Large Yixing pots / Lead content

I figure I should list some examples of the pots I am finding on eBay for the forum’s analysis. :)

eBay item # 251783659713
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Chinese-YiXing-ZiSha-He-Yan-Ping-Gorgeous-Teapot-16-9-oz-500-ml-/251783659713?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a9f79c0c1

eBay item # 111570374828
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chinese-Yixing-Zisha-Handmade-Fanggu-Teapot-500cc-/111570374828?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19fa1cd0ac

Thanks!

http://www.worldoftea.org/lead-testing-a-yixing-pot/

Wow! That’s … violent? Haha! Although it’s sad to see a nice pot get destroyed I was glad that there wasn’t any lead in it according to the test.

I read that Yixing pots need to be boiled in a large pot to sterilize them and remove any waxy coatings. Perhaps after boiling the pot I could test the water and see if there’s any lead content in it. Any thoughts on that?

these pots are huge. any reason why you would like to get this size? Gunpowder or any other Chinese teas are excellent resteeping. everytime you may notice some variations, different notes. unless you need it as family pot, i dont see a reason for such mammoth (sorry if i offended you ) i suggest you to get a yixing from reputable source

No offense taken! :)

I like to brew large servings and drink them through out the day while at work. My first 16 ounces takes me from morning to about 10am. It’s perfect when checking emails and getting ready for morning meetings with my teammate. The next serving takes me to lunch time. This is the serving that gets me doing real work. My third serving goes with lunch. I end the day with my final serving before I shutdown my computer and clean my desk. So, 16 ounces four times a time plus about 2 ounces of ice added afterwards each time to cool down the tea from really hot to really warm. I use the same single teaspoon of tea and rebrew. Brewing times start short and increase gradually. One time I let my first serving steep for 5 minutes. Oh, it was really strong but it was so, so, good! I love strong teas!

Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury to rebrew small quantities throughout the day. :( In my case I could use a large pot.

At home I have a Teavana strainer and brew 16 ounces of peppermint tea after dinner followed by 16 ounces of chamomile tea before bed. Now I have 16 ounces six times per day! Sometimes I drink 16 ounces of raspberry leaf tea. Yes, seven servings!

I live in a very dry climate – in a high altitude desert. Everyone in town here is used to drinking lots of liquids. It’s very common for people to drink up to 1 gallon per day during the summer months when humidity is <20%. Sometimes humidity drops to 5%. And when the thermometer hits 100+ degrees F? Wow! Haha!

Forgot to mention, have you heard of grandpa style? You leave leaves in a cup and add the water. May suit your climate and life style. The tea will be always fresh on the go !

It is possible to test a Yixing teapot for lead, however there is a downside. As I understand it, you have to submerge a large portion of the pot in a special testing solution. The problem is that the pot will absorb the very negative flavors of this solution. The best case scenario is to submerge the lid of the pot in the testing solution. This may still flavor your tea permanently.

Another thing you need to know about Yixing is that you need a specific Yixing pot for a specific type of tea, one for blacks, puerhs, etc. They are not generally used for greens for the reasons Boychik outlined above.

If you are looking for Yixing in large size they are available from a variety of sources, Teavana used to sell a good Yixing in about a 20oz size. Large Yixing as big as two liters are available on EBay. I have one about 1.5 liters fromo before I steeped Gongfu style and another purchased from a small store called The Tea Shop of Woodstock also about 1.5 liters.
http://www.woodstockteashop.com/catalog/lovely-pretty-things/tea-pots/yi-xing-round-teapot-red

Greens do best in porcelain/ceramics/glass. If you are doing gong fu style infusions, even if you want to drink A LOT of tea, the increased amount of infusions makes for more tea in the end.

It might be a better investment to getting a Zojirushi type of water boiler so you have lots of perfect temperature water on hand quickly to make many infusions.

Great replies and information! I am almost a little overwhelmed here. There are many terms here that I need to start researching. :)

My work environment constrains me from an easy supply of hot water. There is a break room with an industrial grade coffee machine and this machine has a hot water tap. It’s a bit of a walk and not something I can do too often without losing a lot of time. I can do it once 1-2 hours as a break to stretch my legs. We’re not allowed to have kettles at our desks here due to the heat and possible spill hazards. One big infusion of 16+ ounces is a compromise that scratches my itch for tea while keeping me gainfully employed.

At home on the weekends … that’s a different matter. :)