Venturing from my cave

[gurdymonkey]

What with the time change and it being the first Sunday of the month, I was up an hour earlier than I had any need for - except having to pee. So it was I decided to take a stab at the Antiques by the Bay flea market over on Alameda Point. 

This used to be fun. Now not so much. Even getting there at 8 AM, there's a ton of people hoping for bargains, many dragging carts or wagons, bonus points if there are recalcitrant children along. Sure, masks are required, but people are so focused on looking at the stuff around them that they tend not to look where they're going. 

No decent Japanese antiques to speak of. Lots of shabby chicified crap, tons of old clothing, plenty of mid century furniture which was uncomfortable in 1965 and still is, you suckers. I was, however, keeping an eye out for, yes, you guessed it, Yixing wares. I even found some. One vendor had a couple of pots but they were really small and I wanted something that will hold 100/150 ml water at a serving. Kept walking and dodging. Found someone else had a couple pots but without lids, and no marked prices (the woman had to ask her husband for prices on every little thing, so I moved on). 

Saw another table vendor on a corner, had several pots about the size I was looking for (and that was either old tea or dust inside some of them), prices ranging from $60 to $150. Told him I would think about it and made a mental note of where he was located. 

Kept walking, braved the portajohns (which at that time of morning were in good condition and the pump sinks still had soap, water and towels), and found another Chinese couple with easily half a dozen pots in varying shapes and sizes, prices attached with blue painter's tape. And the guy was happy to chat. You like tea? Yes, I'm looking for something for oolongs. What kind you like? Ti Guan Yin? (Smile.)  This good for one cup. This good for share. This (an ox with long horns and a child sitting on his back as the knob for the lid) to look at (miming putting it on shelf). Which is how I ended up with a $50 pot for $40.

 

Was home by 10:30, and put it into a pan of clean water to warm on the stove for about an hour on basic general principle, simply because I have no idea how old the pot was. Found some black floaters when the water had cooled and I poured it out. Jade had suggested to sniff the wet pot - yep, smells like clay, so that is a good sign. I did notice that the water doesn't absorb the way it does on the other pot, but that could be a result of the construction - the outer carved wall gets smudgy grey spots on it as it dries, but then they go away. I don't want to apply soap though - it could get absorbed and screw up the flavor of anything I try to brew in it. 

Just did a comparison brew with Old Ways Teas Jin Mu Dan, a nice roasted oolong and honestly could not tell the difference between what I brewed in the gaiwan and what I did in the pot. Jade says it depends on the tea. Some teas it's more noticeable than others. And this could be a young pot. ;)

Going to go back for a second cup. Maybe a hint more minerality in the flavor. 
 

Comments

[danabren]

That story made me really happy (once you got past the port-o-lets)

[gurdymonkey]

I am still perplexed by the behavior of the clay on the carved bits. It could be exterior crud. It could be a sign that this was not made of Yixing clay - in which case it's a prettily executed fake. I took some warm water and a nail brush to the outside of the pot yesterday after I dumped out the tea and it seemed to help some, so I am hopeful that it was just dirt and dust.

And the tea tasted just fine, so....