Our Teaware 101 series has already covered a wide variety of vintage and modern teaware, and which teas are ideal according to which type of pot. Now let’s get into cleaning and maintaining your cast iron teapot. The decision to purchase a cast iron is usually based on their reputation of being durable and long-lasting. As we know, deciding to purchase a cast iron teapot is a personal and pricey process, why wouldn’t we expect them to last forever. So how do you clean and maintain a cast iron teapot once you have one?

Cleaning & Maintaining Your Cast Iron Teapots

With proper care and maintenance, cast iron teapots can last a lifetime.

Single Use Clean

After drinking your favorite loose tisane, wait for the pot to cool down completely before handling. Once cooled, rinse and submerge into warm water only. Never using soap and/or salt, if there is a crack in your cast iron seal, soap can seep in and hinder the overall tea drinking experience. Wipe the excess water out from inside the pot and finally, invert the pot to dry leaving the strainer and lid off to the side.

Deep Cleaning

Step 1: Once cooled, rinse the pot with warm water, use a soft brush or dish towel to gently scrub any rust moving in a circular motion.

Step 2: Fill the pot with used tea leaves and boiling hot water. Let this soak for 20 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea reacts with any possible rust and forms a natural seal, helping to prolong life.

Step 3: After 20 minutes discard the tea leaves and follow the single-use cleaning instructions.

Step 4: Invert and air dry the teapot, leaving the lid and strainer out. Note, there may be rust that drips, to be safe, dry the teapot on a dark surfer. Careful not to stain your countertop or dish towels.

Visit our website to shop our collection of Cast Iron Teapots.

By: Tracy Ambrosecchio, RYT