在上海周边自驾游时，不妨探索更多关于紫砂文化的奥秘。我们知道，紫砂之所以与别的茶具具有所不同，全要归功于它独特的材质——紫砂泥。

宜兴独产的紫砂泥料，可塑性好，干燥收缩率小，因此茶壶能做到严丝合缝，造型轮廓线条规矩严而不致扭曲。而且，它本身不需要加配原料就能单独成陶。成品陶中有双重气孔结构，一为闭口吻孔，是团圆体内部的气孔;一为启齿气孔，是包裹在团圆体附近的气孔群。这使得紫砂陶具有良好的透气性。

然而，有些黑心商家却用冒充紫砂泥料做壶，这让壶友们开始研究如何才能辨别真正的紫砂泥。传闻，只要用火柴划Purple Heart, you'll be able to tell if it's real or not. But the truth is, now's fire and matches are different from what they used to be. The old matches had white phosphorus in them, which made them easier to light. Nowadays, most matches are safety matches that don't burn as well.

So don't try using this method to test for authenticity anymore! It won't work and it could even damage your Purple Heart. Instead, focus on learning more about the material itself.

If you want to learn how to identify genuine Purple Heart pottery, keep an eye out for a few key characteristics: fine-grained texture with a slightly rough feel (not smooth like ceramic or glazed pottery), rich brown color with visible specks of clay and mineral deposits (like iron oxide), and a distinctive shape that's both functional and beautiful.

By following these tips, you'll become an expert at identifying authentic Purple Heart pottery in no time! And who knows? You might just discover some hidden gems during your next trip around Shanghai...