Often, friends mention issues such as cracks in their Teapots or detached bottoms, and these problems become more common during the winter months.

In winter, the issue of “shock cracking” in purple clay teapots is well-known. This is especially true for Zhu clay teapots, which are particularly prone to cracking when hot water is poured over them – a sound like “pop” can be heard. This happens because Zhu clay has a unique clay composition with high density. When you tap the pot, it produces a crisp sound similar to porcelain. When suddenly exposed to high temperatures, the pot may not withstand the heat and crack. To prevent shock cracking when brewing Tea, warm up the pot first by preheating it gradually so that its temperature rises slowly.

Behind the shock cracking, there might already be an underlying injury in the pot that was not noticed initially. If exposed to boiling water, this injury can quickly expand, leading to cracking. Therefore, after receiving a new pot, carefully inspect it to ensure there are no issues before using it, which can prevent many troubles.

A Purple Clay Teapot is still made of purple clay and is vulnerable to knocks and bumps, which can easily leave hidden injuries. These injuries may not be immediately noticeable but can appear over time as the Teapot is used for brewing tea.

Another situation that is often overlooked is when a teapot has been unused for a long time and left to dry out. In this state, the clay inside the teapot becomes very porous. Before using such a teapot again, rinse it clean with water and then warm it up with lukewarm water to help it adjust to the change in temperature. Do not immediately pour boiling water into it, as this sudden change can cause the pot to crack due to thermal shock.

During the cold winter months, extra care should be taken with purple clay teapots. Warm them up with lukewarm water before use, and your tea-brewing experience will be better.