Congratulations on scoring a brand new, genuine Yixing zisha teapot! We know how much effort it's taken for you to get to this point. Hours of research on what the heck is a Yixing zisha teapot – what makes it so special, all the different clays, how to tell if one's real or fake etc. And this is all before you find the right teapot – that teapot that speaks to your soul.
Now that you have this pot though, what next? Crack open your favourite tea and let 'er rip? Not quite. Before using this pot for the first time, it's best that you season it. Because Yixing zisha teapots are unglazed, they tend to have a clay-like aroma attached to them that can have unwanted effects on the tea that you’re brewing. Seasoning the pot will remove this effect and will allow you to start brewing better tea.
Important note: As Yixing zisha teapots are pourous and tend to absorb the flavours of the tea that you brew, it’s recommended that you dedicate and only brew one type of tea with every zisha teapot. So choose wisely.
HOW TO SEASON YOUR YIXING ZISHA TEAPOT
7. Pour all the tea liquor out and use the wet leaves to carefully rub the inside and outside of the pot and lid (Note: handle with care as the pot and lid are wet and slippery). This step is to use the tea leaves to clean and absorb all the sand, dust and finger prints that may have been left during the production process.
10. Allow the pot to dry and rest by leaving it uncovered on a dry flat surface for 2-3 days.After all this, your Yixing zisha teapot is now ready to use. Happy brewing!