Culinary Teas - Seasoning Your Yixing Teapot

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Seasoning Your Yixing Teapot

Why season your teapot? Seasoning not only cleans your teapot but also introduces the flavor of the tea to teapot. If you are just going to use the teapot for decoration then you do not need to season it. Only one type of tea should be used per teapot. The teapot absorbs the flavor of the tea and eventually it will also give flavor to the tea. It is said that a pot that is thoroughly seasoned can deliver fine tea just by adding hot water. Stay with a very specific tea or range of teas depending on the individuality of the flavor of the tea. There are supposedly two methods to season your teapot but we only suggest the slow method because your future tea is will be better tasting in a properly cured teapot and you wouldn’t want to risk that. Do not use non-stick pots for seasoning your Yixing. Any flaw in the non-stick can give your teapot a white residue that is very hard to remove. Also only use filtered water so that you do not get mineral deposits on your teapot which are also hard to remove. The first part of the process cleans the teapot and second part starts imparting the flavor of the tea to the teapot. Never wash your Yixing after it has been seasoned and never use anything but water to wash your teapot ever. Simply pour out any tea that is left and rinse with hot water which will help it to dry faster. Never leave tea for any extended period of time (12 hours or more) in the pot because mold could start to grow and your teapot would be ruined.

Seasoning Method
Scrub pot lightly with a nylon bristle brush to remove loose particles from the inside and outside. Take the lid off the teapot and place the pieces on a kitchen towel in a pan large enough to cover the pieces with water. Fill with cold filtered water. Slowly bring to a slow boil (rapid boiling could damage your pot) and simmer for an hour. Remove from the heat and let the pot remain in the water until it cools. Remove the pot from the water and rinse well. Put the teapot back into the larger pan with new cool water and bring it to a slow boil again for an hour. Remove from heat and add the tea leaves of choice for this teapot. Use only enough leaves to make a drinkable tea. You don’t want to introduce any bitterness to the teapot in the seasoning stage so do not add to much tea and do not keep heating it. Let it cool in the tea water. The next day remove the teapot and rinse it in hot water. It is now ready to use.

Brewing
Pre-heat your teapot by filling it with boiling water. Drain the water. Add your tea leaves into the teapot. Then fill the teapot with water at the proper temperature for the tea used. Allow it to steep for at least one minute. Then enjoy your tea! The quality of your tea infusions and the beauty of your teapot will only increase with use.

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Culinary Teas
108 S. Main St
P.O. Box 448
Milford, IN 46542

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