part II:
http://www.taiwanteaguy.com/2008/10/16/ ... g-part-ii/
I think as far as "seasoning" a brand new pot of good clay, less is more. I feel that most of the sensible people I've talked to advocate doing very little in the way of special seasoning for a pot you plan to use to make tea in - i.e., maybe some hot water, then make tea as normal.
As far as used pots, or pots that may have been "aged" using questionable methods, I think it makes sense to boil the pot for a while, and maybe use some unflavored denture cleaner if you can find it and if the stains on the pot bother you. I will let it soak in the cleaner and then use a toothbrush and hot water to scrub it.
I don't know the point of the toilet tank thing, but better the toilet tank than the toilet bowl!
As far as used pots, or pots that may have been "aged" using questionable methods, I think it makes sense to boil the pot for a while, and maybe use some unflavored denture cleaner if you can find it and if the stains on the pot bother you. I will let it soak in the cleaner and then use a toothbrush and hot water to scrub it.
I don't know the point of the toilet tank thing, but better the toilet tank than the toilet bowl!
Jan 2nd, '09, 11:43
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Yesterday in my reading I just noticed his brushing part, but not the toilet tank part. I think toilet tank is a good idea (as long as the pot doesn't float in it to get any damage), with some ingenuity 
Toilet tank has nothing to do with toilet bowl. It has flowing water, and cleaner than many other seemingly clean places. I would rather have toilet tank water than any unpleasant chemical detergent 
Toilet tank has nothing to do with toilet bowl. It has flowing water, and cleaner than many other seemingly clean places. I would rather have toilet tank water than any unpleasant chemical detergent By sitting in peace and doing nothing,
You make your one day worth two days.
You make your one day worth two days.
The water going into the toilet tank is just as clean as the water coming out of the faucet. But the tank itself is questionable. Every toilet tank that I have seen the inside of had some visible black scum buildup on the sides. The tank should be scrubbed and sanitized first (bleach) before using it for that purpose. And even then, has some of toilet cleaner product ever been put in that tank? If so, then I wouldn't do what he's doing.
Redneck as you want it, Bubba Tea buddy!! You want crazy Wesli??? I got crazy!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Actually, it works very well for removing odors if you are changing a pot from one tea to another (especially if you've bought a used pot and aren't sure what's been in it).
The tank water is clean, and the area I live in has unusually clean water for Taiwan, so it's not as gross as you think. Using hot water and changing it often works faster, because hot water opens the pores more. The point of using the tank is, you get water circulation, and don't have to keep dealing with it constantly (useful for those of us who actually work, right??!).
The pot pictured spent 3-4 weeks in the tank, and never moved an inch. Remember, it's full of water the whole time, so is pretty heavy. Also, the water flow was adjusted a bit so it wouldn't be quite so strong when filling up.
After exiting the tank, it was re-boiled, and soaked several times. Then I brewed 6 rounds of oolong tea in it, throwing away all the tea. I use the pot in my Ultimate Travel Tea Set, http://www.taiwanteaguy.com/2008/06/28/ ... ravel-set/ and it's working very well.
I'll also clarify that I was taught this technique by a Taiwan tea expert, and he recommends it as a very user-friendly, convenient, and easy way of cleaning a pot, but certainly not the only way. For seasoning UNUSED pots, the proceedure is different (much simpler). This trick is used to REMOVE ODORS, and although no one brought up this question, I'll answer it anyway: The black 'log' seen in the teapot is a piece of CHARCOAL and not 'backwash' from the toilet bowl, if you take my meaning!!!
And, thank you VERY MUCH for posting the link to my site! I greatly appreciate the gesture, and will send Bubba Tea a mystery gift (NOT something out of my toilet tank - shame on you guys!!!) if he emails me an address.
Actually, it works very well for removing odors if you are changing a pot from one tea to another (especially if you've bought a used pot and aren't sure what's been in it).
The tank water is clean, and the area I live in has unusually clean water for Taiwan, so it's not as gross as you think. Using hot water and changing it often works faster, because hot water opens the pores more. The point of using the tank is, you get water circulation, and don't have to keep dealing with it constantly (useful for those of us who actually work, right??!).
The pot pictured spent 3-4 weeks in the tank, and never moved an inch. Remember, it's full of water the whole time, so is pretty heavy. Also, the water flow was adjusted a bit so it wouldn't be quite so strong when filling up.
After exiting the tank, it was re-boiled, and soaked several times. Then I brewed 6 rounds of oolong tea in it, throwing away all the tea. I use the pot in my Ultimate Travel Tea Set, http://www.taiwanteaguy.com/2008/06/28/ ... ravel-set/ and it's working very well.
I'll also clarify that I was taught this technique by a Taiwan tea expert, and he recommends it as a very user-friendly, convenient, and easy way of cleaning a pot, but certainly not the only way. For seasoning UNUSED pots, the proceedure is different (much simpler). This trick is used to REMOVE ODORS, and although no one brought up this question, I'll answer it anyway: The black 'log' seen in the teapot is a piece of CHARCOAL and not 'backwash' from the toilet bowl, if you take my meaning!!!
And, thank you VERY MUCH for posting the link to my site! I greatly appreciate the gesture, and will send Bubba Tea a mystery gift (NOT something out of my toilet tank - shame on you guys!!!) if he emails me an address.
You can soak until the cows come home, but it's doubtful you'll completely remove odorous nonvolatile fatty acids this way, with just....uhhhh...heavily chemically treated water.
Waaaaay too much surface area in these unsealed clay pots.
I would suggest using a toothbrush, distilled water and baking soda. You want to remove the film *gently*, without plugging the micropores. So if you make a paste, make it watery, rather than a thick paste.
I would use alternate water and baking soda soaks, until you can no longer detect a smell. For a heavily seasoned teapot, that can take quite some time, because the release of bound compounds from the clay surface is not linear - its a long decay.
It looks like this: http://www.cancerguide.org/scurve_basic.html
(forgive the application subject, I just wanted an example graph to make my point)
For successive soakings, the mass of contaminant released from the surface decreases in a typical decay curve over time. The physical brushings really only address the gross porous surface, not the micropores that represent a order or more magnitude greater total surface area than that visible to the eye. However, the brushing does help release compounds that migrate from these micropores to the outer surface, then resorb loosely because they are marginally soluble in water - thats how they adsorb to the clay surface in the first place.
These clay pot interiors are differential absorbers; not all of the components that constitute flavor released in tea infusions will sorb to the porous clay.
Also, because the pores never completely dewater (dry) inbetween uses - due to the surface tension of water dominating micropore clay-water interface - it would be interesting to test the late soakings to determine if tea really is astringent enough to dissuade microbial growth.
Anyway, this microporosity and the unique yin/yang surface properties of clay minerals (that have charge edges at the lattice points but noncharged, hydrophobic planes) as sorbents helps us understand why you should dedicate a single type of tea to your yixing teapot.
I wouldn't guarantee that you could completely deodorize an old teapot even with many treatment cycles.
On toilet tanks as rinse cycle systems: the only time I would be cautious about using a toilet tank is if the water source is a well and the water is a prominent source of iron and manganese bacteria. Its evident as a black (manganese) or dark red (iron), nonslimy deposit in the tank.
I wouldn't want these bacteria taking up residence in my teapot, as they would affect the taste and odor of infusions.
On Taipei water quality: the potable public water supply is claimed to be first rate.
http://www.twd.gov.tw/English/Show.aspx?ContentID=3768
However, aged public conveyance and in-building storage and distribution systems are the questionable bits that would cause me to think twice in using a toilet cistern for teapot cleaning.
Waaaaay too much surface area in these unsealed clay pots.
I would suggest using a toothbrush, distilled water and baking soda. You want to remove the film *gently*, without plugging the micropores. So if you make a paste, make it watery, rather than a thick paste.
I would use alternate water and baking soda soaks, until you can no longer detect a smell. For a heavily seasoned teapot, that can take quite some time, because the release of bound compounds from the clay surface is not linear - its a long decay.
It looks like this: http://www.cancerguide.org/scurve_basic.html
(forgive the application subject, I just wanted an example graph to make my point)
For successive soakings, the mass of contaminant released from the surface decreases in a typical decay curve over time. The physical brushings really only address the gross porous surface, not the micropores that represent a order or more magnitude greater total surface area than that visible to the eye. However, the brushing does help release compounds that migrate from these micropores to the outer surface, then resorb loosely because they are marginally soluble in water - thats how they adsorb to the clay surface in the first place.
These clay pot interiors are differential absorbers; not all of the components that constitute flavor released in tea infusions will sorb to the porous clay.
Also, because the pores never completely dewater (dry) inbetween uses - due to the surface tension of water dominating micropore clay-water interface - it would be interesting to test the late soakings to determine if tea really is astringent enough to dissuade microbial growth.
Anyway, this microporosity and the unique yin/yang surface properties of clay minerals (that have charge edges at the lattice points but noncharged, hydrophobic planes) as sorbents helps us understand why you should dedicate a single type of tea to your yixing teapot.
I wouldn't guarantee that you could completely deodorize an old teapot even with many treatment cycles.
On toilet tanks as rinse cycle systems: the only time I would be cautious about using a toilet tank is if the water source is a well and the water is a prominent source of iron and manganese bacteria. Its evident as a black (manganese) or dark red (iron), nonslimy deposit in the tank.
I wouldn't want these bacteria taking up residence in my teapot, as they would affect the taste and odor of infusions.
On Taipei water quality: the potable public water supply is claimed to be first rate.
http://www.twd.gov.tw/English/Show.aspx?ContentID=3768
However, aged public conveyance and in-building storage and distribution systems are the questionable bits that would cause me to think twice in using a toilet cistern for teapot cleaning.
Great post - thanks Prof Intuit!
If I'm reading your response correctly, it helps explain the 'absorbsive' qualities of yixing written about here and there.
If the acids / contaminants are so difficult to dislodge, wouldn't it just be easier to get rid of deposits used by a dishwasher? The harsh environment of a dishwasher with hot water, detergent, and enzymatic cleaners should do a good number on anything clinging to the pot - but should be easily cleared with baking soda / water soaking. Hmm... maybe this is why Hop mentioned using denture cleaner tabs.
If I'm reading your response correctly, it helps explain the 'absorbsive' qualities of yixing written about here and there.
If the acids / contaminants are so difficult to dislodge, wouldn't it just be easier to get rid of deposits used by a dishwasher? The harsh environment of a dishwasher with hot water, detergent, and enzymatic cleaners should do a good number on anything clinging to the pot - but should be easily cleared with baking soda / water soaking. Hmm... maybe this is why Hop mentioned using denture cleaner tabs.
Hi Oni,
Thanks for sticking up for me, but it's all good. Given the context of Bubba's original posting, and the responses on this thread, I hope it's pretty clear that we're all having some fun with the topic, and nothing hurtful or mean-spirited is intended. Hard to imagine that posters here would make a fuss over that, although I could be wrong.
I think being 'politically correct' went WAY overboard a number of years back, and I think the world would be a much happier place if, instead of getting uptight about offending everyone, people would laugh at themselves once in awhile, and then go have nice hot cup of tea!
Thanks for sticking up for me, but it's all good. Given the context of Bubba's original posting, and the responses on this thread, I hope it's pretty clear that we're all having some fun with the topic, and nothing hurtful or mean-spirited is intended. Hard to imagine that posters here would make a fuss over that, although I could be wrong.
I think being 'politically correct' went WAY overboard a number of years back, and I think the world would be a much happier place if, instead of getting uptight about offending everyone, people would laugh at themselves once in awhile, and then go have nice hot cup of tea!
"The meaning of life can be found in a good cup of tea."
Check out more Taiwan tea stories (with photos) at taiwanteaguy.com
Check out more Taiwan tea stories (with photos) at taiwanteaguy.com
Dishwasher wouldn't do it. Need relatively long contact time to drive tightly bound contaminants off of surface. Shape of teapot prohibits sufficient hydraulic contact - but it might launch a teapot into orbit within the dishwasher maelstrom, unless it were tied down.
Correct on the background guess, bcos.
This yixing clay is quite interesting. Presently reading up on the geochemistry of these clay deposits and river water that formed them. The high organic content explains some of the unique qualities attributed to yixing clay pots - including its absorptive capacity for oily (hydrophobic) tea extract components.
Bubba-tea's original post was quite humorous, with an questioning eye to the novelty of the teapot cleaning method recommendation.
I doubt many would take offense of his use of the term 'Redneck'.
Correct on the background guess, bcos.
This yixing clay is quite interesting. Presently reading up on the geochemistry of these clay deposits and river water that formed them. The high organic content explains some of the unique qualities attributed to yixing clay pots - including its absorptive capacity for oily (hydrophobic) tea extract components.
Bubba-tea's original post was quite humorous, with an questioning eye to the novelty of the teapot cleaning method recommendation.
I doubt many would take offense of his use of the term 'Redneck'.