Many Teapot enthusiasts choose to use purple clay Teapots when drinking tea, one reason being that they become smooth and lustrous over time due to the prolonged exposure to tea water, a phenomenon known as “patina formation.”
▲ Patina with a smooth and glossy finish.
Therefore, nurturing the teapot has become a subject of study for every user and lover of these teapots. However, if we delve deeper, we can discover that there are three realms of nurturing a teapot. Let's take a closer look at each.
1. Seeking but Not Achieving
“Seeking but not achieving” is a common experience for many novice teapot enthusiasts. No matter what methods they try, their teapot shows no changes, and they cannot achieve a beautiful patina, or worse, they end up with an uneven finish.
▲ Tea stains on the bottom of the teapot.
We have previously analyzed this issue, and it can be attributed to various reasons.
Reasons related to the teapot itself: Novice enthusiasts may have purchased slip-cast or hand-pulled teapots, or teapots made from inferior clay, which makes it difficult to achieve a good patina.
Reasons related to the method of nurturing: For example, failing to clean the tea residue regularly or allowing oil stains, which can result in an uneven color on the teapot's surface.
This first realm involves striving for a patina but not achieving it – seeking but not achieving.
2. Achieving through Effort
After obtaining a teapot made from high-quality clay and mastering the correct method of nurturing, many enthusiasts begin to pursue the patina of their purple clay teapot.
They Brew tea daily using suitable leaves for the teapot, and frequently clean and wipe it to maintain cleanliness.
▲ Comparison of patinas.
They often take photos to record the changes in the teapot and feel delighted as it gradually becomes smooth and elegant. This is the second realm – achieving through effort, making a conscious effort to develop a patina and succeeding.
3. Achieving without Striving
After experiencing the first two realms, the third realm is “achieving without striving.”
After long-term use of the purple clay teapot for brewing tea, one returns to the simple act of drinking tea, finding peace and tranquility.
No longer deliberately pursuing a patina, in the course of daily use and while drinking tea, one's mind becomes calm, and the teapot naturally grows smoother. Nourishing the mind is nurturing the teapot. Therefore, this third realm is achieving without striving.
Now that we've discussed these three realms, where do you think you stand? Feel free to leave a comment at the end of this article to share your thoughts.~
Finally, here are eight key points for nurturing a teapot: frequent brewing, frequent Cleaning, ventilation, and air-drying.
Frequent brewing means using the teapot often;
Frequent cleaning means cleaning the teapot after each use to keep it clean;
Ventilation means not storing the teapot in a sealed container but ensuring its storage environment is well-ventilated;
Air-drying means letting the teapot air-dry naturally after cleaning before storing it.
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