When it comes to nourishing a Teapot, there are as many methods as there are people. Even with the same teapot, everyone achieves different results.

This issue is much like brewing tea; everyone has their own take. Each person who enjoys nourishing their teapot does so through long-term exchanges, careful observation, and tea-brewing practice, gradually forming personalized habits for doing so.

Currently, the “dry brewing” method for tea is quietly gaining popularity. When using this method to nurture a Purple Clay Teapot, there's no need to pour tea over it; instead, the focus is on “internal nourishment.”

So, what distinguishes the more streamlined, convenient, and elegant “dry brewing” method from the “wet brewing” method?

What is the “Dry Brewing” Method?

The dry brewing method involves not pouring water over the teapot. Discarded tea is directly poured into a water basin, making this a method that doesn't require a tea sea. Without the dripping moisture, the table remains neat and tidy at all times. Its main purpose is to maintain the exquisite tidiness of the tea setting!

Compared to the “wet brewing” method, the dry brewing method is more convenient and elegant, focusing on the mood and ambiance during tea brewing. Tea settings can be decorated with various floral arrangements and decorative objects according to personal preference, allowing for a wide variety of styles.

During tea brewing, one must remain focused to avoid spilling water everywhere. Since no tea is poured over the teapot, the patina formed by dry brewing develops from the inside out. Tea seeps through the pores of the purple clay to the surface, nourishing it from within.

What is the “Wet Brewing” Method?

The wet brewing method originates from Chaozhou Gongfu tea. As it requires pouring water over the teapot, a wet brewing setup necessitates a tea tray or tea table.

For those accustomed to using purple clay Teapots, a wet brewing setup provides a platform for pouring water over the teapot, something a dry brewing setup cannot achieve. Although a teapot stand can be used in dry brewing, it's easy to accidentally wet the tea setting, detracting from its aesthetics.

However, with a wet brewing setup, the entire tea table often ends up soaked with tea. While tea trays come in various shapes and sizes, most tend to be bulky, lacking in elegance compared to dry brewing setups and not convenient for travel.

The Method for Starting Off Your Teapot Remains the Same

Whether you choose the “dry brewing” or “wet brewing” method, follow the normal process for starting off your teapot: clean it thoroughly inside and out with clear water. Then pour tea over the purple clay teapot and clean it again once it cools down.

Avoid unreliable methods such as tofu or sugarcane for starting off your teapot, as they can damage the teapot.

Whether you choose “dry brewing” or “wet brewing,” the most important thing is that you enjoy it. After all, isn't Drinking Tea about enjoying the process?