{
    "id": 1003937,
    "title": "How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It)",
    "slug": "how-to-clean-a-teapot",
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    "modified": "2026-03-20T06:01:00+00:00",
    "excerpt": "Cleaning a teapot is a flavour decision: hot water for glazed and glass, bicarbonate for stains, never detergent in seasoned clay, dry cast iron at once.",
    "content_text": "How to clean a teapot, in summary: Cleaning a teapot is a flavour decision: hot water for glazed and glass, bicarbonate for stains, never detergent in seasoned clay, dry cast iron at once.\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/\nCleaning a teapot is a flavour issue, not just cosmetics, because tannin film taints every future brew, with one deliberate exception. This sits in the teaware cluster beside choosing a teapot.\nLast reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in February 2026.\nWhy it matters for taste\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Why it matters for taste, How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/Tea stain and tannin build a film that turns rancid tasting and bitter over time, quietly spoiling good tea. A neglected pot makes worse tea than a cheap clean one.\nEveryday glazed and glass pots\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Everyday glazed and glass pots, How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/Rinse after every use, and periodically clean with bicarbonate of soda and warm water, a soft brush, no harsh abrasives. Bicarb lifts tannin without scratching, see glass vs ceramic.\nStubborn staining\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Stubborn staining, How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/A bicarbonate paste left for a while, or a soak in warm water with bicarb, removes heavy tannin. For glass, the same; you will see the difference because glass shows it, see limescale and tea for scale.\nAvoid strong detergent in the pot\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Avoid strong detergent in the pot, How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/Heavy washing up liquid can leave a residue that flavours tea, especially in porous or textured pots. Mild rinse and bicarb beats perfumed detergent for teaware.\nThe seasoned pot exception\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for The seasoned pot exception, How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/Unglazed clay pots (Yixing) are deliberately kept for one tea family and never scrubbed with detergent; the built character is the point. Clean these with hot water only, see cast iron tetsubin.\nCast iron careEnamel lined cast iron cleans like ceramic; bare cast iron must be dried thoroughly to prevent rust and never soaked. Know which lining you have before you clean.\nDry it properlyStore with the lid off so it dries fully; a damp closed pot grows a musty smell that ruins the next brew, see freshness principles.\nSummaryRinse always, bicarb regularly, mild not perfumed, dry lid off, and treat seasoned unglazed pots as the deliberate exception, see choosing a teapot.\nCleaning a teapot, at a glance\n\nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/\nPot typeRuleGlazed/glass/porcelainHot water, soft brush; mild soap occasionally if needed, rinse wellStubborn tannin stainBicarbonate of soda paste, not a scourer; rinse thoroughlySeasoned clay (Yixing)Hot water only, never detergent, the season is the pointCast iron (tetsubin)Rinse, never soak or scrub; dry immediately to stop rustAlwaysDry it fully before storing; trapped damp taints the next brew\nStock up via the teaware range.\nFrom the curatorteas \u00b7 Freshness beats provenance for most drinkers. Buy a smaller bag more often.\nMore teaware readingHow to choose a teapotTea equipmentHow to use a tea infuserHow to make tea \nSource: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for How to Clean a Teapot (Without Ruining It). Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/how-to-clean-a-teapot/\nMore from the tea wiki\n\nGreen tea\nBlack tea\nOolong tea\nWhite tea\nHerbal tea\nCaffeine in tea\nHow to make tea properly\nLoose leaf vs teabag",
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