On Jan 1, 7:33*pm, niisonge > wrote:
> > Having just bought a Yixing, I'm wondering what sort of odor might be
> > noticed.I have noticed slight odor in mine.
>
> Is it a heavy clay odor, a musty odor, chemical odor or tea odor? I
> always smell the inside before I buy. I buy the ones with no
> detectable odor (when pot is fully dry). Usually after heating the
> interior with hot water, you can smell the clay odor in a new pot -
> but only slightly. If it has a heavy odor then I don't bother to use
> it.

It is a slight clay odor, when the pot is dry, although I doubt it is
as completely dry now as a brand new one. The clay odor is more
pronounced when wet (this was bought new and only used now about 10
times). I did have some oolong leaves in it lately which I left in all
night. Before I poured these out, I noticed a more pungent smell which
disappeared one rinsed with hot water and dried. I only use boiled
filtered water to rinse the pot, and the heat remaining in the pot,
after pouring the water out seems to drive off much of the remaining
moisture. The inside will literally start drying before my eyes which
is kind of neat. I attribute this to the properties of the clay. I
then blot up the rest with a paper towel, finding that blowing through
the spout always pushes out a little trapped water. I have tried to
avoid introducing any artificial odors by never using soap, even
avoiding using our cloth dish towels to dry with because they have a
smell from the dryer sheets used by my wife. This is probably being
too particular, but I like the pot and realize the clay will absorb
some of what's put in it. Funny how these little pot grow on you.
Gregory