Accelerated seasoning success

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ShuShu
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Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:33 pm

Baisao wrote:
Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:36 pm
I would reconsider how reputable Chawangshop is as a vendor since they persist in selling this problematic lot of teapots.

On another note, after well over a decade seasoning my teapots I now regret allowing them to become so heavily seasoned. Some of us pay a lot of money for fine pots made from exceptional clays. Clogging the pores of the clay with fatty acids attenuates the character of the clay to a degree that we might just as well be using mediocre clay (and pocketing the difference). I just need the nerve to reset them. They are beautiful even if they would make better tea after being cleaned.

If your pot makes poor tasting tea, you are better off with another pot or switching to a gaiwan. I see no reason to persist in using a bad pot.

Cheers!
Well here is another suggestion (I kid you not - this guy had exactly the same problem with this zini, but looks like he found a solution)

@Atlas - looks like it performs not bad at all here.

https://imgur.com/0JwDiuP


Here is his post on reddit which is also here somewhere

https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/8 ... ulent_pot/
Chadrinkincat
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Tue Aug 21, 2018 11:18 pm

This pot is a prime example of why I always recommend spending more for a realiable F1 instead of buying a cheap generic 90's pot. Or at very least buy used one so that you can ask seller how actual pot u receive performs.
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Baisao
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:43 am

Bok wrote:
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:12 pm
Baisao wrote:
Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:36 pm
I would reconsider how reputable Chawangshop is as a vendor since they persist in selling this problematic lot of teapots.
I also always keep scratching my head, when I see them posting using those lead-infested vintage cups... brown or red over-glazed, those are heavily leaching lead, I got some myself and tested them with a 3M kit. No good.
That’s beyond the pale. Reputable vendors would test their ceramics for lead (or I should hope they would!)

While there are other heavy metals for us to be concerned about in clay, it is easy to test for lead. I’ve tested every one of my ceramic items for lead and fortunately they have all been lead-free.

Selling lead glazed wares is unconscionable in this day and age.
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Baisao
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:46 am

ShuShu wrote:
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:33 pm
Well here is another suggestion (I kid you not - this guy had exactly the same problem with this zini, but looks like he found a solution)

@Atlas - looks like it performs not bad at all here.

https://imgur.com/0JwDiuP


Here is his post on reddit which is also here somewhere

https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/8 ... ulent_pot/
Hahahahaha! That made my evening. I hope it doesn’t kill the poor little thing. :-D
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Stephen
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:07 am

Does Chawangshop sell lead glazed wares? Not sure I've seen those on the site.
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Bok
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:37 am

Stephen wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 1:07 am
Does Chawangshop sell lead glazed wares? Not sure I've seen those on the site.
Not sure if they sell or sold those, but they are using them on their Instagram posts often.

Most, if not all vintage/antique glazes contain lead. The crucial part is, if it is over- or underglaze. Underglaze seals the surface and makes it generally safe to use, unless there are cracks.

Overglaze is mostly not safe and certain colours most certainly contain lead like red or yellow.
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Bok
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:43 am

See for example these, quickly put together in recent postings:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgn4VnKh8Le ... hawangshop
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ba8qnUjlUsT ... hawangshop
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQKoHQ5Axgn ... hawangshop
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNmtbrVABr0 ... hawangshop

I have some identical ones and they all tested positive for lead leaching. The 3M tester was bright red, so not a small amount!
gatmcm
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:20 am

Bok wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:43 am

I have some identical ones and they all tested positive for lead leaching. The 3M tester was bright red, so not a small amount!


Even in the ones with glazed white insides?
I use some 70s/80s Macau stuff on occasion, might be time to test them
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Bok
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 4:26 am

gatmcm wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 3:20 am
Bok wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 2:43 am

I have some identical ones and they all tested positive for lead leaching. The 3M tester was bright red, so not a small amount!


Even in the ones with glazed white insides?
I use some 70s/80s Macau stuff on occasion, might be time to test them
The inside is ok-ish in general, but your lips will still touch the outside when you sip, which makes it unsafe.

In any case I would check anything vintage or if uncertain provenance. Better safe than sorry.
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ShuShu
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 6:14 am

Baisao wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:43 am
While there are other heavy metals for us to be concerned about in clay, it is easy to test for lead. I’ve tested every one of my ceramic items for lead and fortunately they have all been lead-free.

Selling lead glazed wares is unconscionable in this day and age.
What test kit did you use for that? and does the same concern exists in Hagi glazes ware (also tagging @Bok here)
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Bok
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 7:33 am

ShuShu wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 6:14 am

What test kit did you use for that? and does the same concern exists in Hagi glazes ware (also tagging @Bok here)
I used a 3M lead test kit. By no means extensive, but if it is positive, there is lead. If it is negative it doesn’t necessarily means there is no leaching. Still the easiest way I found to do a test yourself for ease of mind.
Atlas
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:38 am

Baisao wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:46 am
ShuShu wrote:
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:33 pm
Well here is another suggestion (I kid you not - this guy had exactly the same problem with this zini, but looks like he found a solution)

@Atlas - looks like it performs not bad at all here.

https://imgur.com/0JwDiuP


Here is his post on reddit which is also here somewhere

https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/8 ... ulent_pot/
Hahahahaha! That made my evening. I hope it doesn’t kill the poor little thing. :-D
Spoilers, the succulent died due to the lack of a drain-hole lol.

He tried my method a couple of days ago but couldn't get rid of the piss, unfortunately.
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S_B
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:39 am

Hahahahaha! That made my evening. I hope it doesn’t kill the poor little thing. :-D
Spoiler alert...I think it did...no drainage caused some root rot if I'm not mistaken. RIP in peace.
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Ragamuffin
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:53 pm

Atlas wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 10:38 am
Baisao wrote:
Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:46 am
ShuShu wrote:
Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:33 pm
Well here is another suggestion (I kid you not - this guy had exactly the same problem with this zini, but looks like he found a solution)

@Atlas - looks like it performs not bad at all here.

https://imgur.com/0JwDiuP


Here is his post on reddit which is also here somewhere

https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/8 ... ulent_pot/
Hahahahaha! That made my evening. I hope it doesn’t kill the poor little thing. :-D
Spoilers, the succulent died due to the lack of a drain-hole lol.

He tried my method a couple of days ago but couldn't get rid of the piss, unfortunately.
Yep that's my pot... One of the 90's zini from Chawangshop

As for the succulent the roots rotted due to not having a drainage hole, but I was able to save the plant by moving it to another pot. :)

I saw Atlas's seasoning method, so I decided to give it one more shot... Unfortunately it didn't work for me, the pot still made my tea taste pissy.

As for Chawangshop I'm certainly never going to order teaware from them again. A few months ago I shot them an email about the pot making tea taste acrid/pissy and that I'd heard similar accounts from other owners: he completely blew it off and said that he has sold many of those pots without issues, and talked about how zini is porous and can steal some of the tea's flavor until properly seasoned. I replied that I am familiar with the seasoning of porous teapots and that it wasn't just muting the flavor, that it was making any tea that I brewed in it taste like urine. To that he replied that I should season it more or perhaps use it as a cha hai until it is seasoned. :(
Chadrinkincat
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Wed Aug 22, 2018 9:09 pm

@raggamuffin

Use it as a cha hai? That's literally the same thing as using it as teapot except that it won't get as hot. That's some terrible customer service from them.

I never continue using a pot if it negatively effects tea. It should have some muting but shouldn't add nasty flavors that weren't normally present in the tea. sounds like contaminated clay or not properly fired, below what's considered still usable low firing. Pots like this are not worth the time/tea needed to make them usable.
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