Before officially using the purple clay pot to steep Tea, it is advisable to perform a simple treatment on the pot — one to clean its inside and outside, and two to remove any impurities absorbed during the manufacturing, storage, transportation, etc.
A simpler method involves merely rinsing the pot repeatedly with boiling water before use. A more complex method involves placing the pot in a clean, oil-free pot with pure water to boil, or adding a small amount of tea to simmer the pot over low heat, then rinse and use.
However, locals from Yixing generally just rinse the new pot clean and steep some tea in it before using it.
If you buy a pot at a tea market, some pots may have already been used by the seller or even seasoned, and such pots can be used after a simple rinse and cleaning.
Nourishing the Pot
Regardless of whether the pot is new or old, after Steeping tea with boiling water, take advantage of the higher surface temperature of the pot to wipe it with a damp towel or clean damp cloth. Wipe away the water marks immediately, keeping the pot clean.
In the process of nurturing the pot, most people do this:
1. Nourish the pot with tea broth, making it lustrous and smooth
When steeping tea, pour the tea broth over the purple clay pot. The tea broth is easily evaporated by the heat of the pot and also absorbed by the surface of the pot. Then rinse with hot water to wash away the tea stains, and wipe with a tea towel to keep the pot clean. Over time, the purple clay pot becomes increasingly lustrous and radiant through repeated washing with tea juice, a method known as “nourishing the pot with tea broth.”
2. Keep it clean, develop a patina
Tea stains will accumulate on the surface of the pot. This requires the use of a teapot brush or soft-bristled toothbrush to gently scrub the surface of the pot to maintain cleanliness. After repeated wiping and washing, the surface of the pot develops a sub-gloss known as “patina” (or “baojiang”), which does not fade under high-temperature, high-pressure washing, displaying an elegant taste.
Some people create a glossy finish on the pot by rubbing it with oily hands or oily cloths. Elders call this “fake shine,” similar to the “martial polishing” technique used to make jade quickly develop a patina. However, once cleaned with a detergent, the gloss disappears, but the oil stains cannot be completely removed, leaving patches of dirt that can be quite unsightly. To nurture the pot properly, avoid being hasty; only by keeping the pot clean can you develop a high-quality pot.
3. Special care to prevent cracking
Some varieties of purple clay pots, such as thin-walled red clay pots, require special attention when used in winter. A friend who used a thin-walled red clay pot in winter followed the habit of pouring boiling water over the pot before steeping tea, causing the beloved clay pot to crack due to sudden and uneven heating.
When using thin-walled red clay pots in colder temperatures, handle them carefully and delicately. Start by pouring lukewarm water (that has been left to cool for a while) over the teapot, first externally then internally, and proceed with your usual method of steeping tea.
5. Be extra careful with Flower-shaped pots
The most common practice in nurturing pots is to rinse and wipe them with tea water. Some flower-shaped purple clay pots have protruding or floating decorations outside the body of the pot. These areas are prone to retaining tea stains, which are difficult to rinse clean. Additionally, during wiping, if not careful, these decorations or delicate, protruding branches could be damaged, resulting in the beloved teapot being marred. Therefore, extra care must be taken when maintaining flower-shaped pots.
There are many methods to nurture a pot, but the basic principles can be summarized into a few points:
Thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the pot before and after each use.
Nourish the surface of the pot with tea broth. The tea oil and pigments in the tea broth will slowly and persistently affect the pot.
Moderate brushing and wiping.
After using the pot, clean it and thoroughly dry it to maintain its “normal breathing.”
Avoid contact with oil to maintain the structural permeability of the purple clay pot.
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