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Yixing Teapots in Paris

Yixing teapots made of Chinese clay are best for oolongs.

How to Clean Your Teapots

Image of a Brown Betty tea pot
Brown Betty Teapot

The English homemaker of last century followed a simple ritual for cleaning her Brown Betty teapot. After use, the teapot was emptied of its spent leaves, rinsed with hot water, and turned upside down in the sink to dry. The Brown Betty was a common utensil in the home kitchen and it was pressed into service several times each day.

Made with red clay and covered with Rockingham brown glaze, this durable teapot was a staple in British homes for over two hundred years for two reasons: it held heat very well and, because of its reddish-brown color, it didn’t show stains caused by the buildup of tea tannins on the interior.
This rinse and dry method still works well with most teapots but, if the pot is a lighter color, the buildup of tea tannins becomes evident and an occasional scrubbing is needed. Dish detergents and a cloth will take care of most stains; however, if the pot has been neglected for some time, a bit of white vinegar or a denture cleaner can help remove the stain buildup.

Teatime at Taj Boston
Teapots in waiting at the Hotel Taj in Boston.

Most contemporary china teapots are dishwasher safe. Do be careful if your pot has gold or silver highlights or if it is more decorative than functional. The gilding might be damaged or any decorative appliqués might be knocked off. And don’t forget that the most delicate part of the teapot is the end of the spout. Watch where you position it in the dishwasher.

Iron Teapots
Iron Teapots

Many tea drinkers also own iron teapots. I’m often asked if they will rust. Iron teapots today are coated with a product that protects them from rust. That’s one reason why you never scrub the interior of these pots with an abrasive cleaner or pad: you don’t want to damage that protective layer.

Simply wash the teapot, allow it to drain completely, and wipe inside and out with a dry cloth. Avoid putting the lid on when you put it away and allow the interior to dry completely before replacing the lid.

The most delicate of teapots might be the Yixing pots often used for steeping oolongs. These Chinese clay pots are porous and, over time, the clay retains the flavors of the tea. A tragic tea faux pas would be to steep Earl Grey in this pot because it would mean that every tea steeped from that point forward would be tainted by the flavor of oil of bergamot.

Yixing pots have for centuries been used for only one specific tea. An Asian tea drinker might keep one teapot for a Taiwanese Bao Zhong, one for a Chinese Big Red Robe, and another for a Chinese Ti Kwan Yin. Soap is never used to clean these revered utensils. They are simply rinsed and allowed to air dry. It’s said that some ancient Yixing pots could make tea today simply by having water poured into them. The accumulated flavors of past steepings would add their flavor to the water and tea would magically appear!

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Bruce Richardson

MSN calls Bruce Richardson "A leading tea expert involved in tea's American renaissance for over 30 years." The native Kentuckian is a writer, photographer, tea blender, and frequent guest speaker at tea events across the globe. He can often be found appearing on television and radio talk shows, or as a guest speaker at professional seminars such as World Tea Expo or China Global Tea Fair. He is the author ...

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