How To Prepare A Yixing Clay Pot
In this video Wren tells us two ways we can prepare, or season, a brand new Yixing, or Zisha, pot: a quick method, and a more complicated method. We hope this can help you get your new pot ready for it's long life of brewing in a way that's personalized to you.
0:17 SIMPLE METHOD:
Rinse out the teapot to get rid of any sand or burrs.
Soak the whole teapot (including lid) in filtered water for 2-3 hours.
Dump out the water and put one serving of tea in the teapot (4-8 grams for the pots shown).
Top it up with boiling water, and let it sit until the water cools.
Pour out the water, and steep the same leaves again with boiling water.
Repeat this process for a total of 2-3 times and you’re ready to start brewing!
2:08 BOILING METHOD:
Rinse out your teapot ti get rid of any sand or burrs.
Soak the whole teapot (including lid) in filtered water for 2-3 hours.
Take a clean pot large enough to put your teapot in and line it with clean cloth.
Put your teapot in it and add enough water to cover it fully, making sure that the lid won’t knock into the teapot and that neither will be damaged by the motion from boiling water.
Pout it all on the stove, and bring it to a low simmer for 30 minutes to an hour.
Let the pot cool, replace the water, and simmer it again, this time with a small handful of tea.
Let the pot cool. (Some people like to let it soak overnight.)
You’re ready to brew!