When you fill your Purple Clay Teapot with water, ready to pour Tea in an elegant and refined manner, do you find that it always dribbles, requiring you to frequently wipe it with a tea towel? Is it from the spout, the lid opening, or both? I'm sure everyone has more than one Teapot, some of which dribble while others don't. So why is this?

Some enthusiasts believe this is due to the craftsmanship of the teapot's spout, while others think it's because the lid isn't tightly sealed. Is this the case?

The reason a purple clay teapot dribbles when pouring water is related to the following points:

1. The tightness of the lid

2. The width of the lid opening

3. The position of the water outlet (at the base of the spout)

4. The distance between the inner water outlet and the edge of the lid opening

We can say that each teapot shape has its own way of pouring water. Taking the most classic examples—the Shibo (Stone Spade), Xishi (Beauty Xi), and Antique imitation—Shibo has the best water flow and is least likely to dribble; Xishi has the poorest water flow and is relatively more likely to dribble, while the Antique imitation lies somewhere in between.

Whether a teapot can “pour neatly without dribbling” is determined by the shape and length of the spout, as well as the position of the water holes. However, the shape, length, and positioning of the spout and water holes must be in harmony with the overall shape of the teapot and cannot be designed arbitrarily.

Some teapot shapes, such as the “Dragon Egg” and “Xishi,” have specific spout designs that make them prone to dribbling. Therefore, it's clearly impossible to prevent all Teapots from dribbling. Instead, we can address the issue during use, for example:

1. Do not overfill the teapot with water.

2. Use a decisive gesture when stopping the pour.

3. Have a tea towel on hand to wipe away any drips to avoid discoloration around the spout.

Sometimes, a teapot does not dribble when filled with clear water at the time of purchase but starts to do so when used to Brew tea. This is due to the different surface tensions between clear water and tea. If tea residue blocks the spout holes, the dribbling can become more severe.

Dribbling from the lid opening of a purple clay teapot is even more common, and there are many factors that contribute to this, such as the shape of the teapot, the type of tea being brewed, and usage habits. These are unrelated to the quality of the craftsmanship.

New teapots often have more issues with lid dribbling because the lid and rim have not yet been smoothed out through use. After some use, the situation improves significantly. Once the lid and rim become smooth, the surface tension increases, much like how two pieces of glass can be stuck together with water. With more use, the dribbling stops.

There's also the matter of pouring technique. Some people tilt the teapot to a 90-degree angle when pouring, causing all the water to press against the lid opening. In this case, it's unlikely that the lid won't drip.

The quality of a teapot should not be judged based on whether it dribbles. Dribbling has nothing to do with the quality of the teapot. Even Grandmaster Gu Jingzhou, a legendary figure in purple clay, made teapots (Monk Hats) that dribbled. The Monk Hat teapot has a short spout with little height difference from the lid, and the water outlet is close to the lid, making dribbling unavoidable.

Enthusiasts shouldn't obsess over this issue. To truly appreciate a teapot, one should consider its shape, technique, strength, spirit, and the details of its craftsmanship. Only then can one fully enjoy the experience of using a purple clay teapot.

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