Nixing pottery has been produced in Guangxi for over 1,300 years! Nixing teapots have recently come back into popularity across China with the resurgence of interest in clay teapots and high quality tea. One of Hong Kong's foremost Yixing collectors, K.S. Lo, who wrote several books on Yixing pottery, once wrote that the clay in Nixing was virtually indistinguishable from Yixing clay. I personally find Nixing clay to be excellent. Many online tea heads (both in China and the Western world) believe Guangxi clay would best suit Guangxi tea (e.g., liu bao). I've found these teapots to be an excellent choice for any dry storage tea or even oolong that would benefit from a little, but not too much muting. Medium roast oolongs or dry storage sheng or shou pu erh would excel in this pot.
This little teapot has a 15 second pour. I personally don't find a pour of this speed to be an issue at all, but if you are planning on doing touch and go infusions with a fully loaded pot (with crushed leaf, even, which infuses much faster), you may prefer a teapot with a faster pour, or even a gaiwan! The 140ml size of this pot means it is perhaps best suited to hei cha, including pu erh.
The xishi style of pot is originally a Yixing teapot design. A potter once commented that the xishi resembles a female breast and should feel similarly comfortable in hand. They certainly do feel good in hand, but I never realized the teapots were shaped like breasts until the potter pointed it out!
This is a great teapot at a great price, and an excellent alternative to Yixing clay or porcelain. This would also be a great choice for those who would like to try something different from Yixing clay.
I currently have two teapots on hand, but should be able to get more on request!
Please note: there is minor variation in volume with these pots since they are handmade. Volume appears to vary between 120 and 135ml.
