The longer a Yixing clay tea set is used, the smoother and more aesthetically pleasing its appearance becomes. Simultaneously, the texture of the clay softens, and the unique pore clusters of Yixing clay fully open, making it easier to absorb the aroma of tea (at this point, even pouring plain water into the empty pot will yield a slight tea flavor). This is because Yixing clay is a porous material with a dual-pore structure, featuring fine pores and high density, which gives it strong adsorption capabilities.

Daily users of Yixing teapots share the common experience that the same tea leaves brewed in a newly purchased Yixing teapot taste noticeably different from those brewed in an old one.

This is because a new teapot has a denser, firmer, and harder texture, and the pores of the clay are not fully opened, making it less effective at absorbing tea aroma.

To enable a new teapot to release the tea's aroma effectively in a short period, the following method can be used to promote the softening of the clay:

(1) First, thoroughly rinse the new teapot inside and out with warm water;

(2) Place the teapot in a pot of cold water and steam it for one hour;

(3) Remove the teapot from the steamer and let it cool naturally in the air;

(4) Place it back into the same pot with the same water and steam for another hour. After cooling, it is ready for brewing tea.

The teapot treated with this steaming method will have a softer clay texture, with its pore clusters basically opened, making it easier to absorb the tea's essence. Consequently, the tea brewed in it will release a much better aroma.