New Yixing...but what tea to use?

[evilive]

My partner and I finall got a Yixing pot (and 6 matching cups and saucers ). I know all about how to clean and prepare it for use, btu I was wondering what kinds of tea are best for them? I know Pu-Erh is a popular choice, but neither of us really like it, so it's not going to be it. What I'm asking, oh residents of TeaChat, is what tea should we put in out Yixing pot?

[chrl42]

My choice - Oolong. Any oolong is suitable for yixing teapots, but not green nor white.

[augie]

What I'm asking, oh residents of TeaChat, is what tea should we put in out Yixing pot?

You're smart to get the yixing first. I still can't pin down one tea that I would make in a yixing if I bought one. So, I'm still looking.

[omegapd]

I prefer unflavored blacks in my Yixings. I think I'm in the minority, though.

[evilive]

I'm currently tossing up between a Tiguanyin or Keemun...this is much harder than I thought when I bought the pot

[hop_goblin]

Definitely Wulongs and chinese blacks...But never green or white teas!

[Salsero]

I'm currently tossing up between a Tiguanyin or Keemun...this is much harder than I thought when I bought the pot

I vote for TGY. If you dedicate it to TGY, you will be able to use it for most all the medium to light (and even the occasional darker) oolongs. If you dedicate it to Keemun, it will be a black tea only pot, and the China Blacks are going to taste about the same either in yixing or not.

[BonBon]

. . . I know Pu-Erh is a popular choice . . .

So is any Pu-Erh okay? Or should you have an yixing for sheng and one for shu?

[PolyhymnianMuse]

There have been many discussions where to draw the line in terms of what to brew in a yixing. I think one for shu and one for sheng would be a good choice. Some people opt to dedicate one to specifically aged pu-erh and than another one for younger stuff. It really depends but at the least I would deff go with specifically sheng, or specifically shu.

[wyardley]

My partner and I finall got a Yixing pot (and 6 matching cups and saucers ). I know all about how to clean and prepare it for use,

I would ignore most of what you read on the Inter-nets about this. As long as your pot is new, and doesn't have any obvious wax, artificial aging products or other gunk on it, you should just give it a few rounds of running alternating hot and room temperature water, and then start brewing tea in it; don't bother with letting it soak in tea overnight etc. etc.

Brew tea, rub it with a wet tea towel after you finish brewing and before it cools down a lot. Rinse it out with hot water and let it dry open for a few days.

btu I was wondering what kinds of tea are best for them? I know Pu-Erh is a popular choice, but neither of us really like it, so it's not going to be it. What I'm asking, oh residents of TeaChat, is what tea should we put in out Yixing pot?

Depends on the pot, and of course what kind of tea you like to drink.

I don't think this is something random strangers on the Inter-nets can decide for you - especially without seeing, hearing, and feeling the teapot. Some people have theories about what types of teas suit which pot. Some of these theories are more logical than others, but ultimately, most of them are subjective at best, and totally ridiculous at worst. Also, I think most people would agree that some experimentation is not going to ruin or confuse your pot, so even if you plan to dedicate each pot to one type of tea (either general type or specific type), play around with the new pot and see if your tea tastes good brewed in it (I wouldn't suggest brewing any teas that are scented or flavored in it).

[evilive]

Thank you so much everyone, you've all been such an excellent source of knowledge, as usual. TGY is the tea we've decided on, yet (as wyardley says), we'll see how it goes and may change it.
Also Wyardley, this is definately a new pot. So there's no need for soaking in water overnight, putting it in a huge pot, bringing to a simmering boil, leaving for 10 minutes, adding tea leaves, leaving till cool etc?
If we needn't do that...that is excellent news because I was always a little hesistant to put such a delicate set of objects on the stove to boil.

[Salsero]

... I was always a little hesistant to put such a delicate set of objects on the stove to boil.

Yes, there is certainly the potential for damage. As always, Will's advice is articulate and definitive.

[chrl42]

Thank you so much everyone, you've all been such an excellent source of knowledge, as usual. TGY is the tea we've decided on, yet (as wyardley says), we'll see how it goes and may change it.
Also Wyardley, this is definately a new pot. So there's no need for soaking in water overnight, putting it in a huge pot, bringing to a simmering boil, leaving for 10 minutes, adding tea leaves, leaving till cool etc?
If we needn't do that...that is excellent news because I was always a little hesistant to put such a delicate set of objects on the stove to boil.

Boiling teapot has 2 points.
First is to open screen holes and lid hole. Some new pot has blocked holes from production, you need to at least open it with a needle.
Second is to rid of bad smells, yixing is clay not glazed. So it's good to boil for sanitazation, plus you can check out if teapot is crackled after boiling which means, bad teapot - my opinions.

[evilive]

Just an update for everyone; we decided on TGY Oolong (thanks for the suggestions everyone) and let the pot soak in water last night. Today we boiled it in a pot (as well as the cups) and did the whole shebang. Tonight, finally, we had out first pot of tea from the beauty. Thankfuly, everything turned out fine. There was no hint of clay taste, indeed, no hint of any taste but excellent oolong tea. A true tea success story
Thanks for everyone's help

[Salsero]

Just an update for everyone; we decided on TGY Oolong (thanks for the suggestions everyone) and let the pot soak in water last night. Today we boiled it in a pot (as well as the cups) and did the whole shebang. Tonight, finally, we had out first pot of tea from the beauty. Thankfuly, everything turned out fine. There was no hint of clay taste, indeed, no hint of any taste but excellent oolong tea. A true tea success story
Thanks for everyone's help

Thanks for the update. Sounds like a lovely pot: a happy ending to one story and the propitious beginning of another!