Tetsubin

The tetsubin (tet-SUE-bin) teapot is a Japanese teapot made of cast iron.  Exactly when the tetsubin first appeared in Japan is unclear, but evidence does suggest a close relationship with the rise of the Sencha form of drinking tea that uses tea leaves instead of powdered tea.  Before Sencha, tea drinking was not popular with the common citizens.  Only the wealthy could afford Matcha (a type of powder used to brew tea.) When the Chinese introduced Sencha (brewing tea with whole leaves instead of powder) was introduced to Japan, tea drinking became affordable and more accessible to all the Japanese people. 

During the 18^th century as more citizens of Japan began drinking tea, Sencha gradually became an informal setting (Chanoyu is the formal Japanese tea ceremony) for sharing a cup of tea with family and friends.  Despite the popularity of Sencha, Chinese teapots were expensive. To fill this void the Japanese people used their hearth kettles to brew their tea thus creating the tetsubin teapot.

The original tetsubin teapots were originally used as common kitchen item used to provide hot water, warmth, and humidity to the household. They were simple and were not very ornate until the 19^th century when Japanese art became a cultural revolution.  The tetsubin style and design slowly became more elaborate and soon a wide range of teapots were available from simple to designed works of art.  Some of the tetsubin pots were decorated with high relief designs and inlays of gold, silver, and copper. These teapots evolved into a status symbol; the more elaborate the teapot the more prestigious one was in social status.

Today, the Tetsubin teapot is a beautiful reflection of the Japanese culture and history.  The design and shape of the teapot is simple and beautiful, while being practical. Tea enthusiasts claim that tea brewed in these cast iron teapot tastes better than tea brewed in any other type of teapot.  Tetsubin teapots are highly collectible and are still hand-cast by master artists and have unto themselves become simple works of art to truly reflect the Japanese art culture.

Care and Use of Tetsubin Teapots

Never place on the stove, since this is a teapot not a kettle.

Do not leave tea standing in the tetsubin teapot for a long period of time.

Do not wash the tetsubin teapot with abrasive pads or harsh detergents.  Simply rinse with plain water and wipe dry after each use.

Make sure to fully dry the tetsubin teapot before storing.

 A special note:

When looking to purchase a tetsubin teapot, make sure that the inside of the teapot is fully glazed all the way to the top.  And most importantly, look at the lid and make sure the underneath is fully glazed.  If any part of the inside lid or pot is not glazed, rust will form, since this is a cast iron teapot.  Many inexpensive tetsubin teapots are not fully glazed, especially on the bottom of the lids and will not last very long or make a good cup of tea.  If purchasing on the internet, take the time to email the company and ask them if the tetsubin is fully glazed on the inside of the pot and lid.

Brown Betty Teapots

These are traditional teapot still made in Stoke-on-Trent, England from a red terracotta clay. This teapot dates back to the end of the 17^th Century and became very popular when tea became a symbol of Britains greatest period of expansion and stability. Almost every home had a teapot, since tea was no longer considered an upper class beverage. The Brown Betty teapot was a basic teapot that was affordable for most people during this time. This teapot was also believed to make the best tasting pot of tea because of the type of clay that was used (during this time period, the Brown Betty was unglazed) and the shape of the pot. The shape of the pot causes the tea leaves to be gently swirled around as the boiling water is added to produce a wonderful infusion. Rockingham glaze gives the Brown Betty teapot the deep, dark brown color that has made them famous and easily recognizable. The glaze also hides any tea stains from the tea oils. These teapots are available in 2, 4, 6, and 8 cup sizes. The Brown Betty teapot is dishwasher safe, however to best care for the teapot is to rinse in hot water and allowed to air dry.

Jenaer Glas Teapots

Jenaer Glas was founded in 1884 (Glastethnishes Laboratorium Schott & Genossen) in Jena, Germany to manufacture a special glass that was both economical and revolutionary. The company began making borosilicate glass that had a high resistance to temperature changes, free of odors and flavors, and was very light weight. In 1931, the company began making glassware for the household that was aesthetic and functional. The Jenaer Glas line of teapots is microwave and dishwasher safe. Since the glass surface is pore-free, the teapots do not stain or build up tea oils. Because the teapots wash crystal clear, this makes them an ideal for tea drinkers who enjoy black, green, white teas, and herbal tisanes. The different oils will wash clean between uses and the glass will not get a soap build up to mar the taste of the different types of tea. Switching between the different types of tea is easy, since the oils wash completely clean and will not influence the next pot of tea even if the switch is from a robust Assam to a light white tea. UPDATE: 07-08-2006 Jenaer Glas has discontinued producing consumer glass pots we are searching for a supplier for additional glass pots.

Stainless Steel Teapots

Stainless steel teapots are very stylish and keep the tea hot longer than glass, ceramic, and clay teapots. These make great teapots for those who like to sip their tea and take their time in between cups of tea. These teapots also will last a very long time since they are resistant to breakage if dropped. The most damage the teapot would receive is a ding. Stainless steel teapots will have a metal taste when new. Before making tea for consumption, the pot will need to be seasoned. This is easy to do by brewing triple strength tea in the pot and letting the brew stand for one hour. Empty the teapot, rinse and repeat the process. Be sure to use the type of tea planned to be used in this teapot (example: season the teapot with green tea if you are going to use this teapot to brew green tea.)  Over time, the tea oils will build up on the inside of the teapot to give it a rich patina and wonderful tasting tea. To clean the teapot, just rinse in hot water and allow to air dry. Stainless steel has pours that will allow for soap build up and will ruin the taste of your tea over time.

Porcelain, Ceramic, Bone China Teapots

These teapots share many of the same characteristics for brewing tea. The main difference is the quality of the materials use to make the teapots which will be reflected in the price. These teapots come in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes and are usually purchased to fit into a certain décor. Like most teapots, these pots are porous and will build up a rich patina on the inside and should be used for only one type of tea. Rinse with hot water and air dry between uses. 

Earthenware teapots are made of clay and are lightly fired. Depending on the clay used, fired earthenware can be a buff, red, brown or black color. Light does not pass through earthenware like it does bone china. Bone china is made using a different type of clay containing feldspare that makes the china a translucent white.