Smelly teacup

[swordofmytriumph]

Update:

So I simmered it with baking soda for an hour, then did an hour in water with vinegar, then did another hour with plain water. At first it seemed like a success...but I let it dry overnight, and just now went to try it out.

It didn’t work. .

If anything, tea that was on it before had been stripped away and now it’s back to where I started when it was brand new. Upon further thought, the smell is that of hot rocks. Like the smell you get when you pour cold water on rocks that have been in the sun all day? That smell that evaporates off it is exactly what it is, and it tastes like that too. The smell/flavor is very pronounced with goashan. I’m gonna try it out with some more powerful teas like young sheng and black tea. Might not be noticeable. Also gonna try soaking it before drinking, because the smell seems to dissipate some if it has been wet for a while.

So disappointing though.

[Baisao]

Do you have a photo of the cup? Perhaps there is something we can see in its makeup that can unwind this mystery.

[swordofmytriumph]

Do you have a photo of the cup? Perhaps there is something we can see in its makeup that can unwind this mystery.

Here’s some pictures.

[Baisao]

I wonder if it wasn’t fully vitrified. I am going to ask some potter friends.

[Baisao]

First potter friend with decades of experience in the US: crazing causes liquids to leak into the clay where bacteria can grow and produce an odor.

This is contradicted by our use of hagiyaki, which leaks & sweats yet doesn’t develop an odor. Well, at least not in my opinion.

@swordofmytriumph, did it begin with this odor or did it develop over time? (I know the answer but want to document it here)

[swordofmytriumph]

It had the odor to start. And it's more of a really strong ceramic/mineral/hot stones smell. Not the type of smell you get if stuff was growing in it.

[Victoria]

It had the odor to start. And it's more of a really strong ceramic/mineral/hot stones smell. Not the type of smell you get if stuff was growing in it.

I recommend sending an email to a vendor who sells Sou Yamada cups like Toru at Artistic Nippon. He may have some advice. If the cup was stored in a damp place it may just need a lot of sun, airing and a few more light simmers, may take a while.

[Baisao]

From a friend who knows this pottery well: he says that odors in pottery are common. Neither of us smells anything from Sou's shudei but he detects a slight odor to the clay of the blue-green pieces.

Possible reasons for this-- in general-- are incomplete firing and clays with large particle sizes. Also, other potters works can have strong or weak smells when fired in gas or electric kilns.

Lastly, he advised deodorizing the teacup in baking soda and vinegar. Personally, I would try electrolysis to try to draw conductive metals out of the cup and to something else, like a penny.

[swordofmytriumph]

Sounds like it might just be the clay itself then. It’s a very mineral/ceramic smell. I feel better though knowing others have detected the same thing as me.

[umami]

Have you managed to find a solution for this? Or did it go away with use?