From Yixing hobbyist to tea tray essential
On a sourcing trip through Yunnan, Michael Zhan made a detour to Yixing — not for teapots, but to meet a small family workshop known for turning scraps into elegant tray companions. In their courtyard, under a loquat tree, a young carver was shaping tiny leaf-shaped rests from discarded zisha trimmings. The forms were rough but alive, each leaf curling slightly differently. Michael commissioned a batch with refined proportions, inspired by the loquat leaves overhead. The clay is the same zhū ní (红泥) used for famous teapots, aged five years, then slab-built and hand-carved. No two leaves are identical: vein depth varies, tips curl naturally. Back at teamotea, the team tested them daily, watching how quickly they developed a tea glow. Within weeks, the surface took on a soft sheen, the dark base deepening. The modest 28 g weight means the rest stays put yet never dominates the tray. Each piece carries the carver’s incised initials and a paper authentication tag — no stamp, no pretence. Michael’s discovery has since become a quiet favourite for anyone building a gongfu setup that values small, clean gestures.