This 90cc mini Monk's Cap teapot, crafted from Jiangpo mud blended with Dragon Blood Sand, is a treasure at Tongxin She Teahouse—fun, rare, and utterly delightful. It features hand-carved decorations by Masters Zheng Shilu and Mu Yi, each stroke brimming with ingenuity that makes it truly one-of-a-kind.
Dragon Blood Sand, hailed as "the blood of the dragon," is a type of Zisha clay with an extremely high iron content—about three times higher than ordinary purple clay. Renowned for its superior quality and scarce yield, it gets its name from the deep crimson hue that emerges after kneading, resembling fresh blood. The raw ore appears purplish-red, with a fine and smooth texture. While slightly brittle and sandy during shaping (making molding extremely challenging), it develops a lustrous surface after firing, boasting strong sandiness and excellent air permeability. It neither overrides nor dilutes the tea’s aroma and flavor, making it suitable for all types of tea. With long-term use and care, it becomes even more ruddy and simplistic, exuding timeless charm.
This teapot adopts the traditional Zisha "Monk's Cap" shape, a representative of square-body teapots and renowned for its high molding difficulty. Originating in the Ming Dynasty, it evolved from the porcelain Monk's Cap design. The 90cc pot has a sleek hexagonal body, tall and dignified. From its neck extend five lotus petals curving outward, and the hexagonal lid fits perfectly into the mouth—closely resembling the brim of a monk’s hat, hence the name.