When you excitedly bring a rare and outstanding purple clay teapot back to your home, you must be anxious to try your favorite tea in it. But wait a minute, you'd better know something about how to prepare it for the first brew, and how to take good care of it. Otherwise, it may not exert its full potential. So hold your horses and read this article, then you will be qualified to become the master of your purple clay teapot.

To prepare a new pot

A brand new purple clay teapot usually has some strange smells, as it was once fired in a kiln. If you brew tea with it right away, the tea aroma and taste will be badly affected. Therefore cleaning the pot before the first brew is imperative.

But cleaning it is a piece of cake. Place some of your tea leaves in the pot, pour cool water inside, and cover the pot with its lid. Prepare a large caldron and place the teapot inside, then fill it up with cool water as well. As long as the water surface goes over the top of the teapot and all of its parts, you're ready to go.

Simmer the large pot, with the teapot inside, on a stove for 30 minutes or so and bring the water to a light boil. Now turn off the stove. When the water cools off, take out the teapot. Remove the tea leaves, rinse the pot, and leave it to air dry. After it's dry, the new pot is ready for its first brew.

Take care of it everyday

1. Bear in mind: Never clean your purple clay teapot with any soap or chemicals. Pure hot water is all you need. The porous purple clay soaks in the taste and scent of your tea, which accumulates over time. If you wash it with soap, the accumulated tastes and scents inside will be spoiled, and the natural, appealing gloss on the outside will never be the same.

2. Be sure to empty your purple clay teapot at the end of your tea time, so tea stains, strange smells, and mildew will have no chance to form. It is advisable that you only partially close the lid when you're finished. This way the pot will be totally dry in just a short time. Another good idea is that you wipe it dry with a piece of soft cloth after each use.

3. Store your purple clay teapot in well-ventilated areas. You know, a material with so many tiny pores calls for fresh air as we do. And wouldn't you like to show off the uncommon, exquisite pot to your friends? Therefore, don't smother the pot, and in return it will serve you better.

To see the last two important tips about caring for your purple clay teapot, check out my website below!

Posted under Tea