Birthing Your Teapot
By Ron Campbell, Owner of Merkaba
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The initial preparation of your teapot or gaiwan is also called “Birthing” the pot. For those of us familiar with the process, it can be compared to “seasoning” a cast iron skillet before using for the first time. When it was manufactured, your pot most likely had some residual particles and/or dust remaining inside of it. Even if it was washed out then, consider packaging, shipping and the time it sat on the shelf in the store before it found it’s way to you. So, just as every other cooking utensil it needs to be cleaned before it’s first formal usage.

Preparation of New Teapots and Gaiwans:
- Before you actually prepare tea in your new pot or gaiwan, you should brush out any loose dust or particles from the inside.
- Next, steam the pot and its lid inverted next to each other for 30 minutes. This will open its pores and remove any material that may have been rubbed onto the surface.
- Let the pot cool.
- Pour clean hot water (NO SOAP!) into the pot, put the lid on and allow to stand for several hours. Some people also prefer to use a little tea in with this initial birthing to help infuse the pores.
- Rinse the pot and lid in clean water. It is now ready for use.

Before you begin, you may want to determine exactly how much water it holds using a measuring cup. In doing so, you can better gauge the amount of tea to use.


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Ron Campbell and his wife Kathy own and operate Merkaba, which features a wide variety of teas and tea items, and gifts for all your spiritual and cultural needs. Their teas come from all over the world and include organic herbal teas, healing teas, Yerba Mate, green teas, black teas, oolong, white teas, pu-erh, flavored tisanes, chai teas, flavored and blended teas. You'll find all kinds of tea products including filters, thermometers, tea bag squeezers, tea cozies, gourds, tea pots and tea sets, mugs and cups, mesh tea infusers, bombilla and even coffee and tea scoops. For more information about Merkaba's retail shop in Idyllwild, CA, or online store visit: http://www.southwestblend.com/merkaba/index.htm