Just thinking of the function of the vessel for a moment (i.e., a
container for brewing tea!), what difference does it make if the pot
pours or not when one stops the air-hole?

I can understand that it would be a general indicator of quality, but,
in and of itself, it surely can't be seen as a major defect. At worst,
there is a small place between lid and pot where air can pass, in
addition to the air-hole. I cannot imagine that such a "defect" would
ever change the characteristic of the tea, nor can I imagine how a tiny
additional air-hole would alter the pour of the pot. Do please
enlighten!

It has never happened to me, but if I received a pot that "dribbled"
when I blocked up the air-hole, I can't imagine myself discarding it.
Just as a poster above mentioned, it is a little "character" for the
pot, more than anything else.


Toodlepip,

Hobbes