Breaking in a new 90ml white zitao clay pot we just brought back from Jianshui. We figured some Alter Ego huang pian would make for a fitting first meal. The size is a bit small for the pair of us, but should be perfect for solo #tea sessions.

A photo posted by Bitterleaf (@bitterleafteas) on Sep 5, 2016 at 11:56am PDT

While we tend to prefer something in the 150ml zone for our own purposes, this 90ml white Jianshui zitao teapot is perfect for solo sessions. The colour and shape are just perfect. We’ve put in an order for more, don’t worry.

With one of us sick the last few days, we’ve been laying off some off the harsher sheng puers and opting for white #tea or shou. This is a little Bitterleaf RX formula that is surprisingly tasty. The recipe is semi aged Yue Guang Bai, dates, and orange peel from a shou stuffed mandarin, all filtered through a pear – good for sore throats according to Chinese medicine. It may look a little whacky, but don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!

A photo posted by Bitterleaf (@bitterleafteas) on Sep 6, 2016 at 12:20pm PDT

This may look strange, but there’s a reason behind it, we swear. It’s a sort of Chinese medicine conconction, consisting of the peel from a ripe puer stuffed mandarin, aged white tea, dates and pear – all of which have healing properties according to TCM.

Just a few of the usual suspects, dragged back from Jianshui for a lineup and questioning… However one of these is not like the others . #tea

A photo posted by Bitterleaf (@bitterleafteas) on Sep 7, 2016 at 1:29pm PDT

A few of our recent acquisitions from Jianshui. There’s a shape and size for any tea and any session.

A candid shot of one of our white Jianshui pots taking a break between during a photo shoot. Despite being a “purple clay”, Jianshui zitao is actually a 5 colour clay, with white being one of the variants. The shade of colour can vary though, usually as a shade of grey. Due to their lighter colour they also tend to show imperfections easier, making this colour clay somewhat more tricky to work with. #tea

A photo posted by Bitterleaf (@bitterleafteas) on Sep 8, 2016 at 12:05pm PDT

One of our white zitao teapots. These colour teapots are quite popular, but a little less common.

A candid shot of one of our white Jianshui pots taking a break between during a photo shoot. Despite being a “purple clay”, Jianshui zitao is actually a 5 colour clay, with white being one of the variants. The shade of colour can vary though, usually as a shade of grey. Due to their lighter colour they also tend to show imperfections easier, making this colour clay somewhat more tricky to work with. #tea

A photo posted by Bitterleaf (@bitterleafteas) on Sep 8, 2016 at 12:05pm PDT

Another one of our new white Jianshui zitao teapots. This dragon egg doesn’t feel a drop bigger than 110ml when it’s held in bigger hands.

One of our Blue Steel woodfired gaiwans, flanked by an iron leaf cha ze and matching woodfired gong dao bei – both flashing Magnum. It’s not easy bring ridiculously good looking… . . . #tea

A photo posted by Bitterleaf (@bitterleafteas) on Sep 11, 2016 at 1:13pm PDT

Just some ridiculously good looking wood fired teaware striking a pose.