When I was in Shanghai a couple years back I purchased a gung fu tea set from Ten Fu tea, which I believe is a nationwide chain. I've heard that some yixing sets contain lead. Knowing this, and in light of recent product quality issues, should I be worried about this?
I would think so. You can get a lead testing kit from your drug store or hardware store. I know pottery from Mexico shouldn't be used until it's tested, I'd certainly add China. Toci
My understanding is that pure Yixing clayware is free from lead, arsenic, cadmium etc. I suppose if the pot is glazed some lead content may be present in the glaze. If applied and fired correctly then the potential for lead poisoning should be reduced greatly.
This is based on what I have read. I am not a chemist or qualified to state categorically that there is no risk of lead poisoning. Perhaps someone with a Chemistry or other suitable qualification on this group might care to confirm or dispute.
Yeesh, this would be a worry if it were true.
Cheers Mal Oz
yeah if it's glazed on the inside, you might check it out, understanding that it would really only be dangerous if you drank from it for 40 years or served kids from it.
If it's just unglazed yixing clay then there will be no lead in it. Lead is not in clay, it's in some glazes.
A lot of them have white lead glazes, but the question is how stable the glaze is. If it doesn't leach lead into your tea, it's not a problem. If it leaches lead into your tea, it's bad news.
Ace Hardware will sell you a lead test kit intended for detecting paint residue, made by Abotex. It's reasonably sensitive. Note that some of the kits out there are pretty lousy. Look for swabs that are able to detect 1 ug on solid surfaces or 2 ppm in liquid, minimum.
--scott
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