How to nurture a beautiful teapot? This is the most frequently discussed topic and one that every enthusiast of teapot artistry wishes to delve deeper into. Here, I am willing to share my humble insights gained over many years of nurturing Teapots for the reference of fellow enthusiasts in the teapot arts.
Firstly, good Clay. The proudest achievement in nurturing a teapot lies in the uniqueness of the purple clay material; the secret to successful nurturing primarily depends on the quality of the purple clay. Superior clay allows you to achieve twice the result with half the effort, fully enjoying the pleasure and sense of accomplishment in nurturing the teapot; inferior clay will make your efforts futile, leaving you with a tasteless experience and nothing but regret. Therefore, carefully selecting purple clay is the first step to successfully nurturing your teapot.
Secondly, thoroughly clean the teapot. If it's a new teapot, be sure to remove the vaseline applied to the surface of the teapot (this can be done by boiling or using salad detergent to clean it); if it's an old teapot, wash away any accumulated grime on the surface. Whether it's a new or old teapot, returning it to its clean appearance is beneficial when brewing tea, allowing tea oils to adhere to the body of the teapot.
Thirdly, brew tea frequently and wipe often. We must go through the process of brewing tea, handling the teapot to indulge in leisure and nurture our nature, while also allowing the teapot to absorb tea oils onto its walls during the brewing process. When finished brewing tea, clean the teapot and gently wipe the body with a soft dry cloth while it is still warm, as the higher temperature of the teapot will cause its pores to slightly expand, and moisture will appear on the surface of the teapot. At this time, if you use a soft dry cloth to wipe the entire surface, you can take advantage of the heat from the hot water to polish the body of the teapot to a warmer and brighter sheen.
Fourthly, points to note
When brewing tea, do not immerse the teapot in water. Some people have the habit of Pouring boiling water into the tea tray to keep the tea warm, but this is actually harmful to nurturing the teapot, as it leaves uneven coloring on the body of the teapot. It is recommended that when brewing tea, you place a teapot mat under the teapot.
When brewing tea, do not pour tea soup over the teapot or use a brush dipped in tea soup to scrub the teapot. Such a “monk's shine” method of quickly nurturing the teapot is not only incorrect but also misses out on the experience and enjoyment of the nurturing process, which is not desirable.
After brewing tea, dispose of the tea residue promptly. Some people who are particular about the tea mountain inside the pot tend to leave the tea residue to dry naturally within the pot. However, due to Taiwan's climate being hot and humid, leaving the tea residue in the pot can easily produce an unpleasant odor or mold.
Avoid placing the teapot where it can easily become covered in dust or oil fumes. When storing the teapot, avoid places with excessive dust and oil fumes, as these can affect the luster of the teapot's surface.