Problem with Yixing teapot

by **Cha Arles** » Mar 15th, '13, 09:43

Problem with Yixing teapot

by Cha Arles » Mar 15th, '13, 09:43

Hi,

I am new a new member and hope to find an answer to my problem. Though I am not new to tea, I always used the same Yixing Teapot for my Oolongs.
A few days ago, I received from a well known provider 2 new teapots, in order to use each one on a certain Oolong type. The first one was slightly broken (a very, very small part of the lid's edge). The vendor proposed me to be refunded for 50% of the buying price which I accepted. So I carefully removed all the white dirt with a small brush and I seasoned both teapots with the same technique (first, cold water for 1h, second, in boiling water for 1h, cooled down, third immerged in water boiling with the target tea leaves for each pot cooled down for several hours).
The broken one gave immediately a fine tea without problem, but the second one tastes the like 'kaolin', a bit like I would have add some plaster to the water. I trid to brush it, rinse it with boiling water and brush again. The taste sticks to it and the tea is an horror, even the harshest puerh are tasting this plaster... Can I get rid of this taste or should I try to return the pot?

Thanks for your help!

by **edkrueger** » Mar 15th, '13, 10:58

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by edkrueger » Mar 15th, '13, 10:58

That is odd. Could you send some pictures of the pot? It might be the clay or maybe something else.

by **Cha Arles** » Mar 15th, '13, 11:28

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by Cha Arles » Mar 15th, '13, 11:28

Here are some pics

: Yixing Teapot DaHongPao Clay 5; Teapot5.JPG (11.15 KiB) Viewed 480 times

: Yixing Teapot DaHongPao Clay 2; Teapot2.JPG (13.63 KiB) Viewed 480 times

Thanks for your time

by **futurebird** » Mar 15th, '13, 11:32

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by futurebird » Mar 15th, '13, 11:32

I had this issue with a new pot. I scrubbed it with soap for a long time then bleached it and scrubbed it again. Now it no longer imparts that odd taste to tea.

My aunt makes ceramics she says that if a pot in "under-fired" and if the clay is "earthy" is can lead to this issue. If it can't be solved by cleaning it might mean returning the pot.

(but please do post a photo)

by **futurebird** » Mar 15th, '13, 11:33

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by futurebird » Mar 15th, '13, 11:33

hmm looking at the photo I wonder if it has some kind of coating. the surface of the pot I was describing was matte, without any shine.

But this pot is very shiny.

Website · by **debunix** » Mar 15th, '13, 11:40

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by debunix » Mar 15th, '13, 11:40

Looks waxed. Don't know if that would give a plaster taste.

by **Cha Arles** » Mar 15th, '13, 11:51

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by Cha Arles » Mar 15th, '13, 11:51

The pot is effectively much more shining than my old pot which I am using very often. But I had the impression that the pot was underfired, because the pot's ring is somewhat dimmed. But how can I be sure of that?

by **TIM** » Mar 15th, '13, 11:54

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by TIM » Mar 15th, '13, 11:54

Cha Arles wrote:The pot is effectively much more shining than my old pot which I am using very often. But I had the impression that the pot was underfired, because the pot's ring is somewhat dimmed. But how can I be sure of that?

my i suggest chemically enhanced?

by **Cha Arles** » Mar 15th, '13, 12:26

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by Cha Arles » Mar 15th, '13, 12:26

I ordered cups made of the same clay. They're not as shiny, but the taste is roughly the same. They are thick and very heavy. Shall I try the "soap method", but how would you do that and which kind of soap? Will it not be a reason for the vendor to justify a return refusal? I paid for the teapot 75 $ and 64 $ for 4 cups... I wasn't expecting highend stuff, but never imagined that result coming from a vendor who's got a good reputation. I don't want to give any name before having tried all the possible solutions.

by **futurebird** » Mar 15th, '13, 12:30

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by futurebird » Mar 15th, '13, 12:30

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-s ... 1631_n.jpg

this is my formerly clay smelling teapot... like I said not shiny.

soap will never remove wax.

by **MarshalN** » Mar 15th, '13, 12:41

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by MarshalN » Mar 15th, '13, 12:41

futurebird wrote:http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/386183_10200826523651536_1567111631_n.jpg

this is my formerly clay smelling teapot... like I said not shiny.

soap will never remove wax.

Yeah, the problem suggested here, I'd think the pot would look like this, but OP's pot is not like that at all.

I suspect similar - chemically enhanced

by **futurebird** » Mar 15th, '13, 12:57

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by futurebird » Mar 15th, '13, 12:57

Cha Arles wrote:I ordered cups made of the same clay. They're not as shiny, but the taste is roughly the same. They are thick and very heavy. Shall I try the "soap method", but how would you do that and which kind of soap? Will it not be a reason for the vendor to justify a return refusal? I paid for the teapot 75 $ and 64 $ for 4 cups... I wasn't expecting highend stuff, but never imagined that result coming from a vendor who's got a good reputation. I don't want to give any name before having tried all the possible solutions.

Contact the vendor and ask how they would resolve it. For that price I don't think it is unreasonable to expect that the pot would not interfere with the brewing process by adding bad unwanted flavors. (expecting a pot to be old, or made of the finest clay would be unreasonable but thats not what you are doing, this is basic stuff..) For perspective my clay-smelling pot cost $30... which is why I just sucked it up and scrubbed it myself.

The vendor might suggest that you try cleaning it then if that fails you can still return it.

Hope this works out.

Some vendors don't think people will use the pots, they think they are just for show, I often email and ask "will your pot be good for brewing tea?" a few times I've gotten and answers of "no!" :shock:

by **Drax** » Mar 15th, '13, 13:13

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by Drax » Mar 15th, '13, 13:13

Out of curiousity, what sorts of things fall into the "chemically enhanced" bin for clays of this type?

by **Cha Arles** » Mar 15th, '13, 16:56

Re: Problem wit Yixing teapot

by Cha Arles » Mar 15th, '13, 16:56

Drax wrote:Out of curiousity, what sorts of things fall into the "chemically enhanced" bin for clays of this type?

As potential victim, I would be interested too! :mrgreen:

by **gingkoseto** » Mar 15th, '13, 23:02

Re: Problem with Yixing teapot

by gingkoseto » Mar 15th, '13, 23:02

Generally speaking, I don't feel comfortable seeing a pot labeled "da hong pao clay". Not all so labeled teapots I've seen are bad, but I hope sellers of legitimate pots know better than labeling them so. And yes, a lot of so-labeled pots are bad.
I can't tell from your picture. But usually waxed teapots don't give you too much trouble after boiling, and wax is always on the outside of the teapot. And you would see the wax on water surface when you boil it. The last time I saw a waxed teapot was several years ago and the teapot was said to be bought many years earlier. Wax is a bugger, but a much easier problem to solve.