Weston said

Adagio's Yixing Information

I am looking to purchase a Yixing to brew my favorite oolong in. Yezi Tea’s TKY is incredible and I have decided to dedicate a pot just for it.

Does anyone have Adagio’s Dalian Yixing?http://www.adagio.com/teaware/dalian_teapot.html

I have a few questions regarding the radius of the base – as I’m looking to get a mixing cushion, the infuser – hopefully ported ar the split rather than a drop in stainless mesh, and the best way to season it – just start using it, or boiling it…

Thanks for the insight!

12 Replies

I’m not sure what you mean by mixing cushion. I saw this pot at World Tea East a few years ago and I do not recall any infuser being included. They aren’t really necessary with yixing teapots, especially for oolongs. Adagio lists the diameter as 3.5 inches so it’s safe to assume that the base is a bit smaller than that.

I wrote a blog post on the method that I use for seasoning. I find it’s the safest way. Boiling scares me big time :)

http://www.teaformeplease.com/2013/04/seasoning-your-yixing.html

ifjuly said

Thanks a lot for the info! I haven’t delved into yixing teaware yet but that method sounds very unintimidating and easy, am bookmarking for later. I love your blog by the way, lots of helpful information.

Glad it helped! So many of my readers were terrified to season their teapots and they were relieved to hear that it didn’t have to be super complicated. I purchased my first yixing from Seven Cups and this is the method they recommended. It has worked well for all four of my teapots.

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Weston said

Wow Thanks, ill check it out now.

Damn autocorrect (mixing cushion is supposed to be yixing cushion) which i have also seen called a yixing stand or yixing trivet. Mostly something to display my mixing on.

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/involution-pattern-red-yixing-zisha-clay-teapot-cushion.html
Like this

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Weston said

Looks much simpler than the boiling methods I have been reading everywhere.

Like you I am a huge fan of the lighter Oolongs and will be using this yixing, my first one :), for a TKY.

My only two questions:
1. When boiling the tea leaves twice and letting it cool, don’t you worry about it becoming bitter and running the overall seasoning of the new pot?

2. How much tea would you use for a 8oz yixing?

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I thought auto correct might be the culprit. That makes a lot more sense :P

I haven’t noticed any bitterness added to the teapots. The seasoning is a slow, gradual process so the extra long steeps for the first few times around are just a bit of a kick start. It will take many uses before you will see a difference in flavor.

For most yixing, I add just enough leaf to lightly cover the bottom of the teapot. Green oolong expands quite a bit so you might have to experiment to see what works best for the tea and your pot.

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Weston said

Thanks a lot Nicole. Ill play around with it and see what works best for me.

I’l likely start with 1 tsp (4g) of TGY and go from there.

With your yixing and TGY, what temp to you brew at and how long?

Usually 195 for 30 seconds. You can always adjust both to your own taste.

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sansnipple said

Yeah, you won’t need an infuser, most yixing pots have filter holes built in that are good enough, especially for something large leaf like TGY, plus with the way the lids are usually designed on them, i don’t think an infuser basket would even fit with most yixing.

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tperez said

I haven’t tried one, but Adagio’s yixings don’t look very good…

I’d recommend paying just a little bit more for one from Teavivre, Yunnan Sourcing, or Mandala Tea, unless you’re really set on that one.

Also, you won’t need an infuser, but a strainer like this

http://www.dragonteahouse.biz/accessories/utensil/strainer-filter/sst-stainless-steel-double-layer-finetea-strainer-l.html

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NofarS said

I second the Yunnan Sourcing recommendation. Their Yixing teapots are the best that I have, and look to be a much better quality than the Adagio one (which seems like an overpriced $15 Yixing).

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Weston said

Thanks for all the recommendations! I’ll definitely be checking Yunnan Sourcing and the other sites for a different Yixing.

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