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Why Zisha Teapots Are So Expensive | So Expensive
Why Zisha Teapots Are So Expensive | So Expensive
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0:05
Narrator: Zisha teapots are made by artisans
0:08
like Boqin Tang. She had to study for 25 years
0:11
to be considered a senior teapot maker,
0:13
which lets her sell a teapot like this
0:16
for $20,000 to $30,000.
0:32
Narrator: But before Tang ever touches the clay,
0:35
the process starts with a unique raw material
0:37
that's disappearing.
0:41
So, what does it take to make a zisha teapot?
0:44
And why are they so expensive?
0:50
Zisha teapots were one of the first teapots ever made,
0:53
dating back to 10th-century China.
0:56
They're named after the rare clay
0:57
that is made from 350-million-year-old zisha ore.
1:02
The ore can only be found in Dingshuzhen,
1:04
primarily in Huanglong Mountain.
1:06
It's near the city of Yixing,
1:08
which is known as China's ceramics capital.
1:11
Zisha teapot experts have been using the same process
1:14
for over 600 years.
1:18
The ore is powdered, then folded
1:20
and worked in a way to create small pockets
1:23
that promote airflow in two directions
1:25
throughout the pot.
1:27
This is known as dual porosity,
1:29
and zisha teapot makers and customers say
1:32
this oxygen flow can intensify the flavor of tea,
1:35
just like with a finely aerated wine.
1:38
It's one of a few of zisha's special properties
1:41
believed to enhance the taste of the tea.
1:44
Scientific analysis shows that
1:46
the mineral composition of zisha
1:48
allows the temperatures to fluctuate less
1:50
when these pots are put to heat.
1:52
Fewer fluctuations means the flavor of the tea
1:54
is more likely to be preserved.
2:00
Making zisha teapots is a painstaking process.
2:06
Each step is done by hand.
2:15
Narrator: Artists first smash the prepared zisha clay
2:18
into very thin layers with a wooden mallet.
2:21
It can take a year to learn how to do this correctly.
2:25
For a round teapot,
2:26
the largest slice is formed into a tube
2:29
on a revolving round plate.
2:34
Boqin will then "pat the body" using a thin wooden tool,
2:37
beating the clay into the desired shape.
2:41
For more intricate teapots,
2:42
makers scratch patterns onto the hardened clay
2:44
and attach extra decor,
2:46
all of which can increase the final value.
2:50
Zisha teapots are typically small
2:52
and hold just a cup of water,
2:54
so they don't require much clay.
2:56
But getting that little bit of clay
2:58
isn't simple or affordable.
3:01
The limited supply of zisha ore
3:03
boosts the cost of the raw material.
3:06
To protect the resource,
3:08
China's government has banned mining in Huanglong.
3:24
Narrator: Boqin uses clay her family has reserved
3:26
since the '90s.
3:28
That's also the decade she officially
3:30
began making these teapots.
3:32
To achieve her senior title,
3:34
Boqin needed 25 years of experience,
3:36
at least five gold awards for her creations,
3:39
and to pass a rigorous test.
4:05
Narrator: The next level for Boqin to achieve,
4:07
which is also the highest,
4:08
is the title of master craftsman.
4:11
This requires at least 30 years of experience. Why?
4:15
Because customers aren't paying
4:16
for just the finite raw material,
4:18
but also for a high level of artistry.
4:47
Narrator: For tea enthusiasts,
4:48
buying a senior or master's zisha teapot
4:50
is like buying functional art.
4:53
Functional in that it's made
4:54
for a great tea-drinking experience,
4:56
and like art because drinkers appreciate
4:59
the delicate work and skill required to make it.
5:43
Narrator: A telltale sign of just how well
5:44
a teapot is crafted
5:46
is how liquid pours from the neck.
5:48
The tea should pour out splatter-free
5:50
from a well-made zisha teapot.
5:53
In the end, it's the importance
5:55
tea making and tea drinking have in China
5:58
that makes such expensive teapots
6:00
worth what customers pay.
