In winter, those who frequently Brew Tea using a purple clay pot may occasionally encounter this issue: why has my perfectly fine pot cracked?
Some suspect it's due to the quality of the pot, while others wonder if it might have been accidentally bumped or knocked.
So, what causes a purple clay pot to crack?
1. Extremely low environmental temperature
For instance, in the winters of northern Chinese cities, the body of a purple clay pot is already quite cold. If you directly pour boiling hot water into the pot to brew tea, there's a possibility that the pot will crack. This is also an example of “shock fracture.”
A reminder for friends in the north:
If you've just rinsed your pot with cold tap water, don't immediately use it to brew tea or fill it with hot water to warm up. Instead, place it in a warm room and let it gradually heat up on its own. Then, warm the pot before brewing tea.
2. The pot has pre-existing “internal damage”
During use, you may have accidentally knocked or hit the pot, but upon inspection, didn't notice any obvious issues or simply didn't pay attention at the time. However, the pot may have sustained “internal injuries.”
When used improperly, especially when there's a significant difference between the environmental temperature and the water temperature, a fragile pot can crack.
It is recommended to warm your pot before brewing tea in winter
Warming the pot: It does not mean pouring boiling water into it.
If you do pour boiling water, the problems mentioned above may occur.
The correct way to warm the pot is: first, pour in water at 40-50 degrees Celsius, pick up the pot, and gently swirl it so that the entire pot heats evenly. After warming the pot, pour out the water, then add boiling water, swirl again, and pour out the water once more.
This process ensures that the pot heats evenly and can also serve as a quick rinse and disinfection.
As winter arrives and the chill intensifies,
the wind howls and frost thickens,
warm your pot and enjoy a soothing Cup of tea to warm yourself up!