Purple clay Teapots, due to their unique material and manufacturing process, have natural pores between the particles of clay, which makes them breathable but not watertight, very suitable for brewing Tea. But does achieving a good patina have anything to do with the type of tea? Does more expensive tea necessarily lead to a better-looking patina?
In fact, the quality of the tea has nothing to do with the patina. It is related to the type of tea and the method used to nurture the pot, rather than the cost of the tea determining the quality of the patina.
Oily teas, such as Tieguanyin, release oils during brewing that gradually permeate the surface of the pot, leading to the formation of a patina in a relatively short time, giving it an ancient and lustrous appearance.
Teas like ripe Pu'er, black tea, and Tieguanyin are particularly effective for nurturing the pot.
When nurturing the pot, there are two methods: one is external nurturing, where tea soup is poured over the pot body, allowing the pot to absorb the tea, then hot Water is poured over it, and finally, the pot is wiped clean with a tea cloth, ensuring no tea stains remain on the pot. Over time, tea stains can be difficult to remove and can detract from the pot's appearance. This method produces visible results quickly and is popular among many enthusiasts.
The other method is internal nurturing, where the pot is not externally doused with tea during the brewing process; instead, it is simply brewed normally, occasionally rinsed with hot water, without Pouring tea soup over it. This method is slower in producing results, but the patina formed is more enduring and stable, emerging from within the pot itself.
It also depends on the purple clay pot itself; pots made with higher-quality clay are easier to develop a patina. For example, clay processed by hand retains a significant amount of its sandy texture, unlike clay processed by machine, which is crushed more thoroughly. The lesser force applied by hand leaves larger gaps between the particles, making the clay more porous and thus more breathable, which facilitates the development of a patina. Those who have purchased a pot from me will notice this difference very clearly.
In terms of craftsmanship, thin-walled pots, due to their thin walls, allow tea oils to penetrate more quickly, also resulting in a faster development of a patina.
To achieve a beautiful patina on a purple clay pot, it's not just about the tea.