Yixing Set Recommendations?

Thanks! I searched the word yixing and this never came up.

Boychik, I’m glad you are mentioning Zen Tea. I have puchased the pumpkin style a few months ago, i’m no expert, but the quality seems unbelievable for the price. It came in such a pretty box with a certificate. I had a conversation with Kenneth, the owner of Zen Tea and he highly recommended this potter. Now I just have to season it, sigh, I’ve been lazy…

http://zentealife.com/teaware/type/teapots/clay-china/yixing-teapot-siji.html

i love it. i spoke with Kenneth too. he did recommended me this pot as well. But I was looking for this one since its smaller. Whats your opinion?
http://zentealife.com/teaware/type/teapots/clay-china/yixing-teapot-songdan.html
my cart is filled, i want to get some Black dragon pearls and some samples. sitting here like an hour,thinking should i get it. i have one fr YS, but its 220ml. i wanted smaller
Should I ????

It’s so pretty! I love the colour, go for it, not much of a risk at that price :-)

I didn’t mind a larger size this time cause I already have a small one from Teavivre for shou pu’erh. I plan to use the Pumpkin one for oolongs, or sheng, haven’t decided yet. What will you be using it for?

Shou. I need something no more than 150ml. Maybe even smaller.

I love mine for shou, in fact, I bought a second one after braking the first one not too long ago. The size (140ml) and the shape are just perfect!

http://www.teavivre.com/xi-shi-yixing-clay-teapot/

But the full set Dexter is referring to above is also very nice.

It’s gorgeous. I love it.

I just placed an order. Zen tea is a winner today!!!

Yay! Congrats! so you got the one you showed me earlier?

Thank you. Yes, reddish one. I was eyeing it for some time. Couple months maybe. With this sale I couldn’t resist. I was dying to try Black Phoenix Dragon Pearls. And got bunch of samples too.

The problem with Tealux is they have no small gongfu yixing pots, they are all larger pots, at least the last I have checked, like 16 or 20oz. And free shipping applies only to tea, I believe the minute you add teaware the shipping increases. But again, don’t take my word for it, better make sure with them. I love their straight teas!

Oh, I didn’t know. Yes, I’m looking for a tiny one. Thanks.

Ubacat, Look at the conversation above, i highly recommend both their tea and yixing pots. Plus Zen Tea is having a 40 to 70% sale on all teas right now, really cheap :-)
(no discount on teaware though!)

I bought one from Camellia Sinensis (free shipping over 50.oo – love their tea) – but right now the smallest one they have is 250ml and they are a little more expensive than places like Teavivre of Zen Tea….
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/teapot/yixing/theiere-de-m-chen-ch-15

I also bought one from Mandala – they have smaller ones, but no free shipping to Canada.
http://shopmandalatea.com/tea-wares/yixing-pots.html

Hmmm. Was not aware that free shipping applied also to teaware with CS… dangerous for me to know such critical information.

Teavivre has free shipping over 30.00
I bought the set I posted above, but they also have just pots.
http://www.teavivre.com/xi-shi-yixing-clay-teapot/

Ubacat, shipping to NY comes to $7.5. I don’t think it’s expensive. In Canada maybe even cheaper. My main concern is clay, it should be good quality without lead or harmful coloring added.

I can’t speak for all of them, but you should not have to worry about lead content with Teavivre, Zen tea, and Camellia Sinensis. The origin of their pots is documented, even more so at Teavivre, and CS. And the sellers have reliable reputations. There’s no doubt in my mind about any of their products.

I agree with TeaFairy – I wouldn’t hesitate with Teavivre, Zen, Camellia. I also trust Garret at Mandala (and I saw a post here – somewhere – that Verdant was suggesting to look at Mandala for Yixing).

Bad bad link to CS. They carry Lin’s ceramic gong fu cha pot. I have a matching cup. excellent quality, not Yixing but soo good. I want it badly
http://camellia-sinensis.com/en/theiere-en-ceramique-gong-fu-cha-brune

Sorry….. CS is a very dangerous site for me too….
(Free shipping over 50.00 applies to the US too – if that helps/hinders the situation.)

Well if you have the cup, I don’t see how you could pass this awesome opportunity to get the matching pot…just saying.

I decided to go with Zen Tea. But I’m sure CS will be my next.

Zen Tea has some teapots I like but I’m not familiar with a lot of their teas. I will consider that one though. I can think of some teas from Teavivre that I’ve wanted. Does free shipping include the pots or would I have to order $30.00 in tea? Much to consider. Yes, lead was one of my concerns too. I had written to Tealux earlier to ask them and their answer was too vague so I don’t think they know themselves. I prefer to go with ones that are recommeded here. Will give CS a look too. Thanks everyone.

I haven’t tried their teas either. Black dragon pearls 50g, LS 50g(it’s just soo cheap) and several sample sizes of 20g. I think Teavivre $30 threshold doesn’t matter tea or teaware.

Ubacat and boychik, I’ve been ordering from ZT for many years, here are my staples, if it helps you:

Earl Grey Cream (favourite earl grey)
Keemun
Gyokuro Uji
Oolong Shui Hsien
Black phoenix pearls (you can’t go wrong)
Sencha Superiror Uji
Assam Mangalam SF FTGFOP1
Darjeeling Avongrove SF
Green curled dragon

Also, they do coconut very well, I love the green coconut, but coconut oolong is more popular. Don’t hesitate to ask me questions, I have tried almost all of them :-)

As soon as get them I’m going to try. It will be fun to compare notes. The more I look at the Yixing I picked the more I like it. I hope I won’t be disappointed.

I went with Teavivre and ordered the set Dexter3657 has. It looked like a good buy and I got a bunch of samples with it. Thanks everyone for your help.

Ubacat, I think you made an excellent decision for a first set, congrats! This was also my first set, and I remember feeling like a little girl opening the box that it came in, it’s got everything you need and more :-)

Both of you, let us know what you think when you get your purchases, all that yixing talk made me want to buy another one. I kind of fell in love with this one, but must resist!!!

http://yunnansourcing.com/en/teapots/2835-purple-clay-spade-design-yixing-teapot-200ml.html

Oh, that one is beautiful, TeaFairy! I had been planning on a YS order these last few days but now that I’ve gone with this one , it will be delayed for a few months.
For sure, will post here when I receive. So excited to be getting my first yixing teapot! Now the big decision: oolong or sheng?

i love it. So elegant. my only concern is capacity. but if you planning to brew oolong in it, it shouldnt be a problem.

I like them tiny. I drink so much tea for the day that by keeping my cups tiny, I might be getting less caffeine. That’s my excuse anyway! lol

Did you place your order? I think if I order anything from them it can only be samples since I’ve maxed out the budget this month.

Maybe they’re not selling well because they’re so big?

I love mine.

Got one too, a good price!