This 80 ml teapot is fully handmade by master Cheng Zhu from unglazed, sandy Chaozhou clay. The lid is unseated and features a Scholar Stone as the knob. Scholar stones are a traditional element of Chinese gardens, and are strange or interestingly-shaped rocks, often featuring prominent openings like the one on this pot. This pot is hand-thrown in the style traditional to Chaozhou in Eastern Guangdong province.
Chaozhou clay, like Yixing clay, is an unglazed, medium-fired stoneware and will absorb the flavor of teas steeped in it. Teapots made from Chaozhou clay are traditionally dedicated to a single category of tea. This pot shape and clay make it suitable for all types of tea, but being from Chaozhou, it is especially appropriate for Phoenix Oolongs, which hail from the same region. Smaller-size pots such as this one are commonly used for solo sessions or for very fine teas.