Handmade Yixing Purple Clay (Zisha) Teapot 130ml / 160ml - Shui Ping
- Capacity
- 130 ml / 160 ml
- Shape
- Shui Ping
- Made
- Fully handmade in Yixing, Jiangsu
- Best for
- Raw pu-erh
Not sure this is your pot? Take the 3-question Teapot Finder
A purple clay teapot is a type of handmade pottery originating from Yixing, China. Made from rare and natural purple clay, these teapots are prized for enhancing the flavor and aroma of tea while offering a distinct aesthetic appeal. The unique properties of Zisha (purple clay) make it ideal for brewing fine teas.
The Shui Ping (水平壶) Design
The name “Shui Ping” (水平) means “horizontal balance.” A classic of the Southern Chinese gongfu tea ceremony, where the teapot was traditionally set in a bowl of hot water to keep the tea warm — a well-made Shui Ping floats perfectly upright without tipping. The defining mark of the style is the “three mountains” alignment: the tip of the spout, the top of the handle, and the rim of the lid all sit on one level plane. Its balanced form has long symbolized harmony and steadiness.
Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni (小煤窑朱泥) Clay
This teapot is crafted from Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni, a prized vermilion clay from Yixing. This clay is known for its high shrinkage during firing, which demands great skill to shape fully by hand without warping. It fires to a smooth, lustrous, warm reddish-orange surface.
Key Features
- Available in 130ml and 160ml — both classic gongfu sizes
- Fully handmade from premium Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni
- True Shui Ping profile with level spout, handle, and rim
- Zhuni’s excellent heat retention suits aromatic teas such as oolong, Tieguanyin, and Dancong
A timeless, minimalist classic — equally at home in daily gongfu practice and in a collector’s cabinet.
Before first use: rinse the pot inside and out with water just off the boil, then brew two or three rounds of the tea you plan to keep in it.
Every day: rinse with hot water only. No soap, no dishwasher, no stove or microwave. Empty the leaves soon after brewing and let the pot dry with the lid off.
One pot, one tea: the unglazed clay slowly takes on the character of what you brew, so keep this pot for one style of pu-erh.
Match the clay to your tea and the size to the people at your table. Each pot is shaped by hand, so small differences from the photos in color, surface and proportion are normal.
Teapot Finder · Yixing teapot guide · Clay guide · Shapes guide
Free shipping on orders over $70 USD.
We ship from our warehouses in Canada and China to 100+ countries. Orders from our Canada warehouse are usually packed and shipped within 48 hours. Orders shipped from China need about one week of processing. Delivery time depends on the shipping method you choose at checkout.
Some countries charge import duties. These are paid by the buyer.
Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 15 days. Sale items are final sale.
- Capacity
- 130 ml / 160 ml
- Shape
- Shui Ping
- Made
- Fully handmade in Yixing, Jiangsu
- Best for
- Raw pu-erh
Not sure this is your pot? Take the 3-question Teapot Finder
A purple clay teapot is a type of handmade pottery originating from Yixing, China. Made from rare and natural purple clay, these teapots are prized for enhancing the flavor and aroma of tea while offering a distinct aesthetic appeal. The unique properties of Zisha (purple clay) make it ideal for brewing fine teas.
The Shui Ping (水平壶) Design
The name “Shui Ping” (水平) means “horizontal balance.” A classic of the Southern Chinese gongfu tea ceremony, where the teapot was traditionally set in a bowl of hot water to keep the tea warm — a well-made Shui Ping floats perfectly upright without tipping. The defining mark of the style is the “three mountains” alignment: the tip of the spout, the top of the handle, and the rim of the lid all sit on one level plane. Its balanced form has long symbolized harmony and steadiness.
Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni (小煤窑朱泥) Clay
This teapot is crafted from Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni, a prized vermilion clay from Yixing. This clay is known for its high shrinkage during firing, which demands great skill to shape fully by hand without warping. It fires to a smooth, lustrous, warm reddish-orange surface.
Key Features
- Available in 130ml and 160ml — both classic gongfu sizes
- Fully handmade from premium Xiao Mei Yao Zhuni
- True Shui Ping profile with level spout, handle, and rim
- Zhuni’s excellent heat retention suits aromatic teas such as oolong, Tieguanyin, and Dancong
A timeless, minimalist classic — equally at home in daily gongfu practice and in a collector’s cabinet.
Before first use: rinse the pot inside and out with water just off the boil, then brew two or three rounds of the tea you plan to keep in it.
Every day: rinse with hot water only. No soap, no dishwasher, no stove or microwave. Empty the leaves soon after brewing and let the pot dry with the lid off.
One pot, one tea: the unglazed clay slowly takes on the character of what you brew, so keep this pot for one style of pu-erh.
Match the clay to your tea and the size to the people at your table. Each pot is shaped by hand, so small differences from the photos in color, surface and proportion are normal.
Teapot Finder · Yixing teapot guide · Clay guide · Shapes guide
Free shipping on orders over $70 USD.
We ship from our warehouses in Canada and China to 100+ countries. Orders from our Canada warehouse are usually packed and shipped within 48 hours. Orders shipped from China need about one week of processing. Delivery time depends on the shipping method you choose at checkout.
Some countries charge import duties. These are paid by the buyer.
Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 15 days. Sale items are final sale.
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Handmade Yixing Purple Clay (Zisha) Teapot 130ml / 160ml - Shui Ping