That's absolutely right. Many people coming to know tea think that all clay
teapots are made Zisha. It really isn't so. There are several types of
Yixing clay, and Zisha is the most common and popular amongst them. When
the popularity of the Yixing clay rose with the demand for its pots,
quarries in the neighbouring regions are also mined for clay as close to
soil structure as Yixing. To achieve the success in the final products,
other minerals - iron is the common ingredient - is added to the clay to
give it a richer colour and sturdier texture.

The sandy rock is mined and broken into clumps, which is then mixed with
water into a clay-like putty and then set to work. Sometimes to achieve the
required 'feel' of the pot, the clay putty is set aside for up to several
decades before it's taken out to work on.

Samar.

"Alex Chaihorsky" > wrote in message
. ..
> You all assume that Zisha = teapot, which it is not. Zisha is "Yixing
clay".
> I put it in "" because it is actually not clay but a paste that is made
from
> a clayish sandy rock that is found in Yixing, China.. And while there is
no
> point of glazing teapots (chahu), there are zisha gaiwans, chabeis,
> wenxiangbeis, chahai and other "zisha teaware", besides teapots (chahu).
>
> Sasha.
>
> "Falky foo" > wrote in message
> . com...
> >I don't really get the point of glazing zisha either. Maybe a glazed
> > outside but then you wouldn't be worried about the lead leaching into
the
> > tea would you?
> >
> > And since I like to see my tea against a white background when I'm
> > drinking
> > it, I don't buy zisha cups anyhow, just plain ceramic.
> >
> >
> > "Space Cowboy" > wrote in message
> > om...
> >> When did glazed zisha become en vogue. It's been a while but mine are
> >> unglazed. Even my generic red terracotta pots are unglazed. If
> >> someone is selling me glazed zisha I'd suspect the origin. I know
> >> Chinese pottery paint has lead but that is normally glazed over making
> >> safe for use. You can have a glaze with Chinese paint on top and that
> >> is an absolute no-no for use only decorative.
> >>
> >> Jim
> >>
> >> "Falky foo" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> >> > Those were glazed zisha cups.. I'd avoid glazed ware from China and
> > India.
> >> >
> >> > "Alex Chaihorsky" > wrote in message
> >> > .. .
> >> > > Recently it was found that Hong Kong Consumer counsul that some
> >> > > Chinse
> >> > Zisha
> >> > > cracle-glazed teaware contacins dangerous amounts of lead.
> >> > > Beware.
> >> > >
> >> > >
http://www.consumer.org.hk/website/w...ases/p242.html
> >> > >
> >> > > Sasha.
> >
> >
>
>