Note — why this kettle may “sweat”: This kettle is made of unglazed Chaozhou clay with a fine, natural pore structure. When it is heated — especially while it is new — tiny beads of moisture may appear on the outside, most noticeably at the bottom, much like sweat. This is not a leak: the kettle does not leak when cold, and there is no crack or hole. The micro-pores are there for a reason: while the water boils, they gently absorb impurities and off-flavors from the water — such as the chlorine taste of tap water — while the minerals in the clay soften and round out the water in return. That is why water boiled in a clay kettle like this tastes soft, smooth and slightly sweet, and why Chaozhou gongfu tea drinkers have boiled their water this way for centuries. The sweating is strongest at first and gradually lessens with regular use, as the pores take up minerals from the water and settle. It does not affect the kettle’s function.
