Drinking tea for health has become the choice of many office workers. The Purple Clay Teapot is a commonly used tea utensil, but what kinds of tea are suitable for brewing in it? Does it have anything to do with the shape and size of the teapot? In fact, when using a purple clay teapot for brewing tea, apart from considering the type of clay used, you can also make choices based on the capacity and characteristics of the teapot's shape. So, what kinds of tea are suitable for brewing in a purple clay teapot? What rules should be followed?
Black Tea: West Beauty Teapot, Rongtian Teapot The common feature of the West Beauty Teapot and the Rongtian Teapot is their large belly, deep body, and plump, round shape, which can fully bring out the aroma of black tea without damaging the leaves. As the color of black tea Infusion is relatively dark, it is suitable to use darker colored clays such as Tianxing clay, blue-gray clay, or Dicaoqing clay for making the purple clay teapot.
Oolong Tea: Duozhi Teapot, Dragon Egg Teapot Most oolong teas expand significantly after brewing, so teapots with slightly larger mouths, like the Duozhi Teapot, are often chosen for ease of adding tea and cleaning. However, some seasoned Tieguanyin drinkers prefer to use taller Dragon Egg Teapots for brewing.
Pu'er Tea, Dark Tea: Shipi Teapot, Baozun Teapot Pu'er tea and dark tea belong to the category of post-fermented teas, so teapots with stronger airtightness and better heat retention, such as the Shipi Teapot and the Baozun Teapot (which both have large bellies, small mouths, and deep bodies), are more suitable.
Green Tea, White Tea, Yellow Tea: Shuiping Teapot Common green teas, white teas, and yellow teas are relatively fresh, so they are usually brewed in a lidded bowl or glass Cup rather than a purple clay teapot. If you really prefer to use a purple clay teapot, then a Shuiping Teapot with thinner walls and a wider mouth may be more suitable.
Purple clay teapots are suitable for brewing aged teas or highly oxidized teas that have been roasted. However, for fragrant teas, it is still recommended not to use a purple clay teapot, as this is determined by the material used.
Compared to porcelain or Taiwanese wood-fired or gas-fired teapots, the density of a purple clay teapot's material is indeed weaker. Its characteristic of good heat dissipation makes it more suitable for highly oxidized teas that have been roasted. For highly fragrant, top-grade Taiwanese teas like Lishan, Dayuling, and Yushan, the taste and mouthfeel will certainly be lacking when brewed in a purple clay teapot.