I am full of sadness, summer has returned and it is gross! All last week I got to have the windows open and it was cool and often rainy, I was so happy with the beautiful weather…even if having the windows open means somehow the blasted orange May Beetles found their way in past the screen in droves. At least I got to have a bit of fun with them, I would jokingly make them quote Harbinger but in a very tiny bug voice, hilarity ensued.
Today I am taking a break from tea to look at a new piece of teaware that has found its way into my collection (a collection that is slowly taking over the bedroom) Yunnan Sourcing’s Glaze on Clay ‘Oxide Blue’ Kyusu a truly spectacular kyusu with a wooden handle and an unglazed clay interior, meaning perfect for dedicating it to a single tea. A tiny bit on the ‘big’ size at a whopping 175ml, I got it with the idea that its size is perfect for a gongfu session for two, since Ben has been sharing tea with me a lot lately, especially Hong Cha, which is what this pot was dedicated to.
I admit to falling in love with this teapot immediately, the speckled blue and green glaze matches my usual aesthetic, as it is well known by now that I am a sucker for the color blue. When the box arrived I was immensely pleased, sometimes I have bought teaware that once it arrived I was less enthusiastic, but Yunnan Sourcing has never disappointed with their teaware. First I was surprised by the weight, you could really bludgeon someone with this teapot if needed, not that I would want to, if some other dimensional monster busted in on me mid tea session I would clearly want to use my puerh knife rather than risk a teapot. This does mean that if I drop it I am less likely to ruin things forever, plus with it being such thick clay it holds heat like a beast.
The next thing I noticed when examining the teapot was the beautiful leaf on the side, cut-out of the glaze to show the clay the teapot is made from. I find that the leaf ties into the wooden handle, which, might I add, feels wonderful in the hand. I love the kyusu style teapot, sometimes my arthritis makes handles hard to grab, the kyusu is just much more ergonomic. Plus it is balanced very well, which makes pouring a breeze, and speaking of pour this pot is very smooth, no dribbling!
I have been using this pot pretty consistently since I procured it, and it is getting a good bit of seasoning. Both Ben and I have been enjoying using it, since we frequently start the day with a Hong Cha (usually a Dianhong) this teapot gets used most days. I think my favorite thing about this teapot is not the blending of beautiful form and functionality, but that it is a pot that brings together two of my greatest loves.
For blog and photos: http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2016/07/yunnan-sourcing-glaze-on-clay-oxide.html
