Teapots, Cups, and Tea Pets All Need Proper Care – Are You Doing It Right?

Tea lovers know that their cherished items aren't just for display – they require regular use and careful maintenance. Just like people who play with prayer beads believe that “everything can be polished,” tea lovers believe that “everything can be nurtured.”

Clay or Yixing purple clay (zisha) tea sets gradually develop a deeper color and richer luster over time with the nourishment of tea.

Teapots, cups, and tea pets are the three most common items on a tea tray, and each requires a unique approach to care and maintenance.

Caring for Your Teapot

There are many ways to care for a teapot, but the fundamental principles remain the same. Here are six key points:

1. Clean the inside and outside of the teapot thoroughly.

2. Avoid any contact with oil or grease.

3. Use tea liquor to nourish the surface of the teapot.

4. Gently brush the teapot with a special teapot brush.

5. Clean and dry the teapot after each use.

6. Give the teapot time to rest.

It may sound complicated, but it's actually an effortless process if you develop good habits in your daily tea rituals.

A few key details to keep in mind:

• Always keep your teapot clean during the nurturing process, and never let it come into contact with oil, which can compromise the porous structure of the Yixing clay.

• When brewing tea, rinse the outer surface of the teapot with boiling water before pouring tea inside – a step commonly known as “warming the pot.”

• Wipe the surface frequently with a tea cloth to prevent tea stains from accumulating over time, which could dull the teapot's appearance.

Let your teapot rest after frequent use. Ideally, allow it to dry completely for 3-5 days to ensure the porous clay structure breathes and dries out thoroughly.

Since nurturing a teapot takes patience and meticulous care, it's important to avoid shortcuts. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

1. Don’t be impatient. Caring for a teapot is a gradual process that cannot be rushed. Never use fine sandpaper or polishing cloths to artificially enhance the teapot’s shine. This damages the surface and leaves scratches that ruin the natural texture of the clay.

2. Avoid leaving tea overnight. Some believe that leaving leftover tea in the pot helps with nurturing, but this is a misconception. Although Yixing teapots can resist spoilage, overnight tea develops a stale taste and breeds bacteria, which is harmful to both the pot and the drinker.

3. Don’t use one pot for all types of tea. Mixing different types of tea in one teapot interferes with the development of aroma and goes against the principles of nurturing. A single pot should be dedicated to a particular type of tea to maintain purity of flavor.

In conclusion, nurturing a teapot requires patience, good habits, and a high-quality pot made from authentic clay. Without good clay, no amount of care will yield the desired results.

Caring for Your Cup

Yixing purple clay cups are made from authentic Yixing clay found in Jiangsu, with no added chemicals or impurities. How should you care for them?

1. “Warm the cup” before use. Pour boiling water over the cup’s exterior and interior before filling it with tea. The tea liquor gradually nourishes the cup, making it smoother and more lustrous over time.

2. Regularly clean the cup’s surface. Whether the cup is new or old, it should be cleaned frequently. Wipe it gently with your hands or a soft cloth to maintain the cup’s smoothness and natural shine. Over time, this creates a bond between the cup and its owner, adding to the pleasure of tea drinking.

3. Always clean the cup immediately after use. Pour out any remaining tea residue and rinse the cup with hot water to prevent any residual flavors or stains from affecting the clay.

4. Don’t leave tea residue in the cup for long periods. Especially in hot weather, tea residue can quickly spoil and cause undesirable changes in the cup’s surface.

5. Removing odors from an unused cup. If a cup that hasn’t been used for a long time develops a musty odor, fill it with boiling water, swirl the water around, pour it out, and then immediately immerse the cup in cold water. This process will eliminate any unwanted smells.

Caring for Your Tea Pet

How do you nurture a tea pet made from Yixing clay and bring it to life?

1. Have love and patience. You need to genuinely enjoy this process and appreciate your tea pet in order to carefully nurture and care for it.

2. Avoid shortcuts. Some people immerse their tea pets in tea or douse them with leftover tea. These shortcuts lead to a dull, lifeless sheen known as “monk’s shine,” which lacks the depth and character of a well-nurtured tea pet. The correct way is to gently pour tea over the tea pet and then use a brush or tea cloth to lightly apply tea liquor.

3. Stick to one type of tea if possible. Using a consistent type of tea helps maintain a uniform and rich color. Generally, red tea, Wuyi rock tea (such as Da Hong Pao), and Pu-erh tea produce results more quickly and effectively.

4. Place your tea pet in the right spot. Tea pets are traditionally placed in the top-left quadrant of the tea tray, occupying a small area in front of the tray. Beautiful tea pets are the result of tea lovers investing time and care over the years.