Cleaning

Nourishing your Teapot until it develops a patina is an incredibly rewarding experience, giving the pot an elegant, antique luster. However, if you use improper methods, you might end up with an unnatural shine. Therefore, when nourishing your teapot, the word “cleaning” becomes particularly important. Despite being mentioned repeatedly, many teapot enthusiasts still do not take this seriously enough.

① Before using the teapot, make sure to wash your hands!

Do not assume that your hands are always clean. Incidental contact with your hair or face can transfer oils onto your hands. Therefore, do not consider handwashing a hassle; wash your hands before handling the teapot.

② Wipe off any Tea residue on the teapot after use.

Prepare a clean tea towel. After using the teapot, wipe off any tea residue, especially on the bottom of Teapots without feet. If left unattended, these residues will eventually form tea stains which are difficult to remove, especially around the base.

▲ Tea Stain on the Bottom of the Teapot

③ Clean and air-dry the teapot before storing it.

Avoid leaving tea leaves or tea inside the teapot, thinking it will help the teapot develop faster. This is incorrect. After using the teapot, air-dry it to maintain cleanliness.

▲ Ensure the Teapot is Air-Dried Before Storing

Warming the Teapot

This is something I want to remind teapot enthusiasts about as the weather gets colder.

In winter, when using a Purple Clay Teapot, it's essential to warm the teapot first. Otherwise, pouring hot water directly into the cold teapot may cause thermal shock, leading to cracks.

▲ Warming the Teapot

Before using the teapot, pour warm water over and into it. Allow one to two minutes for the teapot to adjust to the temperature, then pour out the water and fill the teapot with hot water to Brew tea.

Removing Unpleasant Odors

Leaving tea leaves and tea in the teapot is a mistaken method of nurturing the teapot. Over time, the tea can mold and create an unpleasant odor. In such cases, timely cleaning is necessary. To remove the odor:

Fill the teapot with boiling water, shake it slightly, then pour it out. Submerge the teapot in cold water. Repeat this process several times to effectively remove the odor.

▲ Ready for Use After Repeated Treatment

This is what ancient texts mean when they say, “If the teapot retains a mixed smell, fill it with boiling water, pour it out immediately, submerge it in cold water, and quickly pour out the cold water. The original aroma will be restored.”

That's all for now. If you encounter other issues while nurturing your teapot or have additional suggestions and opinions, feel free to scan the QR code at the bottom of the article to join our group for discussions.

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