A compact Yixing clay teapot, personally selected in Yixing, China. This form is known as 茄瓜壶 (Qiegua Hu), meaning an eggplant-shaped teapot. This 140 ml gongfu teapot has a gently rounded body and a distinctive T-shaped bridge knob on its lid. In Chinese pottery, the knob style is called 桥形钮. The uncomplicated shape, fine sandy clay texture and practical spout make it a welcoming first Yixing teapot as well as a useful addition to a regular tea setup.
Choose Your Yixing Clay
Golden Duanni (黄金段泥): A warm, natural golden-yellow Yixing Duanni clay with an earthy, finely grained surface. This version has a built-in ball strainer at the spout.
Wenge Zini (文革紫泥): A reddish-brown Yixing purple clay with a similarly understated, unglazed clay surface. This version has a built-in multi-hole spout filter. The photos show the different filter details for each clay option.
What to Brew
Golden Duanni (黄金段泥) and Wenge Zini (文革紫泥) are two different Yixing clay types, each with its own color and texture. This 140 ml pot is a comfortable size for a solo gongfu session, or for sharing several small cups.
We recommend exploring raw puerh, light-to-medium roasted oolongs, black tea, and aged white tea in this teapot. As with other unglazed Yixing clay, many tea drinkers like to dedicate a pot to one tea family over time so its aromas stay consistent.
How It's Made
This is an authentic Yixing half-handmade (半手工) teapot, not a fully handmade collector's piece. Half-handmade construction combines formed components with careful hands-on assembly and finishing. Its clean round shape, bridge-style lid grip and stamped maker's marks are shown in the detailed photos.
A Note from Leo
When I traveled to Yixing, I wanted to find genuine Yixing teapots myself instead of relying on pictures or descriptions from a catalog. Business had been slower for many sellers during my visit, and that gave me a chance to find some very good prices on authentic teapots.
I picked out these two Yixing clay versions so I could offer a real Yixing teapot without the price usually associated with more expensive collector's pieces. They are half handmade, practical for daily brewing, and a good example of what I love about sourcing teaware in person.
October 2026
— Leo, Tea & Whisk
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Details
Capacity: Approximately 140 ml
Length: Approximately 4.25 inches, from spout to handle
Height: Approximately 3 inches, including lid
Clay: Golden Duanni (黄金段泥, yellow) or Wenge Zini (文革紫泥, reddish-purple)
Craft: Half handmade (半手工)
Origin: Yixing, Jiangsu, China
Lid knob: Bridge-shaped knob (桥形钮)
Filter: Built-in ball strainer (Golden Duanni) or multi-hole spout filter (Wenge Zini)
Included: One teapot and lid, in the clay type selected.
Handmade variation: Each pot is individually finished and may not be 100% identical to the photos. Slight differences in clay color, texture, surface marks, stamped seals and finish are normal. The clay type and filter style will correspond to the option you select.
This listing includes one teapot only. Other objects, if pictured, are not included.
Care
Rinse with hot water after brewing, avoid scented detergents, and let the pot and lid dry fully before storage. If reusing tea leaves the next day, refrigerate the used leaves promptly in a clean container rather than leaving them damp in the teapot overnight.
