TL;DR: Preheat your porcelain teapot with hot water, add one teaspoon of loose tea per cup plus one for the pot, then steep 2–4 minutes before pouring. Hand wash with mild soap, rinse thoroughly, and air dry to keep the glaze and flavor pristine.
Step 1: Preheat the Porcelain
Porcelain is thin and sensitive to thermal shock. Fill your teapot halfway with hot tap water, swirl gently, and let it sit for 30 seconds. Pour it out. This warms the walls so your tea stays hot longer and prevents cracking.
If you want to dig deeper, check out our guide on **Porcelain Teapots & Health: Why Your Tea Set Matters**
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Step 2: Measure the Leaf
Use one teaspoon of loose-leaf tea per six ounces of water, plus one extra teaspoon “for the pot.” For delicate whites or greens, use slightly less; for robust blacks or pu-erh, heap generously. If your porcelain tea set includes a built-in strainer, place leaves directly inside.
Step 3: Pour and Steep
Heat water to the right temperature: 160–175°F for green and white, 190–200°F for oolong, and 200–212°F for black and herbal. Pour over the leaves, cover with the lid, and steep 2–3 minutes for green, 3–4 for oolong, and 4–5 for black. Taste at the shorter time to avoid bitterness.
Step 4: Serve and Re-steep
Pour every drop through the strainer into cups. Leaving tea in the pot continues steeping and turns bitter. Porcelain retains heat well, so most teas can be re-steeped two or three times, adding 30 seconds each round.
Step 5: Clean and Store
Hand wash the teapot, lid, and cups in warm water with a drop of mild dish soap. Never use abrasive scrubbers or the dishwasher—they dull the glaze. Rinse with hot water, dry upside down on a towel, and store loosely covered so air circulates.
Tips
Never pour boiling water directly onto cold porcelain. Avoid sudden temperature changes. For stubborn stains, scrub gently with baking soda and a soft cloth. Dedicate one porcelain tea set to delicate teas if you brew strong spices often.
FAQ
Q: Can I put my porcelain teapot in the dishwasher?
A: No. Dishwasher heat and detergent can crack the glaze and weaken the spout. Always hand wash.
Q: How do I remove tea stains from a porcelain tea set?
A: Make a paste of baking soda and water, rub gently with a soft cloth, then rinse thoroughly.
Q: Why did my porcelain teapot crack?
A: Most cracks come from thermal shock—pouring boiling water into a cold pot. Always preheat first.
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