Fixing black stains on duanni pot

[javi_sanchez]

I have a duanni pot that is showing a blackish stain towards the front and bottom. I think it is just the residue of the tea building up on it but am wondering if I can get them off. It is difficult to capture the staining in photos but is very obvious in person. Here are my best attempts. On photo has jacked up contrast to make the stain more obvious:

http://www.imagebam.com/gallery/7g3jel9 ... a1i3q7jvur

I have done some stupid things to it. I started using shu pu'er in it and let it sit in a pool of pu'er for a few days... I eventually found the pot hallows out the flavor or shou too much and switched it over to aged oolongs.

If I rub the pot after every session will those stains eventually go away or should I just trying reboiling the pot and getting everything off the pot?

[BW85]

Just try polishing it after use. That should spread the tea oils around more evenly

[futurebird]

Just try polishing it after use. That should spread the tea oils around more evenly

A very soft wash cloth or those tea towels that tea shops sell work great. I had a much worse ring and and pot is now lovely after a gentle buffing.

[Tead Off]

Sometimes you will have to rub the areas of staining vigorously depending on the buildup. Try rubbing when you wash the pot in hot water after a session before you dry it. Having the exterior wet with hot water will help soften them.

[theredbaron]

These stains are patina - why would you want to take them off?

[Tead Off]

These stains are patina - why would you want to take them off?

One reason is that a stain is an isolated patch and may not be a very aesthetic thing to look at on the light colored duanni. By rubbing, as I suggested, you widen and soften the discoloration, and also polish it, all at the same time. But, if the exterior of the pot is not exposed to tea being poured all over it, and systematically rubbed with a cloth over time, it will always look 'dirty' and patchy because of the light color of the duanni. If it were my pot, I would probably rub out the stains and 'build' the patina systematically.

This very thing happened to me 20 years ago with a couple of red clay pots. Because I used to use a boat, the tea build up was so intense and uneven, the pots looked horrible. When I got through rubbing and systematically building the patina, they now look fabulous with a glowing patina that is deep and sensuous.

[bagua7]

I normally use hot water, a toothbrush and baking soda to remove any tea stains on the outside surface of the pot.

[theredbaron]

I normally use hot water, a toothbrush and baking soda to remove any tea stains on the outside surface of the pot.

Why would you do that?!?

People spend years cultivating a beautiful patina. Some even give their new pots to a shop where tea is regularly poured over the pot to speed up patina building.

[theredbaron]

These stains are patina - why would you want to take them off?

One reason is that a stain is an isolated patch and may not be a very aesthetic thing to look at on the light colored duanni. By rubbing, as I suggested, you widen and soften the discoloration, and also polish it, all at the same time. But, if the exterior of the pot is not exposed to tea being poured all over it, and systematically rubbed with a cloth over time, it will always look 'dirty' and patchy because of the light color of the duanni. If it were my pot, I would probably rub out the stains and 'build' the patina systematically.

This very thing happened to me 20 years ago with a couple of red clay pots. Because I used to use a boat, the tea build up was so intense and uneven, the pots looked horrible. When I got through rubbing and systematically building the patina, they now look fabulous with a glowing patina that is deep and sensuous.

The best way to use a tea boat IMHO is to straight away pour the water away so that this ugly water line does not build up on the pot.
There are so many ways to build patina. It depends on the individual pots as well - some build straight away, others take a long time. Also - patina changes and develops over the years of using a pot. For me, patina makes a pot alive. One just has to be patient

[BW85]

I normally use hot water, a toothbrush and baking soda to remove any tea stains on the outside surface of the pot.

Why would you do that?!?

People spend years cultivating a beautiful patina. Some even give their new pots to a shop where tea is regularly poured over the pot to speed up patina building.

I think a lot of people, myself included, differentiate between patina and tea stains. Two separate things. I prevent tea stains on my pots, and yet they have lovely, deep patinas

[javi_sanchez]

These stains are patina - why would you want to take them off?

I like the shininess part of it but if you see it in person, it shows up as a dark gray stain in person. I'd like to at least even out the staining.

[javi_sanchez]

Sometimes you will have to rub the areas of staining vigorously depending on the buildup. Try rubbing when you wash the pot in hot water after a session before you dry it. Having the exterior wet with hot water will help soften them.

I've been rubbing the pot but I didn't do so back in '13 when I got the pot. I think the stains have been a long time building I just did not have as discerning an eye as I do now

I am currently using it for roasted, aged oolongs since it rounds out flavors a bit. Perhaps the tea is too dark! I will try it with some samples of Yiwu sheng I am trying out. This is a good chance to do side by side brewing with a gaiwan and perhaps change the pot to a lighter tea.

[javi_sanchez]

I normally use hot water, a toothbrush and baking soda to remove any tea stains on the outside surface of the pot.

Why would you do that?!?

People spend years cultivating a beautiful patina. Some even give their new pots to a shop where tea is regularly poured over the pot to speed up patina building.

Take a look at the post titled "Mine Have More Tea Stains Than Yours!" on HouDe's old blog(hopefully this link works):

http://web.archive.org/web/200712181317 ... com/?cat=6

I like that deepening and darkening of the color, the added shine the patina adds. I even like some of the staining building around the edges that give it an old look. However this pot in person has a couple just grayish "patches" I'd like to even out.

[Tead Off]

Sometimes you will have to rub the areas of staining vigorously depending on the buildup. Try rubbing when you wash the pot in hot water after a session before you dry it. Having the exterior wet with hot water will help soften them.

I've been rubbing the pot but I didn't do so back in '13 when I got the pot. I think the stains have been a long time building I just did not have as discerning an eye as I do now

I am currently using it for roasted, aged oolongs since it rounds out flavors a bit. Perhaps the tea is too dark! I will try it with some samples of Yiwu sheng I am trying out. This is a good chance to do side by side brewing with a gaiwan and perhaps change the pot to a lighter tea.

To be honest, I am not a fan of duanni. I like them aesthetically but they don't seem to brew tea that well. I only use mine for 'problem' teas or those that need their edge taken off like some sheng and occasional green tea. I never liked them for roasted oolongs, preferring zini and hongni.

[wert]

Take a look at the post titled "Mine Have More Tea Stains Than Yours!" on HouDe's old blog(hopefully this link works):

http://web.archive.org/web/200712181317 ... com/?cat=6

I like that deepening and darkening of the color, the added shine the patina adds. I even like some of the staining building around the edges that give it an old look. However this pot in person has a couple just grayish "patches" I'd like to even out.

Given a choice between those two in the link post, I would take the one on the right any day. I would urge independent experience and research on what's said on that post. Try everything out for yourself, debates on other people's writings(unbiased or otherwise) are seldom useful and often misleading. (including this post)