. Thanks for the info. I guess u are already member there .

I heard of the gathering before... Are you a member? Sounds like a very good place to learn more from independent non tea shop / marketing talk...

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Added on January 17, 2011, 5:47 pmYa, Kepong kia

This post has been edited by auhckw: Jan 17 2011, 05:47 PM

10% of tea products contain excessive pesticide residue
http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Det...ID=201101110043

2011/01/11 22:25:47



Taipei, Jan. 11 (CNA) Two out of 20 tea products recently tested in New Taipei City contained excessive levels of pesticide residue, according to the results of a food safety check released Tuesday by the city's Public Health Bureau.

Some 10 percent of the products in traditional shops and hypermarkets were found to have excessive amounts of the residue, including pesticides such as Imidacloprid and Carbofuran, the bureau said.

The bureau found that the products contained more than twice the tolerable limits of below 3 ppm and 1 ppm for Imidacloprid and Carbofuran, respectively.

The excessive chemicals can cause fatigue, anxiety, headaches, dizziness and weakness, according to the bureau, which added that it has pulled the products off store shelves and launched investigations into the sources.

It advised consumers to use water of at least 80 degrees Celsius when brewing tea and to avoid drinking the first brew, as most pesticides used by local farmers are water soluble and will be removed in the first brew. (By Wang Hong-kuo and Maia Huang)

Saw this on the net...



I wonder does it brew a deadly tea...

this is so cool

[Culture Express] The Art of Brewing Pu'er Tea 1/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VjfN_el6SQ

[Culture Express] The Art of Brewing Pu'er Tea 2/2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbcPXsD-RI8

Normally, it takes me 1 hour to 'prepare+brew+drink+cleaning up' at home when I'm alone. If I have to follow 'the art', oh boy, I think it will be 3 hours...

And what? Roast the puerh first?

mine all short cut. i only rinse one round hot water then will start brewing. I have auto water boiler. I need like 15 minute to prepare. btw good morning.




This post has been edited by kuekwee: Jan 18 2011, 09:59 AM