Yixing Care Help!

[needaTEAcher]

Always more questions!

1-When I finish with my pots, I usually put them back in the box I got them in (nice box, no smells, well padded) because a-I often transport them to and from work, and b-the air is Seoul is VERY dirty and things tend to show a thick layer of muck in just a few days near an open window. That said, is it ok to put my pot back if the inside is still a little damp? The outside is totally dry, and I rub it down with a microfiber cloth, but the inside often stil has just a touch of moisture.

2-I have read that I should not rinse the outside with hot water after each brew, but just rub of the spots with a wet tissue or something once in a while. Any comments? How do you clean yours? I have been rinsing it sometimes with hot tea, sometimes with boiling water, but always after a session.

3-I love burning incense, especially after or at the end of a round of tea. This might be a bit too anal, but will the incense smoke in any way compromise the integrity of the clay?

4-I have a small hongni, small zini, medium duani (lower quality clay), and large duani (medium to higher quality clay). All are modern clay. Should my care for them all be about the same, or is there anything special about any of them that I should know for maintenance. I want these to last!

5-Any other helpful thoughts or tips. I need lots of teachers!

Thanks.

[wyardley]

It depends partially on how humid your climate is, but I try to let my pots dry for 2-3 days before putting the lid on and putting them back in a cabinet. I used to dry with the pot upside-down, but now I do it with the pot facing up. If you do need to take the pot somewhere, it's best to use water at a furious boil to rinse the pot (don't do this if the pot isn't warm already), and pour out quickly. The water will evaporate more quickly. However, I think it's still best to dry the pot in the air - if you have to take it home right after finishing, I would take it back out to air out at home.

As far as what to do with the outside, I think it's personal, but here's what I do.... I shower the pot with tea and hot water while making tea (but if you want to build patina really quickly, don't shower with water before each infusion, as it will wash off all the tea oils that are building up from being showered with the rinse and concentrated drops from the pot). If you see spots or uneven parts, you can either leave them, or gently rub them with a wet tea towel, preferably not microfiber.

[Drax]

Yes, as wyardley notes, it's probably best to let pots completely dry out before storing them back in the boxes. Even with a slight amount of moisture, you're likely to accelerate the rotting of the box. If you're just transporting them that way (and then take them out once you arrive), then you're probably okay.

As for incense, I would be more worried about the exposing tea to the smoke, depending on where you store it -- tea leaves really like to absorb odors...

[needaTEAcher]

Thanks y'all. I have been doing the boiling water to dry faster thing, but my biggest concern is how things left out here get grimmy fast. Seoul's super polluted air (even inside) can't make for a great patina.

Rinsing the outside and inside with boiling water washes of some of the patina? I always do, but I'd rather get my patina on. So I should not rinse with boiling water, just with tea, and then rub it with a soft, but not microfiber, cloth? I want my baby to shine. Especially the duanni.

I keep my puerh on the other side of the apartment, in an airtight container (I know, I know, I just don't want it to get contaminated by the lack of room in our apartment, all the smells, and the painful air-when I am old and rich I will have a special place to actually age my pu).

Thanks again!

[wyardley]

Rinsing the outside and inside with boiling water washes of some of the patina? I always do, but I'd rather get my patina on.

The inside should definitely be rinsed with water after use.

But I was talking about showering (the outside of the pot) with water during brewing. This will help heat the pot up more, especially if it's sitting in a dish, but will rinse off some of the tea oils.