#teaware
Today, we’re really excited to launch a new collection of hand made Jian Zhan teaware from artist Lin Xi!
Meet the Artist: Lin Xi
Master potter Lin Xi set up the Taishou Jianlou Research Institute to study Han and Song Dynasty tea culture and firing techniques. He is dedicated to reviving the lost ancient art of Jian Zhan through meticulous research, hand made glazing and clays personally excavated from Song Dynasty sites.
Unlike many studios, Lin Xi personally oversees every aspect of his work without help. As a single artist, Lin Xi makes his own glazes, throws his own cups, and fires every batch personally.
Lin Xi works with our partner Li Xiangxi and the Yangxian Institute on building Jian Zhan fit to revive the Song Dynasty style dian cha ceremony, and has won many awards for his striking work. We are excited to represent his rare and highly collectible art for the first time outside of China.
Recent awards: “Bo Re Zhan” 16th Annual China Art Exhibition Traditional Arts Category Gold Medal // “Cai Shao” April 2019 Shen Zhen Golden Phoenix Art Competition Gold Medal // “Mu Lan Zhan” June 2018 Hua Li Competition Silver Medal
ABOUT JIAN ZHAN
“Jian Zhan pottery is made in Shui Ji, Jian Yang, an ancient art dating back to the Han dynasty, also known as Jian Yao. It is the most famous of the eight great pottery schools of the Song Dynasty.
While Jian Zhan was fired as early as the Han dynasty, it became an imperial tribute art in the Song, offered to the emperor.
Because Jian Zhan is incredibly difficult to produce, and very few pieces fire successfully to finish, it is an incredibly costly and laborious art. Tribute quality pieces were picked from countless firings and countless individual pieces. Jian Zhan became known as “min yao, guan yong” the labor of the people, the pleasure of the court.
Song Huizong, emperor of the Northern Song elaborates on Jian Zhan in his treatise on tea Da Guan Tu Lun: “Jian Zhan is a prized midnight blue, woven with lines of jade.”
In the Song dynasty tea competitions, Jian Zhan was the most suitable preparation vessel, and with the imperial endorsement, every Song scholarly aristocrat would part with huge sums to acquire the finest pieces. Cultured Song poets praised the refined enjoyment of Jian Zhan. During this golden age, Jian Zhan was brought to Japan where it became known as Tenmokku, a Japanese national treasure.
Jian Zhan is fire and earth, united with perfect skill, a high art in the world of pottery.”
– Lin Xi
Jianyang Jianan Taishou Jianlou Research Institute
Post link
Our new Jian Zhan tea ware is here as part of our Black Friday Weekend special releases - from traditional wood-fired Lao Long (Dragon) Kiln masterpieces to Tenmoku-style electric kiln cups!
Collect your own Song Dynasty-inspired teaware, or browse photos of these gorgeous pieces.
Want to learn about the link between Jian Zhan,Tianmu and Japanese Tenmoku? Read on to meet the man reviving this Song Dynasty Tradition!
Post link
Platinum Jubilee collection by Design Bridge for Fortnum & Mason
A corgi sits at the heart of design, topped by a truck wheel – a gesture to the then Princess Elizabeth’s time as a truck driver and mechanic during WW2. They are surrounded by racing pigeons, racehorses, a pearl necklace, royal swans, and lily of the valley, her favourite flower, which was included in her wedding bouquet. The cabbage is a nod to Prince Philip’s nickname for the Queen. All these elements together form the Crown.
Alright - just do yourself a favor, and skip the review and purchase this tea here
Still Reading? Okay okay.. I guess I’ll write a review… Steep 1tsp of tea per cup with boiling water for 3-5 minutes.
The dry leaf aroma of this tea is pretty powerful because of the lavender and rose.
Now how does it taste… Well. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t tear up drinking it for the first time. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve had a black tea blend western style and enjoyed it. Its always bitter (having to cut it with lots of sugar and milk) so I swore off black teas unless I gongfu’d them. Needless to say, I was a little apprehensive about buying this blend but it can’t be everyones favorite without a reason right?
Reading nook blend sips in strong with a malty flavor delicately balanced with the lavender, rose and chamomile. I really want to say that the chamomile mellows out the sometimes overpowering flavor of lavender and creates such a unique cup of tea. I was able to taste every flavor and not have anything over power each other, it was delicate but strong, floral and malty. And NO BITTERNESS. I want this to be my go to tea blend when I read a book but at the rate I read, I would be out of tea with in a couple of days - so I am savoring until I can justify making another big purchase to Plum Deluxe.
A little about the company - they hand blend their teas every month keeping it fresh and use organic ingredients. They are also based in Oregon (my home state!) And! They have a tea of the month club for 10 dollars. My only gripe is everything, and I mean every tea in their store is 7$ an oz. Not very cheap but it is so worth it. I bought 5-6 teas from them. Reading nook blend came into 1st place and Oregon Breakfast tea came in a close second (black tea with hazelnut and orange.. so good).
Now if you are familiar with any of my reviews from the dawn of this blog, I used to post so much about Butiki teas - they made awesome blends and most of it tasted divine. But, they closed. Plum Deluxe is now my new butiki teas. They are my holy grail for tea blends and I honestly can’t wait to make another order. (Slowly I will TRY EVERYTHING!!!) So if there is a tea from their website you would like to hear about before possibly buying, send me a PM and I will buy it for you and drink it and I guess… review it :P
Oh - and if you are curious as to what I am reading it is “Heir of Fire” from the “Throne of Glass” series!
Be sure to follow my instagram! @tea_tography
If you have any questions comments or concerns please feel free to send me a PM! Want to decide which tea I review next? Don’t hesitate to ask!
xoxo
Jordan
Teavivre was gracious enough to send me several samples to try and review.
I started with a black tea (since I’m not a huge fan usually) this tea smells smokey with notes of malt.
I steeped this tea eastern style but in a rather large pot (250ml)
So how does it taste? I pick up smokey malt notes with a more lingering sweet potato and floral. Ever since I started drinking black tea gongfu style, I’ve really started to appreciate what it has to offer. I feel like western just comes out overpowering and bitter. I can see Keemun being a go to tea if I want something a little more energizing in the morning. This also makes a lovely addition for dreary cold afternoons when you want something to warm you up inside and out, its woodsy like qualities make it a great tea to have in front of the fireplace with a good book.
