SEASONING A NEW TEA POT

Dear my loving readers.

It is acknowledge that teapot is the central of tea brewing art of producing good quality of tea, apart from water and tea. Therefore, it is supreme importance to take proper care of it.

One of the crucial and basic of care taking process is called Seasoning.


SIMPLE SEASONING PROCESS OF NEW TEAPOT

1: Wash with cold running water and scrub the new teapot thoroughly with a clean and non-abrasive sponge that has never be in contacted with soap detergent before. Clean inside of the teapot thoroughly and remove any dust or fragments of clay. NEVER USE ANY TYPE OF DETERGENT TO CLEAN THE TEAPOT BEFORE OR AFTER.

2: Fill a large pot with adequately sufficient of cold water, fully immerse the new teapot and its lid with at least one or two inches above the top of the teapot. The teapot and its lid should not be over crowded during the seasoning. Heat up the pot gradually to a low boil. Once the water has reached a steady and gentle boil, place the teapot and its lid carefully into the pot and they must be ensured that they are under the water at all times. Leave them at the low boil for about thirty minutes.

3: Remove the pot from the stove and pour off the water from the pot. The teapot should preferably to be allowed to dry completely on a rack that allows air on all sides, even underneath of the tea pot as well. Never subject the teapot to dramatic changes in temperature, such as immersing it in cold water immediately after the teapot is taken from the pot with boiling water.


4: Fill the pot with the same amount of cold and clean water. Add a small amount, approximately 1 to 2 teaspoons, of the same type of tea leaves you plan to use this teapot for.

NOTE: Due to the highly absorbent properties of zisha clay, it is better to dedicate each teapot for one type of tea for best performance. This is because the teapot will be nominated by the character of the tea once it has married to.

5: Heat the water with tea leaves slowly to a low and stable boil. The room will be full of the wonderful fragrance once the tea begins to unfurl and infuse into the water.

6: Gently immerse the teapot and its lid into the boiling tea and allow them to boil for thirty minutes.

7: Remove the pot from the heater and cover it completely. Allow them to cool overnight.

8: Then pour out the tea from the pot carefully. Use your finger to press on its lid while pouring the tea so that the lid does not drop out from the pot.

9: Then rinse the teapot thoroughly with clear and cool running water only.

10: Allow the teapot to dry completely before it is use as a fully functional teapot. Do not allow it to contact with any oil or caustic materials. As the teapot ages through use, it will produce better tea and will accumulate the rich sheen of matured seasoned zisha clay.

Trust this seasoning process is useful to you especially when you acquire a new tea pot.

See you again,