What kind of purple clay teapot is best for brewing aged Pu'er? Generally, I would recommend a purple clay teapot made from purple mud, because Pu'er Tea often contains flavors of damp storage, smokiness, and bitterness. Using a purple clay teapot, especially one made from the premium purple mud called Dicong Qing, can effectively improve the taste of Pu'er due to its strong adsorption properties. Therefore, we usually consider Pu'er tea and purple clay Teapots to be a perfect match.
Some friends have asked me: since this is the case, wouldn't clays like duan mud and original green mountain mud also work well for brewing aged Pu'er due to their strong adsorption properties? I do not recommend using duan mud or original green mountain mud purple clay teapots for brewing aged Pu'er, even though these clays have strong adsorptive qualities. This is because the color of these clays is relatively light, and the dark color of Pu'er tea infusions can cause discoloration after prolonged use.
What Size Purple Clay Teapot is Best for Aged Pu'er Tea?
When brewing aged Pu'er, in addition to the type of clay, we also need to consider the size of the purple clay teapot. Pu'er tea is very robust and belongs to the large-leaf category, so it requires enough space in the teapot for the leaves to fully expand. Teapots that are too small are not suitable. Yixing teapot experts suggest choosing a purple clay teapot with a capacity of 220cc or more.
What Shape of Teapot is Best for Brewing Pu'er Tea?
Furthermore, when brewing Pu'er tea, we should also consider the shape of the purple clay teapot. There are many shapes of purple clay teapots, each with different characteristics when used for brewing tea. Choosing the right shape will ensure the best results when brewing Pu'er tea. Compared to Black Tea and Green Tea, Pu'er tea is less dependent on the shape of the teapot. Common shapes such as the Shili (slanted shoulder) pot, the Retro (ancient imitation) pot, the Lianzi (lotus seed) pot, and the Duqiu (ball stacking) pot can all be used for brewing Pu'er tea.