YXHUPOT Dragon Phoenix Zisha Clay Teapot

One reviewer notes that the narrow spout causes slower pouring than they'd like. For gongfu brewing, pour speed matters because you want to stop the steep quickly and get all the water out to avoid over-extraction. It's not a dealbreaker — the pot is still very usable — but if you're particular about a fast, clean pour, it's worth knowing. Higher-end Yixing pots are often praised for their precise, quick-pouring spouts, and this budget-friendly option doesn't quite match that. For beginners or casual gongfu sessions, it works fine.

About two Chinese-style gongfu cups per steep — that's the traditional serving size for gongfu brewing. The 9oz capacity means you're getting small, concentrated pours that you repeat multiple times with the same leaves. If you're brewing for one person, it's perfect. For two people sharing a session, it works well. But if you're trying to fill regular Western mugs or serve a group, this isn't the right tool — you'd want a larger teapot for that. The beauty of this size is that you can easily get 5-8 steepings from one serving of leaves, so the total amount of tea you drink in a session is actually quite generous.

Reviewers actually call this out as a strong gift option. The dragon and phoenix design is eye-catching — eight reviewers comment on the attractive design — and it doubles as a decorative display piece when not in use. It's the kind of item that sparks conversation, which several owners mention. For someone interested in gongfu tea or Chinese tea culture, it's a thoughtful gift that looks more expensive than it is. Just set the right expectation about size — it's a traditional gongfu pot, not a big Western teapot, so including a note about gongfu brewing could help the recipient appreciate it fully.

At this price point, you're getting functional zisha clay with good heat retention and an attractive design — but you're not getting hand-thrown artisan craftsmanship or guaranteed mine-sourced clay with provenance documentation. Think of it as the difference between a solid everyday kitchen knife and a custom-forged chef's knife: both cut, but the experience and materials differ. Reviewers who use this for daily gongfu brewing are generally happy with the performance. One thing to watch: the narrower spout pours slower than higher-end pots with precision-crafted spouts. For learning gongfu or daily use, it's a smart entry point. For serious collecting, you'd look elsewhere.

It's actually one of the better entry points for learning gongfu brewing. Reviewers specifically note that this YXHUPOT pot provides an authentic gongfu experience at an accessible price. The 9oz size is forgiving for beginners — it's large enough that you have some margin for error with leaf amounts and timing, while still being small enough to enforce the resteeping rhythm that defines gongfu. The attractive dragon/phoenix design also makes the ritual feel special, which reviewers say encourages regular practice. Just be prepared for the learning curve of handling hot clay — use the cool tail top as your grip point.

Absolutely — this is one of the unexpected benefits reviewers highlight. The molded dragon and phoenix design is detailed enough that several owners keep it on a shelf or in a display cabinet when it's not in active use. It works as both a functional gongfu teapot and a decorative conversation piece. The zini clay's natural purple-brown color also develops a richer patina over time with use, so a well-seasoned pot actually looks better as it ages.

If you're new to gongfu brewing, this YXHUPOT teapot is actually a great starting point — reviewers specifically note it provides an authentic gongfu experience at an accessible price. Start simple: use about 5-7 grams of loose leaf tea, fill the pot with appropriately heated water, and steep for just 15-20 seconds on the first infusion. Pour everything out into your cup or a fairness pitcher. Then resteep, adding 5-10 seconds each round. The small 9oz size is actually forgiving for beginners because it forces you into the resteeping rhythm rather than overbrewing a big pot. One tip: the body gets quite hot, so always grab it by the tail top where it stays cool. And don't stress about getting it perfect — the beauty of gongfu is that each steep reveals something different about the tea.

Zisha (purple sand) clay is prized for a few reasons that show up clearly with this YXHUPOT teapot. First, heat retention — multiple owners confirm it keeps water hot through several steepings, which is exactly what you want for gongfu brewing. Second, the unglazed clay is porous, meaning it gradually absorbs the oils and flavors of your tea over time. Dedicated tea drinkers often assign one zisha pot to a single tea type so the pot develops a 'memory' of that tea. Third, the clay is said to slightly soften and round out the flavor of tea. This teapot also has a practical benefit reviewers highlight: the top of the dragon tail handle stays cool enough to grip even when the body is very hot.

Zini (purple) clay like this YXHUPOT pot is considered the most versatile of the Yixing clay types. It pairs well with a wide range of teas, but it particularly shines with oolongs, pu-erh, and darker teas that benefit from the heat retention multiple reviewers praise. Since the porous clay absorbs flavors over time, many gongfu practitioners dedicate one pot to a single tea type — so this pot could become your dedicated oolong pot or your pu-erh pot. If you're just starting out, pick your favorite tea type and stick with it in this pot. The seasoning that builds up will complement that tea's flavor profile over time.

With budget Yixing-style teapots like this YXHUPOT, you're looking at a few key indicators. Real zisha clay has a slightly sandy, unglazed texture — it shouldn't feel smooth like ceramic or have a shiny glaze inside. The clay should absorb water and develop a patina over time as you season it with tea. This particular teapot is made from zini (purple clay), one of the traditional Yixing clay types. At this price point, it's best thought of as an authentic zisha clay teapot for daily gongfu practice rather than a collector-grade piece from a named artisan. Reviewers confirm the clay behaves as expected — it retains heat well and the material feels genuine.

A few things matter when picking a Yixing teapot. Size is the big one — for gongfu brewing, you actually want small, typically 100-250ml. This YXHUPOT is 9oz (about 270ml), which is on the larger side for gongfu but still works well for 2 small cups per steep. Some buyers note it's smaller than they expected from photos, but that's actually a feature for gongfu method, not a bug. Clay type matters too — zini (purple clay) like this one is the most versatile and works well with a wide range of teas. Also consider the pour: this teapot has a narrower spout, which one reviewer noted makes for slower pouring. For gongfu, you generally want a clean, fast pour, so that's worth knowing. The dragon/phoenix design on this one is a bonus if aesthetics matter to you — eight reviewers specifically called out the attractive design.

Zisha literally means 'purple sand' in Chinese, and it's a type of clay traditionally found in the Yixing region of Jiangsu province, China. It comes in several varieties — this YXHUPOT teapot uses zini, which is the classic purple-brown type. What makes zisha special for tea brewing is its porosity: the clay has tiny air pockets that provide natural insulation (explaining why reviewers praise this pot's heat retention) while also absorbing tea oils over time. That's why serious tea drinkers dedicate each zisha pot to one type of tea. The clay is left unglazed, which is part of both its function and its rustic aesthetic appeal.

High-end Yixing teapots can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars because they're handmade by named artisans using specific clay harvested from mines in Yixing, China — and some of those original mines are now depleted. But not every Yixing-style teapot needs to break the bank. This YXHUPOT dragon phoenix teapot is at the accessible end of the spectrum, making it a solid entry point for anyone who wants to experience real zisha clay gongfu brewing without the collector-grade investment. Reviewers who use it for gongfu ceremony find it performs well for the price, with good heat retention and proper sizing for resteeping.

Before your first brew, you'll want to season this YXHUPOT teapot. Rinse it thoroughly with hot water — no soap, ever, since the porous zisha clay will absorb it. Many people do a longer initial seasoning by boiling the pot in plain water for 15-20 minutes, then letting it cool in the water. Some go a step further and boil it a second time with leaves of the tea type they plan to dedicate the pot to. Once seasoned, just rinse with hot water before and after each use. Never use detergent. One thing reviewers flag: the clay body gets very hot during use, so handle it by the top of the tail, which stays cool. The lid can be tricky too — just be careful when pouring.

Yes, and it's a simple but important step. Before your first brew, rinse the pot thoroughly with hot water — never use soap or detergent, as the porous zisha clay will absorb it permanently. A common seasoning method is to boil the pot in clean water for 15-20 minutes, let it cool naturally, then repeat with the type of tea you plan to dedicate the pot to. This opens up the clay's pores and starts building the flavor foundation. After that initial seasoning, just rinse with hot water before and after each use. Over time, the pot will develop a patina and a subtle flavor contribution that enhances your tea — that's the whole point of using zisha clay.

The gongfu method is what this YXHUPOT teapot is designed for. Add a generous amount of loose leaf tea — roughly enough to cover the bottom of the pot. Pour in hot water (temperature depends on your tea type), and do a quick 'rinse' steep of just a few seconds that you discard. Then do your first real steep for about 15-30 seconds, pouring into small cups. The magic of gongfu is resteeping — you can get 5-8 steepings from good leaves, adding a few seconds each time. This pot's 9oz capacity fills about 2 Chinese-style cups per steep. Reviewers confirm the heat retention works well for multiple rounds. Just remember: grip the dragon tail top rather than the body, because the clay gets hot.