Cast Iron Teapots
It seems that the old is the new these days, with many people looking for traditional or antique like goods to add character to their home. Items that definitely fit the bill, with plenty of character, are Cast Iron Teapots. They have come with us through the ages and nowadays, many high quality manufacturers have started to produce them again. Cast iron teapots have been around for many years and their history links their first use back to places like China and Japan. Nowadays they are popular throughout the world, with many collectors and tea drinkers feeling the need to add one to their collection.
The traditional cast iron teapots are quite small, ideal for a small to medium sized household. A lot of people use them for decoration purposes thanks to their unique character, but some people do still use them as intended. Cast iron teapots are made out of this material because it is a good conductor of heat and therefore can aid in the process of making a great cup of tea. Originally, cast iron teapots were used over open fires or hot stoves which is partly why they are such sturdy items.
A lot of teapots now come with iron trivets, which are considered to be decorative. Along side this many teapots will come with infusers. Essentially, an infuser is a mesh type basket that helps people to brew tea when using whole tea leaves rather than using bags, which are what people would have done traditional. Enamel coatings are generally standard procedure with these pots, which stops them from wearing, making them much more durable in the long term.
Using a cast iron teapot is not a particularly difficult task. Before it is used for the first time, it should be cleaned through with fresh water. A lot of people suggest that cleaning cast iron should be done with boiling water, which will kill off any germs that have managed to build up over time.
Cast iron teapots are almost always used for the brewing and the serving of hot drinks like tea, but also coffee in some cases as well. To make a perfect cup of tea, the whole tea leaves need to be placed in the metal infuser. This infuser will hold the tea leaves in place and stop them dropping into the drink itself.
One thing to consider is the type of tea leaves that are being used. Some tea leaves only need to steep in boiling water for a minute, where others may need up to 30 minutes. The quality and type of the tea leaf will have a lot to do with the process that needs to be used and the end result. Of course, each tea leaf will offer a different flavor.
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