A fine pot with fine tea, drinking tea and caring for the pot is truly a leisurely pursuit in life.
A pot, if well maintained, will be increasingly enjoyable to use, but if improperly handled during use, it can lose its essence as a purple clay pot, which would be a great pity. When caring for your pot daily, you should avoid some bad habits.
Bad Habit #1
Ice and Fire
Not Warming the Pot in Winter
In winter, when there are large temperature differences, if the room temperature is low, the pot's body temperature will also be low. If you directly pour hot water over it, there is a possibility of cracking.
The correct approach is: before brewing tea, preheat the pot with warm water. Even if it's not winter, after washing the pot with cold water, do not immediately brew tea or fill it with hot water; instead, place it in a warm room temperature environment to let the pot warm up on its own, then preheat it before brewing tea.
Bad Habit #2
Leaving Tea in the Pot
Proudly Cultivating Tea Mountain
For a long time, accumulated tea residue in the teapot and cups was referred to elegantly as a “tea mountain.” After drinking tea, people would simply Rinse the cup, and over the years, a thick layer of tea residue would accumulate on the walls of the pot, allegedly reaching a state where even without tea, there would still be a faint aroma after several years.
In fact, the correct understanding is: this is not beneficial to health and also affects the beauty of the purple clay pot.
Bad Habit #3
Mixing Teas at Will
One Pot for Multiple Teas
It has always been said that “one pot should only be used for one type of tea,” because tea nurtures the pot and the pot enhances the tea. This is done to nurture the pot through tea, expecting a pure effect of pot care, allowing the subtle original flavor and true color of the tea to be enjoyed, without any mixed aromas, creating a clear and elegant taste, a pleasure that cannot be fully explained to outsiders.
The special double-pore structure of the purple clay pot has a certain ability to absorb flavors, so if the same pot is used for oolong today, Pu'er tomorrow, and Black Tea the day after, the tea flavors will inevitably become muddled.
“Using one pot for one type of tea” allows the tea to retain its original freshness and purity, which is also beneficial for long-term pot care. Therefore, it is recommended that, if conditions permit, try to use one pot for one type of tea.
If you really want to switch to another type of tea, you can restart the pot conditioning process. Use hot water (note the temperature difference when warming the pot) to thoroughly rinse the purple clay pot inside and out several times. Rinse it clean, and steep the new tea you plan to brew several times. When storing it, you can leave a little of the dry tea you will brew later inside. As long as the pot no longer retains the taste of the previous tea, it is fine.
Bad Habit #4
Cleaning with Chemicals
Drying in the Sun After Washing
To care for your pot well, drinking tea frequently is correct, but you must also clean and dry it regularly. If you wash the pot just to quickly finish, using coarse cloths or even steel wool, the pot will get scratched. To remove odors, using detergents with chemical components to clean the purple clay pot and then drying it in the sun will, over time, destroy the delicate nature of the pot.
The correct method is: for pots that have developed mold or an odor, after removing the moldy or smelly tea residue, fill them with hot water, shake slightly, and pour it out. Repeat a few times, and the odor will be removed. Tea stains can be cleaned with baking soda and a soft-bristled brush. After cleaning the purple clay pot, it is best to let it air-dry naturally in a dry, ventilated, and odorless place. Long-term exposure to direct sunlight can greatly affect the luster of the pot, especially for pots that have been cared for over time. Exposure can also damage the patina.
Bad Habit #5
Buying Pots but Not Using Them
Putting Them Away on High Shelves
Before buying a pot: Clean and brew frequently to develop a patina, drink three times a day happily.
After buying a pot: Caring for and using the pot is too troublesome, put it away and use a large bowl instead.
Many novice pot enthusiasts initially aspire to the joy of nurturing and drinking tea from their pots, but due to various reasons, they fail to properly care for and use them. A tool is meant to be used, not just placed on a shelf for viewing, or else it loses its luster.
The joy of nurturing and playing with a pot comes from daily care and handling. Of course, if daily maintenance is inconvenient due to a busy schedule, you can use materials that are easier to clean, such as porcelain lids, glass pots, and cups.
Bad Habit #6
Only Pouring Tea Over the Pot Without Wiping It
Resulting in Accumulated Tea Stains
Many pot enthusiasts like to pour tea over the pot body but do not wipe it appropriately. Over time, the pot will be covered by a layer of uneven tea stains, and the surface will become dull and black, losing its beauty.
Some people like to rub and play with the tea pot with their hands, but make sure your hands are clean. In summer, do not use sweaty hands, and in winter, do not use hands that have been rubbed with skin care products. Pay attention to hand hygiene.
Good clay and good craftsmanship create a fine pot. But to give a purple clay pot a second life, it requires a loving owner who cares for it.
Of course, whether it's a purple clay pot or other utensils like porcelain, all tea wares serve people. If you're unsure about rules, listen to multiple opinions and combine them with your practical experience to gain insight. Ultimately, drinking tea should be about happiness and health.
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