Old Wang is a well-known master at nourishing purple Clay pots in the Suzhou pot circle. The pots that have passed through his hands are all dark and elegant, ancient and simple, as warm and smooth as jade, extremely graceful.
Many people have asked Old Wang for advice on how to nourish their pots so well. Old Wang mentioned the importance of frequent washing and use, but the crowd requested more detailed methods.
Old Wang sighed deeply; everyone now only saw how well he could nourish his pots, but they didn't know how many beloved pots he had ruined in the process, and in various ways…
Over-nourished to Death
When Old Wang first started playing with purple clay pots, he heard that pouring tea over the pot daily could make the purple clay pot absorb the tea faster and form a patina. So he poured tea over the pot every day.
After pouring tea over the pot, he didn't wipe it off. His pot-nourishing cloth was used as a tablecloth. After a few months, he found that his pot had uneven dark patches. It had been over-nourished to death.
Old Wang beat his chest and stomped his feet. His first beloved pot had become a colorful mess and had been over-nourished to death.
Dirtied to Death
Old Wang was still obsessed with forming a patina, and the faster the better. He tried various methods, including leaving overnight tea in the pot to speed up the process. Old Wang was once again tempted.
After using the pot, he never emptied it, instead leaving the tea in it overnight. The next day, he would only rinse out the leaves without Cleaning the pot. After a few months, a tea mountain had formed inside the pot. Old Wang was pleased; it was working!
However, this habit of leaving a tea mountain while playing with or nourishing the pot isn't good. A tea mountain is unhygienic and affects the taste of tea later on. This pot was also dirtied to death.
Washed to Death
Learning from his previous experiences, Old Wang understood the importance of frequently washing the pot. After each tea brewing session, he would clean the pot to keep it clean.
Worried that he wouldn't clean it thoroughly enough, he poured dish soap and detergent into the pot. This cleaning method caused problems. Purple clay has adsorption properties, and using chemical agents to clean the pot directly ruined it.
Old Wang couldn't even cry. Previously, not washing the pot caused problems, and now washing it did too. He had learned all the lessons the hard way.
Rubbed to Death
When playing with and nourishing a pot, rubbing it with your hands is essential. Old Wang used his greasy palms to caress the pot daily, and the pot-nourishing cloth was also put to good use, being rubbed vigorously every day.
After a few months, the pot became shiny and bright. Old Wang felt reassured that the pot had been successfully nourished.
Old Wang confidently took the pot to compete with some old friends, but when he returned home, his face looked like a bitter gourd. The pot had developed a monk-like shine rather than a patina. It had been rubbed to death.
Cracked to Death
Finally, Old Wang realized that only the patina formed naturally through tea brewing was genuine. He no longer pursued quick-fix methods and instead focused on observing the changes in the pot during regular tea brewing sessions.
In theory, Old Wang should have been able to nourish his pot well, but one day in winter, his pot cracked.
As usual, Old Wang directly added tea leaves and poured boiling water over them. After using the pot, he discovered that it had cracked. In winter, the sudden change in temperature when brewing tea can cause cracks, especially in red clay pots like the one Old Wang had.
Old Wang came back to reality after reminiscing about these events. He shared these stories with the pot enthusiasts who had sought his advice. Nourishing a pot requires patience; don't rush to achieve a patina. Keep the pot clean and hygienic, and take care of it carefully, and it will naturally be well-nourished.
Old Wang's story ends here. Have you encountered any issues while nourishing your pot? We welcome discussions and exchanges of ideas. Thank you for reading!
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