When you first start using a new purple clay Teapot, what precautions should you take? Let's learn about them today:

Before officially using the teapot to Brew tea, it should be treated simply to clean both inside and out, and to remove any impurities absorbed during its production, storage, and transportation.

A simple method involves rinsing the teapot repeatedly with boiling water before use. A slightly more complex method involves placing the teapot in a clean, oil-free pot of pure water and gently boiling it, or adding a small amount of tea and simmering it over low heat, then rinsing it clean before use.

However, locals from Yixing typically rinse the teapot clean and steep a pot of tea in it before initial use.

If you purchase a teapot at a tea market, it may have already been used or even seasoned by the seller, in which case you can simply scald and clean it before use.

Pot seasoning (Nourishing the Teapot)

For both new and old Teapots, after brewing tea with boiling water, while the surface of the teapot is still warm, you can use a damp towel or clean, damp cloth to wipe the body of the teapot, drying the water marks immediately. This keeps the teapot clean.

During the process of pot seasoning, most people do the following:

1. Season the teapot with tea broth for a smooth and glossy finish

When brewing tea, pour some tea broth over the Purple Clay Teapot. The tea broth will evaporate easily due to the heat of the teapot and also be absorbed by the surface of the teapot. Rinse with hot water to remove the tea stains, then wipe with a tea towel to keep the teapot clean. Over time, the repeated washing with tea broth will make the purple clay teapot smoother and more lustrous, a method known as “seasoning with tea broth.”

2. Maintain cleanliness to develop patina

Tea stains will accumulate on the surface of the teapot. These stains need to be gently brushed off using a teapot brush or soft toothbrush to maintain cleanliness. After frequent wiping and washing, the teapot's surface develops a sub-gloss, known as “patina” (or “baojiang”), which will not fade under high-temperature, high-pressure washing, giving it a refined appearance.

Some people rub the teapot with oily hands or oily cloths to create a shine, which older generations refer to as a “thief's shine.” This is similar to the “aggressive polishing” technique used to quickly produce patina on jade. However, once washed with detergent, the shine disappears, leaving greasy stains that are hard to remove, potentially damaging the teapot. When seasoning a teapot, one must “nurture” it and avoid rushing the process. Only by keeping the teapot clean can one season it into a high-quality piece.

3. Special attention to prevent cracking

Some types of purple clay teapots, such as thin-walled red clay teapots, require special care when used in winter. A friend of mine had their beloved thin-walled red clay teapot crack when they poured boiling water over it to preheat it, as is customary, because the sudden temperature change caused uneven heating.

When using thin-walled red clay teapots in cold weather, it is important to be extra careful. Start by pouring lukewarm water that has cooled a bit over the teapot, wetting it first outside then inside, before brewing tea as usual.

5. Special care needed for decorative teapots

In the process of seasoning a teapot, the most common actions are rinsing and wiping with tea water. However, some decorative purple clay teapots feature protruding elements or decorations that extend beyond the surface of the teapot. These areas are prone to accumulating tea stains, which are difficult to rinse clean. Additionally, they can be easily scratched or damaged during the wiping process, potentially marring the teapot. Therefore, extra care should be taken when maintaining decorative teapots.

There are many methods for seasoning a teapot, but the basic principles can be summarized as follows:

Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the teapot before and after each use.

Use tea broth to nourish the surface of the teapot; the oils and pigments in the tea will gradually and persistently affect the teapot.

Moderate brushing and wiping.

After use, wash the teapot, dry it thoroughly, and allow it to “breathe” normally.

Avoid contact with oil and grease to maintain the teapot's porous structure.

Image source: Chaowowang