After being away on a business trip for a week, you want to enjoy a nice afternoon Tea. But when you open the pot, you find it has molded. What happened?

Last time after brewing tea, something urgent came up and I neglected to clean it. The tea leaves stayed in the water in the pot for several days. Especially during hot summer weather, mold grows quickly. If left like this for too long, it's very likely to mold.

In ancient times, ordinary households were reluctant to waste tea and often drank overnight tea. In “Zhang Wu Zhi,” Wen Zhenheng said, “For Teapots, those made of purple clay are best, as they do not overpower the aroma and there is no sour smell from the tea.” This sour smell refers to the sour taste of the tea. The fact that a purple clay pot does not let the tea turn sour shows its good breathability. Due to the special nature of the clay and the way it is shaped by hand, the double-pore characteristic is very obvious. However, it cannot withstand being left like this for long periods of time, which can also lead to mold.

High humidity in the air makes it easy for a purple clay pot to mold. The storage environment for a purple clay pot needs to be dry and well-ventilated, keeping the inside of the pot dry. Storing it in a brocade box can cause this problem too, if the pot is not completely dry. The enclosed space of the brocade box will accelerate the molding process, so this is not recommended.

After brewing tea, immediately clean the purple clay pot, remove the tea residue, wipe the surface clean with a tea towel, and place it upside down on the tea table to air dry naturally. Once thoroughly dry, it can be placed on a shelf such as a bookstand, where it will be better ventilated. When you next want to Brew tea, simply rinse the inside and outside of the pot with hot water to warm it up before brewing.

If it develops a moldy smell, clean it thoroughly with water, then pour in some hot water and shake it around a few times. Then use cold water to rinse and shake again. Repeat this process to eliminate the moldy smell. This method is suitable for purple clay and duan clay pots, but not for zhuni (red clay).

This is because zhuni has high density and cannot withstand sudden changes in temperature. If a zhuni pot molds, recondition it by placing it in a clean pot full of water, covering the pot, and simmering it over low heat. You can add a little tea to remove the smell. After boiling, allow it to cool naturally, then clean the pot thoroughly.