Along with Yixing, Jianshui and Chaozhou, Nixing clay is one of the best-known materials in Chinese pottery for creating high-quality tea accessories. Traditionally, the clay comes from the area around the Qinjiang River in Guangxi province, which to this day is the heart of the 1300-year-old tradition of creating Nixing pottery. Unlike industrial producers, Wu Haoyu personally collects and hand-mixes natural clay from deposits in the surrounding mountains for his works. The clay, which is very rich in iron, is usually left with a metallic black finish after firing, creating a charming matte sheen that is further enhanced by the roughness of the surface. Ceramics made from Nixing clay are suitable for all types of tea (except fruit and intense herbal teas), rounding off the taste slightly for a less astringent and more harmonious flavour profile. We particularly recommend this ceramic for darker Chinese teas such as Pu Er and Liu Bao teas as well as black and oolong teas.