Today is Teapots!
When you think about it, all we really need to drink or serve tea is a container large enough to hold the leaves and the water. That could be anything from a tin can (when you are camping) to a Gorham silver service complete with waste bowl.
Well, let's try to think outside of those lines and get a service that will enhance our tea experience.
What you really need is a pot with a weighted bottom to keep it steady, a spout large enough for pouring and not dribbling, a means of straining out the tea leaves and a cup.
It is from these tea essentials that a grand host of teaware have evolved. Some range from useless pieces of cross contaminating strainers to 'too cute to use' tea cups.
Let's explore...
Yixing teapots: This is a pottery pot that had been made near Yixing, China since 2500BC. It is a distinctive, humble yet beautiful pottery made from a purple sand clay that is porous yet able to withstand cracking. Because it is porous, it will absorb some of the teas flavor.
As the pot is used, it becomes "seasoned" with the tea's flavor allowing each succesive brew to be a little better than the last. It is said that if you use a Yixing teapot for many years, you can brew tea simply by pouring boiling water into it!
Gaiwan: this refers to a small, handleless tea bowl made of porcelain with a matching saucer and lid. It serves the function as both cup and personal teapot. To use, you place the amount of leaves necessary in the bowl which is sitting on its saucer, and the boiling water, you then place on the lid and let steep the amount of time required. When done, you hold the Gaiwan by the saucer so as not to burn your fingers and push back the lid of the bowl to strain the leaves back. Doing this operation correctly with one hand requires some practice, like using chopsticks!
Japanese Ironware: called Tetsubin, these heavy iron kettles have been used for centuries to heat water over open fires. The pots are typically wider than they are tall and may be embossed with designs inspired by nature.
Modern Ironware is glazed with enamel making for better cleaning.
Samovar: The Russian invention is a large vessel, usuall y in copper in which water is heated by a means of charcoal in a pipe that extends down through the center. A small teapot sits atop the urn so that brewed tea can be kept hot. Tea (often with lemon added) is then served in glasses with metal holders. (I cannot find any that isn't under $100 a pair!)
There are many more like infusers, but I do not consider them a pot or the french press for that matter. So since it is my blog, I will disreguard them (Although I own 2!)
And just for fun I will throw this word into the tea blog.
Teapoy. Know what it is? Teapot, the word comes from the Indian word meaning "three feet". Tea caddies, mixing bowls and other tea paraphernalia were stored in a teapoy. A small three-legged pedestal.
No this isn't a picture of a teapoy, just a curious picture I found of teapots! I thought it fit.
Brightest tea blessings!
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