Caring for a pot is like cultivating one's character; both are long processes. While savoring tea, you also nurture the pot, and in doing so, you also cultivate your own nature. Here are six key points to caring for your pot:
New Pot Initial Care
After purchasing a new pot, wash off any surface dust and inner clay debris with Water or a cloth. Then brew several infusions of tea in the pot and let the residual heat steep the pot until the tea cools slightly. Repeat this process to remove any earthy taste from the new pot and provide it with its first nourishment. After completing these steps, clean the new pot and it will be ready for use.
Brewed Tea Nourishment
Whether new or old, take the example of brewing black tea. After making tea with boiling water, use the lid to gently skim off any foam that appears at the mouth of the pot. Close the lid for about one to two minutes. Pour the tea from the pot into a decanter with a Tea strainer, then distribute the tea from the decanter into individual aroma cups or tasting cups. Pour the tea from the small cups back over the teapot. This is called “brewed tea nourishment.”
At this point, the surface temperature of the pot will be relatively high. You can use a damp Towel or a clean damp cloth to wipe the pot. Once the pot has cooled slightly, you can also rub it with your hands.
When cleaning the pot and tea utensils for the first time each day, remove the tea residue and take the opportunity to wipe the entire body of the pot. This will help remove any tea stains on the pot. The next time, rinse the inside and outside of the pot once or twice with boiling water before adding tea leaves. If you persist with this method for three to four months, the new pot will likely develop a lustrous appearance.
Removing Unpleasant Odors
If a teapot is unused for a long time or if tea residue is not promptly removed, mold or an unpleasant odor may develop. After removing the moldy tea residue, fill the pot with boiling water, shake it a few times, and pour it out. Immediately submerge the pot in cold water to eliminate the odor. If it doesn't work after one attempt, repeat the process two to three times until you are satisfied. There's no need to worry about the pot cracking due to thermal shock. Pay special attention to Zhu Ni (red clay) pots.
This is what the ancients meant when they said, “If the pot retains mixed odors, fill it with boiling water, pour it out immediately, and immerse it in cold water without haste. Pour out the cold water, and the original fragrance returns.”
Periodic Rest and Brewing
During long-term use, allow the brewing pot to have periods of dry rest every three to five days. This allows the pot to absorb tea juice, which helps improve the structure of the clay body.
Some pots improve their clay quality through long-term use, becoming more suitable for enhancing the flavor of tea. Some minor defects in the pot, such as slight seepage, may disappear under the continuous nourishment of tea juice. For some pots, a phenomenon known as “black spitting” may occur during extended use. Allowing the pot to rest periodically can gradually alleviate this issue.
Select Pots Based on Tea Type
The characteristics of different types of tea vary greatly. Therefore, methods for brewing various teas, water temperature, brewing time, choice of tea utensils, and drinking methods differ accordingly.
In the Ming Dynasty, Xu Chishu wrote in his “Tea Treatise,” “Tea is nurtured by water, water is enhanced by the vessel, and the infusion is completed by fire. These four elements complement each other, and the absence of any one would be detrimental.” This emphasizes that to make a good Cup of tea, you need good water, ample heat, and beautiful utensils.
Polishing and Handling
A teapot should never be allowed to become greasy and dirty. If it becomes oily, gently wipe it with a fine cloth dipped in detergent, and then rub it with your hands to make the pot shine and reveal its natural beauty.
Avoid trying to force results by applying oil or tea water to create a “monk's shine.” However, for antique items, there is no need to alter their appearance; preserving the accumulated patina adds to the charm and serves as concrete proof of the pot's age. In summary, specific objects require specific handling, and a one-size-fits-all approach should be avoided.