Jianshui Modern “Hanwa” Handmade Small Solo Teapot - 90ml

The Modern Hanwa teapot (汉瓦壶) is built around a broad, straight-sided body with a wide lid, short spout, and simple loop handle. This 90ml version is handmade from Jianshui clay (建水陶泥), a dense, iron-rich clay from Yunnan traditionally used for unglazed teaware.

What makes Hanwa especially practical is its open, cylindrical brewing chamber. Because the walls stay relatively straight instead of curving sharply inward, much of the interior volume remains usable. Tea leaves have room to spread across the bottom while still having enough vertical space to rise as they open.

The wide mouth is one of the most useful features of this shape. Large twisted leaves can be placed into the pot without being crushed, and pieces of compressed tea are easier to position and remove. After brewing, the broad opening also makes it much easier to empty fully opened leaves and rinse the pot clean.

Its wide, nearly level base allows leaves to settle in a looser layer rather than collecting in a narrow mound. This matters most with long strip-style teas, where crowded leaves can tangle together and restrict expansion. Wuyi yancha and Dancong, for example, can spread more naturally across the chamber as the leaves soften through repeated infusions.

The upright body adds vertical room without becoming especially tall or narrow. That gives Hanwa a useful balance: enough width for leaves to spread, but enough height for longer leaves to lift and move as water is poured in. It is a particularly practical shape for tea drinkers who regularly brew larger, twisted leaves rather than tightly rolled pellets.

Compared with a Dezhong, which often carries more weight toward the lower body and narrows more noticeably toward the shoulder, Hanwa keeps a straighter profile from top to bottom. That creates a more uniform interior and makes access to the brewing chamber especially easy.

Jianshui clay holds heat well, so the pot stays warm through short gongfu infusions. The combination of dense clay, a compact 90ml volume, and a broad brewing chamber works particularly well when you want strong heat without restricting the leaves.

At approximately 90ml, this pot is ideal for solo gongfu brewing or a few small cups shared between two people. The short spout gives a direct pour, while the large loop handle offers plenty of room for a secure grip.

Each teapot is individually handmade, so small differences in proportion, surface, and finishing are natural. With regular use, the unglazed Jianshui clay can gradually develop a richer surface luster.

The Modern Hanwa is especially well suited to tea drinkers who value a wide opening, easy access to the leaves, and plenty of usable brewing space—particularly for Wuyi yancha, Dancong, aged white tea, and other larger-leaf teas.