Five Ways To Keep Your Purple Clay Teapot In Good Condition
Now you are lucky enough to own a superior purple clay teapot, but if you don’t know about its daily maintenance or use it in an inappropriate way, its special qualities may be compromised or your pot can be damaged. So this article will tell you how to take good care of your Yixing purple clay teapot. Don’t worry, it’s pretty easy, and you will become an expert soon.
Get ready for the first brew
A brand new purple clay teapot usually has some strange smells, as it was once fired in a kiln. If you brew tea with it right away, the tea aroma and taste will be badly affected. Therefore cleaning the pot before the first brew is imperative.
But cleaning it is a piece of cake. Place some of your tea leaves in the pot, pour cool water inside, and cover the pot with its lid. Prepare a large caldron and place the teapot inside, then fill it up with cool water as well. As long as the water surface goes over the top of the teapot and all of its parts, you’re ready to go.
Now place the whole arrangement, with the purple clay pot inside your own larger pot, on a stove and bring the water to a boil. Let it lightly simmer to a soft boil for about a half hour, then turn off the stove. When it’s safe to touch, remove the pot and take out the tea leaves. Rinse it under running water, then let it sit out to dry. Now you can use it!
Daily maintenance
1. One of the best things about a purple clay teapot is that it can absorb the aroma and flavor of tea. So don’t soak or wash your teapot using any kind of liquid detergent or chemical agent. Otherwise, tea essences absorbed in the pot will be eliminated, and the surface will lose its natural luster.
2. Be sure to empty your purple clay teapot at the end of your tea time, so tea stains, strange smells, and mildew will have no chance to form. It is advisable that you only partially close the lid when you’re finished. This way the pot will be totally dry in just a short time. Another good idea is that you wipe it dry with a piece of soft cloth after each use.
3. Because there will be moisture stored in the walls of your pot, always store it in a cool, well-ventilated area. This keeps your pot ‘breathing’ and it won’t become stale. Besides, your friends and guests will want to see the unique design, so there’s no reason to hide it away in a dark cabinet!
To see the last two important tips about caring for your purple clay teapot, check out my website below!