What You Should Know About Cast Iron Teapots &tetsubin Teapots

By Author: vikram Kuamr
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If you are a tea lover but you've never tried using a cast iron teapot, well, you have a treat ahead of you to look forward to! Cast iron teapots were first used in ancient China, and adopted by the Japanese in about the 17th century. Tea drinking in Japan was traditionally a wealthy practice; the powdered tea, called Matcha, was expensive and therefore not accessible to anyone but the wealthy. However, when the Chinese method (called Sencha) of brewing tea using whole leaves instead of powder came to Japan, even the less well-off could afford to drink tea. They used the cast iron kettles they already had for boiling water to brew the tea, and eventually special teapots, still made of cast iron, came into use. These were called Tetsubin teapots.

Over the years, Tetsubin teapots became more highly decorative, and they are now available in a number of shapes, both traditional and modern, and with intricate designs added to the outside of the bowl.

One advantage of a cast iron teapot is that you can both boil the water in the pot, and also brew the tea in it (having once removed it from the heat). However, modern ...
... versions of the Tetsubin teapot often have either an enamel lining or a stainless steel filter for holding the tea. Enamel-lined teapots should not be used for heating water, as the enamel is not good at standing up to high heat. Also, stainless steel filters should be removed before heating water in a non-enameled pot, but once the teapot is removed from the heat the filter can be replaced.

Another advantage is that cast iron teapots, including Tetsubin teapots, retain the heat very well, so that tea brewed in them stays hot for a much longer time than other teapots, such as china, so they are fantastic for serving tea at a party or outdoor event. They also last for more than a lifetime, and are often handed down from generation to generation. Their longevity means that not only are they valued family treasures, but also a great investment (there are some very expensive versions, if you really want to splash out, but many can be bought for relatively small amounts of money) and environmentally friendly!

Taking care of your Tetsubin teapot, or any other cast iron kind, is simple. When you first buy one, whether it is used or brand new, rinse it with hot water before use to make sure any residue is cleared. Do not leave liquids in the teapot when you have finished with it; simply rinse out with clean water and leave upside down to drain, or dry with a clean cloth.

Plain cast iron teapots have an added bonus in that they provide a small amount of iron to the tea drinker, which can be useful for those with an iron deficiency. However, perhaps the most important aspect of these teapots is that tea brewed in them tastes truly delicious, whatever kind of tea you choose to use.

Author Bio.

Find fabulous Tetsubin teapot amid a great range of Cast iron teapot, trivets, and other tea wares, at The Exotic Teapot.