Yixing teapot

A Yixing teapot is made from a specific unglazed clay mined near Yixing, China, prized for gongfu brewing. Unlike a gaiwan, it is traditionally dedicated to a single tea, most often oolong or pu-erh, and is never washed with soap.

The clay is slightly porous, so over months and years of use it slowly absorbs trace oils and flavor from the tea it brews, building what is often called a seasoning or patina. Over time this can round out and deepen the flavor of that one tea, which is the whole reason for dedicating the pot rather than switching teas in it.

When choosing one, pick a size and style suited to the tea you plan to dedicate it to, since a pot that is too large for gongfu-style small infusions will not perform the way it should. A common mistake is scrubbing the inside with soap or brewing a delicate green tea in a pot that has already been seasoned with dark oolong, which mixes flavors instead of refining one.