Tea art is all about elegance and beauty, from large-scale elements like tea mat arrangements and tea room decor to finer details like the gestures used while brewing tea.
In our daily lives, when we brew tea using a purple clay Teapot, we tend to do so in whatever way feels most comfortable. However, if we can make the act of brewing tea more artistic, it adds an extra touch of joy to life.
The correct way to hold your teapot not only protects your precious purple clay teapot but also prevents the lid from falling off when Pouring tea.
It also adds a sense of elegance and grace, ensuring that when you serve a cup of tea to guests, they feel respected.
Depending on the type of handle, there are roughly several ways to hold your teapot:
Ear Handle Teapot
The ear handle is the most common type of handle, resembling a small ear attached to the side of the teapot.
How to Hold:
Circle the handle with your index and middle fingers while pressing the lid knob with your thumb.
Alternatively, grip the handle firmly between your thumb and middle finger, pressing the lid knob with your index finger, using your ring and pinky fingers for support by pressing against the handle, and then pour slowly.
However, for medium-to-large Teapots or those with smaller hands, if your thumb cannot reach the lid knob, you may press directly on the lid instead.
Note: When filling the teapot with water, avoid overfilling to prevent the lid from becoming too hot to handle.
Sideways Handle Teapot
Taking the Tangyu Teapot as an example, the handle extends from the side of the teapot body, forming a single piece with it.
How to Hold:
Hold the handle with your hand, tilting the spout at a 45° angle to pour the water without making exaggerated movements to prevent the lid from flipping out.
Lifting Handle Teapot
A lifting handle can be either soft or hard. A hard lifting handle is made from the same clay material as the rest of the teapot and is fixed in place.
A soft lifting handle, like that of the Drum Teapot, is flexible.
How to Hold:
Although the lifting handles differ in rigidity, the method of holding them remains the same.
Because the handle is positioned higher, generally, use your right hand to lift the teapot while pressing down on the lid with your left hand. Pressing the lid knob with your index, middle, and ring fingers together looks more aesthetically pleasing.
Universal Method for Holding the Teapot
One hand circles or grips the handle, while the other presses down on the lid knob. This method works for any teapot shape.
Note: Regardless of the method used to hold the teapot, never point the spout towards guests when pouring tea, as this is considered disrespectful.
Pointing the spout at someone indicates that the host does not welcome them and wishes them to leave.
Source: Purple Clay Teapot
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