There are many different types of materials used to make teapots. Glass, porcelain, and clay are the most common ones that we use. The properties of each material make them more suitable for brewing certain types of tea vs others.
As an example, glass pots are more suitable for green teas and twisted rolled black teas to bring out the brightness and vibrancy of the tea. Porcelain pots are more suitable for floral forward teas, such as Baozhong or Oriental Beauty that offer beautiful head notes while carrying a good body for texture.
Clay pots are more appropriate for brewing tightly rolled oolongs, such as high mountain oolong, Frozen Summit or Iron Goddess for clay can better extracts the depth and complexity of the aromas.
Caring for your clay teapot can seem daunting, especially with many tips and techniques on the internet. But worry not, for we crafted a guide with practical tips and easy-to-follow steps on cleaning, seasoning, and cherishing your clay teapot.
Why Choose a Clay Teapot?
Clay teapots offer several advantages over glass or porcelain teapots:
- The porous, unglazed clay interior softens the water texture, making the infusion silkier on the palate.
- Clay retains the aromatic oils of the tea brewed in the pot, it collects a patina of your favorite teas and will gently season any tea you brew in it. It is like using a vintage cast iron skillet passed down for generations, making everything just a little more delicious.
- Clay teapots are ideal for brewing tightly rolled oolongs or roasted teas as they extract the aromas these teas have to offer.
Caring for Your Clay Teapot
Cleaning a New Clay Teapot
Before using your new clay teapot make sure you clean it well before you use it. There could be small dust particles lodged in the body of the pot, which we don’t want in our tea.
- Gently unwrap and rinse the teapot with warm water (no detergent). Pay close attention to both the lid and the body.
- Find a big container large enough to submerge the teapot and lid side by side. If the lid is tied to the body of the pot, just keep the lid on.
- Line the bottom of the container with a towel and fill it with hot or boiling water, make sure the teapot and lid are submerged (these steps ensure the small clay particles lodged in the pot can be rinsed out.
- Let the teapot sit in the water for 12 hours then take out the teapot and the lid.
- Repeat the process one more time with clean fresh water.
- When done, rinse under the sink to make sure the inside of the pot does not feel sandy. If it's still sandy, repeat the steps again.
- Lay it out to dry with the lid off or tilted. Once the pot is dried, it’s ready to use!
Seasoning Your Clay Teapot (Optional)
You can certainly season the pot with used tea leaves before brewing it. Some like to use brand-new tea leaves to season the pot, which is appropriate, though quite a waste. We typically use already brewed leaves when seasoning a clay teapot.
Seasoning your clay teapot could improve the aroma of future brews. Although it will be seasoned as you use it regularly.
- Save the leaves from your day’s brewing and stuff the used tea leaves into your new clay pot
- Filled the teapot with boiling hot water and let it sit for 12 hours
- Repeat the process a couple more times. We recommend two.
- Remove the used tea leaves, rinse with warm water, and let the teapot air dry with the lid off or tilted.
- Teapot is seasoned and ready to use!
Cleaning After Use
Cleaning the teapot is easy if you follow one rule: No soap! Clay is porous and absorbs flavors and scents. After each use, you can clean your clay teapot by following these simple steps.
- Remove used tea leaves with your fingers; use chopsticks or bamboo tweezers if the leaves are still hot.
- Rinse the teapot and lid with warm water for a few seconds. Rub gently with your fingers to remove any stains. Pay attention to the spout area of the pot.
- Allow the teapot to air dry on a towel with the lid off or tilted. That's it!
Note: Never use soap or detergent to clean your clay teapot, as it absorbs the soap's scent and affects the flavor of your tea.
Teapot Care Tips
We are busy people with packed schedules, and sometimes a deep cleaning and a lengthy seasoning of a new teapot is just unlikely. That’s ok! Even if you skip all the steps we mentioned above, remember these tips.
- Avoid using soap or detergent to clean your clay teapot.
- Steer clear of brewing any scented or blended teas in your clay teapot.
We sincerely hope this is a simple and helpful guide for caring for your clay pot. Brewing tea at home can be a beautiful and meditative ritual. It is a simple yet delicious process that helps us practice mindfulness and carve out a quick break during the day.
We hope you enjoy it!
Clay Teapot Care FAQ's
Are clay teapots better?
There are numerous benefits of using a clay pot for tea brewing. The unglazed clay inside the teapot softens the water's texture, making the infusion silkier and more luxurious on the palate. Unglazed clay is also porous, retaining the aromatic oils of every tea brewed in the pot.
Is a clay teapot synonymous with a Yixing teapot?
Not exactly. Although both types of teapots serve the same purpose - brewing and serving tea. Yixing Teapots are made from a specific clay called zisha (purple sand) found in the Yixing region of China. This type of clay is claimed to be more porous, which helps retain the flavor and aroma of the tea brewed in them. Yixing teapots belong to one category among the broader range of clay teapots.
Are you supposed to wash a teapot?
Clay teapots should not be cleaned with soap. Instead, rinse with water and air dry.