Drinking tea for health has increasingly become a popular choice among office workers. As a commonly used tea vessel, what teas are ideal for brewing in a Yixing purple clay teapot? Does it have anything to do with the pot’s shape and size? In fact, when choosing an Yixing teapot for brewing tea, besides considering the clay material, you can also make a selection based on the pot’s capacity and shape features. So, what teas suit Yixing teapots best, and what are the key considerations?Black Tea: Xishi Pot & Rongtian PotBoth Xishi and Rongtian pots share the traits of a large, deep, plump, and rounded belly. Brewing black tea in these pots can fully release the tea’s aroma without damaging the tea leaves. Given that black tea has a relatively deep liquor color, it is best paired with Yixing teapots made from darker clay varieties such as Tianxing clay, blue-gray clay, and Dicaoqing clay.Oolong Tea: Zhuozhi Pot & Longdan PotMost oolong tea leaves expand significantly after brewing. For the convenience of adding tea leaves and cleaning, pot styles with slightly larger openings are preferred, such as the Zhuozhi pot. Of course, many seasoned tea drinkers who regularly enjoy Tieguanyin prefer using the Longdan pot, which has a slightly taller body, for brewing.Pu’er Tea & Dark Tea: Shipiao Pot & Baozun PotPu’er tea and dark tea are post-fermented teas, so they are more suitable for brewing in pots with strong airtightness and excellent heat retention. Pots like the Shipiao pot and Baozun pot, characterized by a large belly, narrow mouth, and deep cavity, fit this requirement perfectly.Green Tea, White Tea & Yellow Tea: Shuiping PotCommon green tea, white tea, and yellow tea are all fresh and delicate in flavor. They are usually brewed in gaiwans or glass teapots, and it is generally not recommended to use Yixing purple clay teapots for them. If you do prefer using an Yixing teapot, the Shuiping pot—with its thinner walls and wider opening—is a relatively better option.Yixing purple clay teapots are most suitable for brewing aged teas and other highly fermented or roasted teas. However, for light, fragrant teas, it is advisable to avoid using Yixing teapots as much as possible, as this is determined by the inherent properties of the clay material.Compared with porcelain teapots, Taiwanese wood-fired teapots, or gas-fired clay teapots, Yixing purple clay teapots have a much lower material density. It is precisely their heat-dissipating property that makes them ideal for highly fermented or roasted teas. For high-grade, light-fragrance Taiwanese teas such as Lishan, Dayuling, and Yushan teas, brewing them in an Yixing teapot will inevitably result in a subpar liquor taste.

After prolonged use, if you don’t regularly clean your Yixing purple clay teapot, thick layers of tea stains and grime will accumulate both inside and out. This not only ruins the teapot’s appearance but also poses potential health risks. What’s more, the longer the dirt lingers, the harder it is to remove. Many people ask how to restore their teapots to their original clean state. The truth is, no cleaning method can make a well-used teapot look brand new again—the key is to maintain its cleanliness regularly. Rinse the teapot thoroughly inside and out with clean water after each use, then let it air-dry naturally.If the above routine cleaning doesn’t get rid of stubborn stains, you may resort to stain-removing products as a last resort (use with caution).Step-by-Step Deep Cleaning GuideSubmerge the teapot in a large container filled with warm water, ensuring the water level covers most of the pot but doesn’t fully immerse it.Many people use 84 disinfectant to tackle tough teapot stains, but since the teapot is used daily for drinking, it’s safer to opt for denture cleaning tablets instead. Place 1–2 tablets inside the teapot and 2–3 tablets in the surrounding water. Adjust the quantity based on the severity of the stains—foaming will occur during soaking.After soaking for 24 hours, scrub the teapot thoroughly inside and out with a kitchen scouring pad or foam sponge to wipe away all grime, then rinse it well with clean water.If you still think the teapot isn’t clean enough after step 3, squeeze a small amount of toothpaste onto a toothbrush, apply it to the teapot’s surface, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, then scrub and rinse again.For sculpted teapots with intricate shapes and detailed carvings, use an interdental toothbrush or a sewing needle to clean hard-to-reach crevices.Finally, rinse the teapot inside and out several times with boiling water, or boil it in clean water for a while to eliminate any residual cleaning product odor. Your well-loved Yixing teapot will then look fresh and revitalized.Important Note: Dishwasher CompatibilityYixing purple clay teapots should never be cleaned in a dishwasher. The high temperature, strong water pressure, and chemical detergents in dishwashers can damage the porous clay structure, strip away the natural patina developed from years of tea brewing, and even cause cracks in the teapot. Hand cleaning is the only safe way to preserve the teapot’s quality and longevity.

Nowadays, with the rise of online teapot sales, more and more people are choosing to buy teapots online. This convenient method saves you the trouble of traveling all the way to Yixing to pick out teapots in person—you can simply wait at home and receive your purchase the next day.However, this approach also brings a major concern: it’s hard to confirm whether the teapot you receive is genuinely made in Yixing. And if it isn’t, how can you tell the difference?Today, Xiaorui is here to share some practical tips to help you easily identify authentic Yixing purple clay teapots.Identifying a product requires analyzing it from multiple angles. So, we’ll break down the differences between genuine Yixing purple clay teapots and counterfeits based on color, smell, sound, texture, and price.ColorIn our previous article, we discussed several classic colors of purple clay materials. The color of a Yixing teapot is entirely determined by the mineral content of its raw clay.Regardless of its base color, an authentic Yixing teapot should have a jade-like luster on its surface—not too shiny, nor too dull. After brewing tea with it multiple times, the surface will develop a smooth, warm, and soft patina. If there is no change in the teapot’s appearance even after prolonged use, it is likely a fake.SmellA genuine Yixing purple clay teapot should only emit a subtle scent of fired clay. When raw purple clay is fired in a kiln, it releases a mild “kiln aroma”—this is completely normal.After just a few rounds of brewing tea, the teapot will absorb a faint, pleasant tea fragrance. If your teapot emits a strong, pungent odor for a long time, it is probably a counterfeit.SoundLike porcelain, purple clay teapots can be identified by the sound they make. Porcelain is known for its clear, resonant “chime-like” ring, and authentic Yixing teapots share a similar trait.Gently slide the teapot lid across the rim of the pot. A genuine Yixing teapot will produce a crisp, clinking sound like jade striking, accompanied by a distinct gritty friction—this is the signature sound of an authentic piece.TextureThe texture of a teapot is directly determined by its clay material. The key reason Yixing purple clay teapots are renowned worldwide lies in their unique local clay.The clay used for Yixing teapots is mined exclusively from the Huanglongshan Mine Area in Yixing. Rich in minerals such as mica, quartz, and hematite, this clay retains a distinct gritty texture no matter how finely it is ground. This granular feel is especially noticeable on newly purchased teapots.If the teapot you bought feels overly smooth and glossy, it is likely made from fake clay or has been chemically treated to create an artificial finish.PricePrice is the most straightforward reference point. Generally speaking, the price of an authentic handcrafted Yixing purple clay teapot will not be lower than 500 RMB.The production process involves multiple costly steps: clay mining, aging, processing, hand-shaping, and kiln firing. Additionally, the uncertain firing success rate further drives up the overall cost.Therefore, you should avoid teapots priced at 100–200 RMB that claim to be genuine handcrafted Yixing products if you’re looking for a real purple clay teapot.An authentic, high-quality Yixing purple clay teapot not only enhances your tea-drinking experience but also brings you immense spiritual enjoyment. Why not invest in one that truly delivers on both counts?