"When you go to pour tea, it only trickles from the spout," or "It stops completely halfway through"—this is one of the most stressful moments at a Kung Fu tea ceremony. Shaking the pot forcefully is dangerous as it may cause hot water to splash. Here, we explain how to safely clear a blockage using a tea needle (chasen) and preventative measures to keep it from happening.
1. Two Main Causes of Clogging
- Tea leaves clogging the inside of the spout (filter holes): Finely crushed tea leaves (tea dust) are pulled by water pressure against the holes inside the teapot (single, multi, or ball-shaped filters), blocking them.
- Blocked air vent (on the lid): Water droplets can accumulate in the small air hole on the lid knob; if surface tension prevents air from passing through, the pressure difference will stop the flow of tea.
2. Proper Steps for Clearing Clogs with a Tea Needle
- Check the air vent: First, gently blow into the air hole on the lid or wipe it with a tea cloth to ensure airflow (this often fixes the problem).
- External approach with a tea needle: If it still does not pour, gently insert a brass or bamboo tea needle into the spout. Once it touches the filter holes inside, wiggle it slightly from side to side to push the tea leaves back into the pot.
- Caution against damaging the spout: Forcibly inserting a hard, metal needle may chip the tip of the spout, so use a tea needle with a rounded, polished tip and slide it in gently.
3. How to Load Tea Leaves to Prevent Clogging
When placing tea leaves into the pot, simply be mindful of the order: "place larger leaves at the bottom (near the filter holes) and put finer leaves on top (in the center)." These larger leaves act as a natural filter, which can dramatically prevent the filter holes from getting clogged.
For information on how to choose a tea needle that won't damage your teapot, please refer to our guide on comparing tea needle materials: brass vs. bamboo safety.
