Holiday Chocolate Gift Ideas

Yixing: Traditional Chinese Tea Sets

Undoubtedly, the best tea is brewed in natural clay pots. This is perhaps the oldest method for brewing tea, but quite certainly one of the most beautiful, traditional, and even practical methods. Yixing sets are know all over the world for their elegance and intricate designs.

Yixing sets are unique in that they the clay used to make them is very porous, unlike bone china or porcelain sets. The tiny holes in the clay material allow the tea to actually penetrate the material, or in other words, the clay soaks up the tea. So, after using a clay tea pot for years, it eventually is no longer necessary to add tea to the water, because the clay will have retained the flavor, naturally brewing with tea with just hot water. Clay sets are special because of this quality.

In addition to the most obvious benefit of clay sets, there are a few more points I would like to touch upon. When you do get a new clay pot, although it isn\’t seasoned to perfection yet, the simple fact that it is made of clay will enhance the color, aroma and flavor of any tea you do steep.

Clay tea sets epitomize quality and craftsmanship. They are usually delicately carved with ornate designs including depictions of Chinese life and traditions. However, these days you can find more modern versions of Yixing tea sets too. You can find them dyed different colors or even painted with modern art. Even if you never drink from your clay set, it will make for a great conversation piece.

Taking care of clay tea sets is pretty easy. But remember to never use soap or cleanser when cleaning your set! This is vital! Just remember that anything you put into the tea set, could potential be soaked into the clay; you don\’t want your tea to taste of soap. Aside from this, they aren\’t very much trouble. When your finished using your tea set, simply pour hot water over the clay and then rinse it again with water. No scrubbing is necessary. It is nice to dry the set with a tea towel if you have one, but if not, you can just let it air dry.

Another thing to note, is that you shouldn\’t brew more than one type of tea in your clay tea set. Most experts agree that using different flavors will cause the tea to eventually become unpredictable. This is because every tea you brew is soaked into the clay, so eventually, no matter what type of tea you brew, it will end up being some sort of a blend. Once you have mixed teas in your clay sets, it will be difficult to ever again get consistent flavor.

The internet has made it much easier to learn about and purchase Yixing clay tea sets. You no longer need to make the long trek to China. If you love tea, then you really can\’t go wrong with a clay tea set, after all, you can\’t get any more traditional.

Want to find out more about Yixing tea sets, then visit Gavin Coleman\’s site on how to choose the best tea set for your needs. This and other unique content \’yixing clay tea sets\’ articles are available with free reprint rights.