In the town known for its big teapot, lives the smallest teapot.

As we travel around our beautiful island visiting tea producing friends, we always make a point of stopping by interesting shops for a cup and chat here and there. Last time we were in Pinglin, right in the heart of the famous Bao Zhong tea producing area of the Wen Shans, we visited a shop that has been there for 3 generations now, and is a must stop when in Pinglin. There is so much history inside these walls, and very friendly people as well! How can you find this shop? Simple. As you arrive in Pinglin from the old road that twists through the mountains from Taipei, make your way to the central plaza where the most recognizable landmark of the perpetually pouring Big Teapot will signal you to look to your left. Move in the direction the spout is pointing, and there they are!

Inside, we were greeted by the younger generation who immediately offered us cups of the seasonal Bao Zhong. It was late October so winter crops were being served. — Delectable! As always, as in any good tea shop in Taiwan, the tea tasting table is where everybody congregates and were the given discussion suddenly involves every customer present in the shop. While we were there, a visiting customer from the south of the island was selecting clay teapots but didn’t seem satisfied with the choice of smaller pots being offered to him. “I want something smaller. for gongfu”, he says. — ‟Smaller?, ok, I have just what you want” says one of the attending brothers with assertive assurance. He then proceeded to rummage for a hidden pot at the back of a shelf behind him. After a moment, he produced the tiniest Yixing pot I had every seen and placed in the middle of the table so everyone could see to get the maximum effect. The arriving tiny teapot received a roar of laughter as a greeting. But very soon, the laughter changed to oohs and aahs of admiration because this little pot was a serious one, not a toy, as everybody thought. It was perfectly shaped, balanced and quite well made. But, we all required proof that this small contraption could make tea. So, the brother executed himself with assurance, and, as all good Taiwanese would do, I took out my camera out to immortalize the proceedings. The funniest moment was when a tea leaf actually found a way to block the tiny spout and made it impossible for the tea to be poured. So, even with the tinniest of teapots will the leaf rule. A second attempt was needed. How much tea would this pot accept? I counted 5 rolled pellets of oolong going inside a volume I estimated at 25 to 30 ml.

Even if the tiny teapot managed to prove its ability at making a decent cup, it did not leave to go to a new home in the south of island. It remained in Pinglin where, I am sure, it is still showing off its skills from time to time. Maybe it will still be there when you visit?