Celine : Hey teaheads!
[laughter] This is Celine from Mei Leaf.
In this video : How To Clean Tea and Coffee Stains.
In this video I'm going to show you how to naturally, and very easily, clean your teaware.
This video is going to go under the "Teawares" playlist.
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Don : Yeah!
Celine : Yeah!
Oh my God!
That was so fun!
Don : That was it!
That was it.
[It took] about ten takes?
Celine : Yeah.
[laughter]
Don : Something like that?
Celine : Yeah.
Don : Well done.
Well done.
Celine : All right.
Don : So...
Celine : Let's get going.
Don : Celine is about to show you everything you need to know about cleaning your teaware.
Ready?
Celine : Ready.
Don : Let's go.
Celine : All right, guys.
We're back, and this is what we mean by "tea stains".
It's very similar to coffee stains, and it's not harmful in any way, [but] it's just that
if you want to keep your teaware nice and clean then why not destain it?
All right.
So what you'll need is somewhere to put your water.
We're going to use warm water, so [you need] a bucket, or something like this, or in the
sink - no problem.
Don : [Can you] do it in the bath?
Celine : .. and you're going to need...
In the bath?
I [guess] you'll use a lot of water, but yes, in the bath if you want.
We're going to use some bicarbonate of soda.
This is very natural.
You put it in food.
You put it in baking stuff.
But it's also really good for destaining, especially when you mix it with this magical
stuff, which is citric acid.
Don : That's natural as well, right?
Celine : That's natural as well.
Don : It's in a lot of drinks.
It's in a lot of sweets.
Celine : Yeah.
I think they put it in soaps as well, to make soaps.
That's amazing to clean your teaware.
So we're going to use both of those, and we're going to need a sponge.
We're going to use the soft part, [and] not the rough part.
Don : Okay.
That's really important, isn't it?
Celine : Yeah.
Don : Never use the rough part of the sponge on anything.
Never use any abrasive chemicals.
Celine : Definitely.
Don : Never use any of any abrasive [products], [like] you know those pastes that have grit
in it?
Celine : Oh, yeah.
That's right.
Don : It's really important that you just...
Celine : Keep it simple.
Don : ...This is the natural, soft, simple way to do it, and it works very well.
Celine : That's exactly right.
We're also going to get some of these brushes.
These are really useful for the spout of your teapot.
Don : Show them.
Celine : So, for example, this one - as you can see - is very dirty.
We're going to use this on there.
You also - just in case - [use] some gloves.
Don : In case of what?
Celine : Just because with the citric acid it kind of makes your hands drier, so it's
nice to just protect your hands.
Don : Okay, so basically, just because it's an acidic solution.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : But it's not dangerous.
Celine : It's not dangerous.
Don : But it's better to use gloves.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : Okay.
Let's go.
Celine : Perfect.
So, [I use] a teaspoon of bicarbonate soda and citric acid to a liter of water.
Don : A teaspoon, or a tablespoon?
Celine : Oh, sorry.
A tablespoon.
Don : Okay, a tablespoon per liter.
Celine : Per liter.
Per liter.
Don : This is warm water?
Celine : This is cold water that I'm putting in now.
I'm going to put two liters of cold water...
Don : Okay.
Celine : ... and I'm going to put a liter of hot water.
Don : So this is boiling water, is it?
Celine : Yeah.
Don : So basically, your end result it kind of warm water.
Celine : Exactly.
Don : All right.
I'm going to put my finger in here.
Yeah.
So this is something like about 50 degree [Celsius] water, or something like that.
Celine : Right.
Don : Okay.
Celine : Then you take your bicarbonate of soda, take a tablespoon, and just scoop out
three [tablespoons] for this amount of water...
two... three.
Don : I guess it's no big deal if you use a little bit more, right?
Celine : Oh yeah.
[It's] no problem at all.
That's just [the amount] that I like to use, but I'm sure some people would use more or
less.
Okay.
It's completely up to you.
That's a one...
Don : Whoa!
Fizz fest.
Celine : Fizz fest... two.
That's why they use it in "bath bombs" as well, partly.
Don : Oh, really!?
[laughter] Is that [used with] "bath bombs"?
Celine : Yeah.
Then we're going to put our teaware.
So let's start with this teapot.
We're just going to dump it in.
There we go.
[We'll put] some cups, some Gai Wan [bowls], because ...
Don : Ooh, yeah!
[That's] really bad.
Look at that Gai Wan.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : We certainly haven't been cleaning our teaware for a while.
Have you been intentionally doing that in preparation for this video?
Celine : I would like to say "yes", but that would be a lie.
Don : [laughter] It has to be said, we are not the best at cleaning our teaware, are
we?
Celine : No.
Don : You've also got these glasses here, which you can take a little look at.
That's also a lot of cloudy, murky...
Celine : [The] glassware we clean a lot in the bar.
Don : Yeah.
Okay.
I see.
That's it.
Celine : So here we go.
So, for example, let's start with this.
It's already cleaned it a little bit.
Don : Wow!
That's pretty impressive, actually.
Celine : Yeah.
[It's] pretty quick.
I'm just going to wipe inside a little bit, like that.
Then I'm literally going to use the brush, and just give it a little [wipe], like that.
Don : Yup.
Celine : There we have it.
Don : Okay.
Show it close to the camera.
Celine : It's like so fast.
Don : That is, actually, remarkably fast, isn't it?
[laughter]
Celine : Yeah.
Don : That's super clean.
Then, I guess, you just need to rinse it, right?
Celine : Yeah, and that's it.
Even if you didn't rinse it, it's no big deal, because again, it's just natural.
Don : Yeah, but it's going to taste a bit lemony.
Celine : A bit lemony, yeah.
Don : Okay.
Celine : [I do the] same thing with this one.
As you can see, I didn't brush it yet, but I’m going to do it a little bit here.
There we go.
Here you go.
Don : Let me focus on that.
Spin it around a bit.
Wow, glistening!
very clean.
Nice.
Celine : Next we've got the Gai Wan.
Don : Show me that Gai Wan saucer.
Celine : [Let me] find the saucer.
Don : Oh my God!
Yeah, [it's] instant.
Celine : It's like [so] fast, but I'm just going to give it a little wipe here, then
I'm done.
Don : So this works with coffee stains exactly the same, right?
Celine : Yeah, exactly the same way.
Don : Is there like a time limit until it stops fizzing, or [can] you still use the
solution after it's stopped fizzing?
Celine : I have used the solution after it starts fizzing, but it seems to be taking
a bit longer.
Don : Talk to me about these ones then.
Celine : Ah, yes.
This one - instead of the porcelain cups; you guys may have seen a few of those online
- they have [krackeler?]
inside, and I know a lot of you wouldn't want to get rid of this krackeler...
Don : Pattern.
Celine : ... pattern.
But it doesn't really take it off, because it's so inside the cup.
Don : Right, so it's impregnated the cup anyway.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : So when you... let's see...
Celine : So when we do it...
Don : Oh, yeah!
It stays there.
Okay.
Celine : ...it stays there, and you don't need to put it... sorry, the light is not
very good...
So you don't need to even put it that long.
It just is pretty fast.
Sorry.
Don : Yeah.
I'll hold it.
Celine : We've got sunlight, guys, today.
We've got sunlight.
Don : So yeah, [it's] very quick.
Celine : Yup.
So that's done... and then...
Don : So with some of these you don't even have to wipe.
Celine : No, exactly.
As you can see, with this cup I didn't even like wash it properly.
This one's the same thing.
So you can see [that] it's very fast.
Let's do this one...
Don : I want to see [it].
Celine : ... because [it's] going to be very satisfying.
Don : Okay.
Drop it in.
Celine : Drop it in.
Don : Count to ten... nine... eight...
seven...
six...
Don and Celine : ...five...
four...three... two... one.
Don : Okay, it's done a pretty good job.
Celine : Anyway, that's fine.
Don : That's pretty good.
Celine : Then wipe.
Oh!
It's so satisfying.
Don : If you have a Gong Fu Guru tray?
Celine : Oh, the same thing.
Use exactly the same solution.
If you have a tray that fits the whole Gong Fu Guru tray it's much easier.
So you can soak it.
Don : So a sink?
Celine : A sink?
Yeah.
[that's] very good.
Don : If you've got a big sink.
Celine : Exactly.
Then it's like new.
Don : Oh, by the way - for those of you wondering - all of these brown parts here [are] part
of the pattern.
That's not a tea stain.
Celine : Yeah.
[laughter] Yeah!
Don : That's actually part of the actual artwork.
So don't write in saying [that] it didn't clean it off.
So [with] the Gong Fu Guru - I want to specify with this - [please] don't use anything abrasive.
Don't use the green side of the [sponge] when you're cleaning up your Gong Fu Guru top trays
- [the] water catchers - because they will scratch, and then you've got a problem.
So, please...
please...
please..
don't use any metal cleaners.
Just use this method and you'll be fine.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : Super...
super... simple.
Celine : Super simple.
Look at that.
Don : Cool!
We are ready for more tea sessions.
Celine : [laughter] Yeah.
This is very good, because I needed to do that.
So [it's] perfect... [and it's] the same with this.
Anyway, that's what I wanted to show you, teaheads.
I thought it would be useful.
So that's it!
Don : You're not going to get away.
You've got to do an outro.
Celine : Oh, okay!
Don : We'll be right back!
Celine : [laughter]
Don : Right.
Here we are, surrounded by sparkling teaware.
You can see [that] it is very, very, very, very clean.
I have to say [that] it is better for you to wash them afterwards.
We did test it, and if you leave it the mixture of the bicarb and the citric acid can leave
a little bit of of mist on your glassware...
Celine : Yeah.
Don : ... so rinse it, preferably [with] soap and water.
Just [give it a] normal rinse, and then dry.
Celine : Hot water, soap... and water.
Don : Yeah.
Then just dry it, or if you're lazy like us...
Celine : Then just let it drip.
Don : ... then you can drain it [laughter].
But it works super well.
[It's] really, really good.
You can see.
Celine : [It's] really, really [satisfying] to actually use.
If you feel like meditating on cleaning this is a really good way [laughter].
Don : How is it different than the stain removers that you can buy?
Because there's quite a few stain removers out there.
Celine : Yeah.
I started with a stain remover, but it was quite expensive, and when I was looking at
the ingredients I actually found that [there's] two ingredients [that] they usually put, [which
is] the bicarb and the citric acid.
They put other chemicals in it, which I don't really like because, in a way, because it's
chemicals.So if you just use these two it does exactly the same thing...
Don : Yeah.
So why spend extra money?
Celine : Maybe less quick, but...
Don : That was super quick!
Celine : Yeah, true.
Don : It was really, really quick.
Spending less money, you just buy a couple of tubs.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : I guess [you] can buy them pretty much anywhere.
[Buy] tubs of bicarb, [and] a tub of citric acid, and you've got all that you need to
clean your teaware.
Celine : Yes.
Don : One thing is that [that] the krackeler, if you leave it in the solution for too long
it will start to actually lighten the krackeler effect in [this] porcelain.
So if you really want to protect your krackeler effect then I would just use soap and water.
Celine : Yeah.
Don : And obviously, this does not apply to clay teaware.
Celine : Definitely.
Don : Okay?
Don : No clay teaware.
Don : So do not start sticking clay teaware in this mixture, please...
please...
please...please.
Celine : That's a no.
Don : Cool!
That's it, and before I'm accused of sexism - because this is the only video that she
started, and it's all about cleaning - [this] is her video idea, and she does this every
day at the Mei Leaf teahouse.
So this is her area of expertise.
Now, she needs to finish off the video with the Mei Leaf outro.
Take it away.
Celine : Can I just say, though, [that] he does do some of the cleaning, so [he's] fine.
[laughter]
Don : A little bit.
Celine : All right.
That's it teaheads.
If you made it to the end of this video then please give it the thumbs-up.
Uh...
Don : Check out...
Celine : ... [laughter] check out our YouTube playlists and let us know if there [are] any
videos that you would like us to make.
If you're ever in Camden come and say "Hi!" - to the Mei Leaf teahouse - and taste our
wares...
Um...
Don : Questions...
Celine : ... if you have any questions or comments then please fire them over.
Other than that, I'm Celine from Mei Leaf.
This is Don Mei.
Thank you for being a part of the revelation of true tea.
Keep drinking the good stuff...
Don : Stay away from the tea bags...
Celine : Stay away from those tea bags, and spread the word, because nobody deserves bad
tea.
Bye!
[WAVING] [laughter]
Don : Bye!