Teapot Care Guide | 养壶指南
How to Care for Your Yixing Teapot | 如何保养您的紫砂壶
A well-cared-for teapot improves with age, developing a beautiful patina and enhancing the flavor of your tea.
一把保养得当的茶壶会越用越润，形成美丽的包浆，并提升茶汤的风味。
一把保养得当的茶壶会越用越润，形成美丽的包浆，并提升茶汤的风味。
1. Before First Use: Seasoning Your Teapot | 初次使用前：开壶
New Yixing teapots may have a slight earthy smell or clay dust from the kiln.
新的紫砂壶可能带有一点土腥味或窑烧留下的粉尘。
新的紫砂壶可能带有一点土腥味或窑烧留下的粉尘。
Follow these steps to "season" (open) your teapot before brewing tea:
在泡茶前，请遵循以下步骤为您的茶壶“开壶”：
在泡茶前，请遵循以下步骤为您的茶壶“开壶”：
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Step 1: Clean: Rinse the teapot thoroughly with warm water to remove any loose particles.
- 步骤 1：清洗： 用温水彻底冲洗茶壶，去除任何松散的颗粒。
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Step 2: Boil: Place the teapot (and lid separately) in a large pot of clean water. Bring to a gentle boil for 30-45 minutes.
- 步骤 2：煮沸： 将茶壶（壶盖分开）放入盛有清水的大锅中。小火慢煮 30-45 分钟。
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Step 3: Tea Bath (Optional): Add some low-grade tea leaves of the same type you plan to brew (e.g., Pu'er for a dark clay pot) and simmer for another 30 minutes.
- 步骤 3：茶汤浴（可选）： 加入一些您计划冲泡的同类型低档茶叶（例如深色泥料壶配普洱），再炖煮 30 分钟。
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Step 4: Cool & Dry: Turn off the heat and let the teapot cool naturally in the water. Remove, rinse with warm water, and air dry completely.
- 步骤 4：冷却与干燥： 关火，让茶壶在水中自然冷却。取出，用温水冲洗，并完全风干。
Your teapot is now ready for its first brew!
您的茶壶现在可以开始第一次冲泡了！
您的茶壶现在可以开始第一次冲泡了！
2. Daily Brewing Routine | 日常冲泡流程
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Rinse: Always rinse the teapot with hot water before adding tea leaves to warm it up.
- 温壶： 在放入茶叶前，务必用热水冲洗茶壶以预热。
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Brew: Pour boiling water over the tea leaves and steep as desired.
- 冲泡： 将沸水倒在茶叶上，根据需要浸泡。
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Pour: Pour the tea out completely; do not let tea soup sit in the pot for long periods.
- 出汤： 将茶汤完全倒出；不要让茶汤长时间停留在壶内。
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Rinse Again: After emptying the leaves, rinse the inside with hot water to remove any residue.
- 再次冲洗： 倒出茶叶后，用热水冲洗内部以去除残留物。
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Dry: Leave the lid off and place the teapot in a well-ventilated area to air dry completely.
- 晾干： 打开壶盖，将茶壶放置在通风良好的地方，使其自然完全干燥。
3. The Art of "Yang Hu" (Nurturing) | “养壶”的艺术
Over time, regular use will give your teapot a natural, glossy sheen called "Bao Jiang" (patina).
随着时间的推移，经常使用会使您的茶壶呈现出一种自然的光泽，称为“包浆”。
随着时间的推移，经常使用会使您的茶壶呈现出一种自然的光泽，称为“包浆”。
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One Pot, One Tea: Dedicate each teapot to one type of tea (e.g., one for Oolong, one for Pu'er) to prevent flavor mixing.
- 一壶侍一茶： 每把茶壶专用于一种茶类（例如一把泡乌龙，一把泡普洱），以防止串味。
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External Wiping: While the pot is warm, you can gently wipe the exterior with a clean, soft tea towel soaked in tea soup to encourage patina.
- 外部擦拭： 当壶身温热时，您可以使用浸过茶汤的干净软茶巾轻轻擦拭外部，以促进包浆形成。
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Avoid Oils: Never touch the teapot with oily hands or use soap/detergent, as the porous clay will absorb the scent and ruin the tea flavor.
- 避免油脂： 切勿用沾油的手触摸茶壶，也不要使用肥皂/洗涤剂，因为多孔的泥料会吸收气味并破坏茶味。
4. What NOT to Do | 禁忌事项
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Do Not Use Soap: Never wash your Yixing teapot with dish soap or detergent.
- 切勿使用肥皂： 永远不要用洗洁精或洗涤剂清洗您的紫砂壶。
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Do Not Store Wet: Never store the teapot with the lid on while it is still damp; this can cause mold or bad odors.
- 切勿湿存： 切勿在茶壶未干时盖上壶盖存放；这会导致发霉或产生异味。
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Do Not Microwave: Yixing clay is not suitable for microwave ovens.
- 切勿微波： 紫砂泥不适合放入微波炉。
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Do Not Sudden Temperature Changes: Avoid pouring ice water into a hot teapot, as thermal shock may cause cracking.
- 切勿骤冷骤热： 避免向热茶壶中倒入冰水，热冲击可能导致开裂。
5. Long-Term Storage | 长期存放
If you won't be using the teapot for a while:
如果您一段时间内不使用茶壶：
如果您一段时间内不使用茶壶：
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Ensure it is completely clean and 100% dry.
- 确保其完全清洁且 100% 干燥。
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Store it in a breathable box or cabinet away from strong odors (e.g., spices, perfume).
- 将其存放在透气的盒子或柜子中，远离强烈的气味（如香料、香水）。
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Occasionally take it out to air it and check for dust.
- 偶尔取出通风并检查灰尘。