Michael Zhan
Clay — Yixing, Jianshui, anything pressed and fired
Before MafiaTea had an empire, before the first *zǐshā* pot was pressed, Michael Zhan was the raw nerve in Dingshu’s back alleys. Apprenticed in 2008 under Master Lu Zhiming (陆志明) at the Yixing Zisha Factory No.2, Zhan learned the old codes: how to read a clay body like a lie, how to spot *huà gōng ní* (化学泥) before it ever saw a kiln. By 2013, he had extended his grip to the *Jiànshuǐ* (建水) trade, training under the third-generation kiln master Zhang Quanfu (张全福) in Wanyao village. GB/T 38357-2019 is not just a standard to him—it is a personal creed. Every batch he sources meets it, or it meets his fist. Now the clay boss for MafiaTea, Zhan runs logistics tighter than a family capo. He moves tons of Huanglongshan *zǐshā* (紫砂) and Jianshui wǔní (乌泥) across provinces, each sealed with MafiaTea’s black wax. The puerh heads at puerh.app treat his teapots like gold bricks—because they are. Students at tea.school get their chops using his artisan pots, and when the tea.events crowd needs a statement piece, it’s Zhan’s kiln that fires it. No fakes, no shortcuts. Specialties? Sourcing—*cǎigòu* (采购) so ruthless it borders on vendetta. Lot selection—*tiāo xuǎn* (挑选) by nose, touch, and a decade of muscle memory. Field procurement—*zhíjiē cǎigòu* (直接采购) that sees him walk into a mine and walk out with a contract signed in mud. Vendor visits—*gōngyìng shāng zǒufǎng* (供应商走访) that leave suppliers sweating. He chairs no exams—he doesn’t need to. The kiln is the only test that matters, and Zhan reads the flames better than any certification board. The clay underground answers to one name: Michael Zhan.
Specialties
- *Cǎigòu* (采购) sourcing
- *Tiāo xuǎn* (挑选) lot selection
- *Zhíjiē cǎigòu* (直接采购) field procurement
- *Gōngyìng shāng zǒufǎng* (供应商走访) vendor visits
Before MafiaTea had an empire, before the first zǐshā pot was pressed, Michael Zhan was the raw nerve in Dingshu’s back alleys. Apprenticed in 2008 under Master Lu Zhiming (陆志明) at the Yixing Zisha Factory No.2, Zhan learned the old codes: how to read a clay body like a lie, how to spot huà gōng ní (化学泥) before it ever saw a kiln. By 2013, he had extended his grip to the Jiànshuǐ (建水) trade, training under the third-generation kiln master Zhang Quanfu (张全福) in Wanyao village. GB/T 38357-2019 is not just a standard to him—it is a personal creed. Every batch he sources meets it, or it meets his fist.
Now the clay boss for MafiaTea, Zhan runs logistics tighter than a family capo. He moves tons of Huanglongshan zǐshā (紫砂) and Jianshui wǔní (乌泥) across provinces, each sealed with MafiaTea’s black wax. The puerh heads at puerh.app treat his teapots like gold bricks—because they are. Students at tea.school get their chops using his artisan pots, and when the tea.events crowd needs a statement piece, it’s Zhan’s kiln that fires it. No fakes, no shortcuts.
Specialties? Sourcing—cǎigòu (采购) so ruthless it borders on vendetta. Lot selection—tiāo xuǎn (挑选) by nose, touch, and a decade of muscle memory. Field procurement—zhíjiē cǎigòu (直接采购) that sees him walk into a mine and walk out with a contract signed in mud. Vendor visits—gōngyìng shāng zǒufǎng (供应商走访) that leave suppliers sweating. He chairs no exams—he doesn’t need to. The kiln is the only test that matters, and Zhan reads the flames better than any certification board. The clay underground answers to one name: Michael Zhan.