Zisha Teapot Trap Guide: What to Watch Out For When Buying紫砂壶避坑指南 English translation in description

🌍 English Translation

These colors of teapots are not made from original ore. When buying a teapot, we often come across the term “original ore.” Nowadays, nearly every seller of Zisha teapots claims their clay is original ore. People have heard it so many times, but many may not truly understand what “original ore” means.

The term refers to clay that has not been colored with chemical substances. Of course, we can still adjust the color by mixing different types of natural clay, but as long as no artificial chemical coloring agents are added, it is considered original ore.

Everyone is chasing original ore teapots now, but due to a lack of understanding of Zisha clay, it’s easy to accidentally choose clay that has been chemically colored.

So today, I’ll teach you how to distinguish original ore from non-original ore based on color. First, we need to understand the three main categories of Zisha clay: purple clay, red clay, and benshan green clay. However, these names can be confusing for beginners.

For example, “purple clay” doesn’t mean the fired teapot is purple—it means the raw ore has a slight purple tint. Similarly, “benshan green clay” doesn’t produce a green teapot; it actually fires to a beige-yellow color. So we need to clarify these terms first.

The natural colors you see now are the true hues of original ore Zisha clay. Of course, there are some rare or specially mixed colors made by combining different clays, but we won’t discuss those today.

As beginners, it’s crucial to know which colors are not original ore and cannot be achieved by mixing natural clays. In other words, these colors must have been created using chemical coloring agents.

Now, please take a close look. The color in the image is called “Republic Green.” Although it looks beautiful, it is not original ore. Original ore clay cannot produce this color—it’s made by adding oxides.

Another color you see here is called “Ink Green Clay.” It’s also eye-catching, but it’s not original ore either. It’s made by adding chromium oxide. In general, original ore Zisha products do not appear green or blue.

There’s another color you often see: black teapots. Many people love this color, but I must tell you that this clay is also not original ore—it’s the result of adding manganese oxide.

However, when it comes to black Zisha teapots, there’s one special case worth mentioning. The black teapot I’m holding now is also black, but it was fired using a special technique called “misty gray.” Misty gray teapots are made from original ore, but the firing method gives them a black appearance. This is different from the chemically colored black teapots mentioned earlier.

If you like the colors I just talked about, you should at least know that these clays are artificially colored using chemical substances. As long as the chemical additives don’t exceed safety limits, they are generally harmless to health. But if you’re pursuing true original ore, then these colors are not for you.

Alright, that’s all for today’s video. If you have questions about Zisha teapots, feel free to leave a comment. I update my channel three times a week, sharing my views and practical info about Zisha and tea. Don’t forget to subscribe!