Zisha teapots are made from a variety of Zisha clay materials, and the types of tea people drink are equally diverse. But which tea is most suitable for a teapot made from a specific clay? This can be a matter of great fastidiousness or something you don't need to worry about at all—it all depends on your personal attitude.
Based on my own experience and that of my customers, I can offer some general suggestions for your reference. I will only discuss four types of tea: black tea, Pu'er, Tieguanyin, and green tea:
Duan Ni, Benshan Lü, light-colored Tianxing Ni, light-colored Qinghui Ni, and Qing Shui Ni teapots:
Not suitable for black tea or Pu'er tea.
Zhu Ni and Hong Ni teapots: All can be used. Teapots with small spouts: are not suitable for Tieguanyin.
Di Cao Qing teapots fired at low temperature and Qing Shui Ni teapots: are more suitable for Tieguanyin.
Dark-colored Tianxing Ni and dark-colored Qinghui Ni teapots: are more suitable for black tea.
Common Zi Ni and dark-colored Zi Ni teapots: are more suitable for Pu'er and black tea.
Large-capacity teapots: are not suitable for brewing green tea.
Duan Ni and light-colored clay materials: are more suitable for green tea and Tieguanyin.
Small-capacity teapots: are more suitable for brewing green tea.
Teapots with large spouts: are more suitable for brewing Tieguanyin.
Qing Shui Ni teapots: are more suitable for brewing black tea.
Di Cao Qing fired at high temperature (liver color): is more suitable for black tea and Pu'er.
Jiangpo Ni teapots: are more suitable for Tieguanyin.
Old Zi Ni teapots: are more suitable for black tea.
Teapots nurtured with Tieguanyin usually develop a particularly bright sheen because Tieguanyin tea leaves are rich in aromatic oils.
Yixing black tea is rather special; it generally produces excellent nurturing results for teapots. The tea liquor color is not too dark, and the tea leaves are also relatively rich in aromatic oils.
If you don't want to make things so complicated, the most basic rule is: dedicate one teapot to one type of tea. That means once you start using a certain tea with a pot, continue using the same tea and don't switch.