About Tea Pots
Tea pots are containers used to steep loose or bagged tea leaves in very hot water. They then hold the liquid until it is served in individual tea cups. They can be used to brew black, green, white, orange, herbal or specialty teas. Different than tea kettles which heat the water, tea pots are used exclusively for steeping. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The earliest surviving tea pot has been dated to 1513 and is on display in the Flagstaff House Museum of Teaware in Hong Kong, China. At the end of the 17th century, tea and tea pots were shipped from China to Europe. They were first reserved only for the wealthy because the porcelain they were made from was so costly and unavailable locally. In 1765, William Cookworthy, an English Quaker Minister, devised a way to make porcelain domestically and tea pots became available to lower classes as well. Today, tea pots are used by people all over the world and come in many different styles, shapes and sizes.
Features
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Tea pots generally have a lidded opening at the top where the tea and water are added. A small hole in the lid is necessary to allow air to pass through and prevent splashing while the tea is being served. Tea pots also feature a handle for holding and a spout from which the tea is poured. Some tea pots may have a strainer built into the spout to catch tea leaves and other debris.
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Types
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There are many different types of tea pots available to consumers today. The oldest and most popular is the porcelain variety. Stone, metal, glass, clay and iron tea pots are also commonly used. Some specific types include Yixing tea pots which are made of clay and produced in China, Tetsubin tea pots which are made of cast iron and produced in Japan, and Brown Betty tea pots which are also made of clay and produced in England.
Care
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Different types of tea pots require special care. For example, unglazed tea pots should never be washed in soapy water or dishwashers. Instead, they should be rinsed with warm water and air dried. Glazed tea pots can be cleaned by filling with boiling water and baking soda overnight and rinsing well the following day. This will remove built up tannins on the inside.
Architecture
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Tea pots can be found in architecture around the world. In 2004, a cult based in Malaysia called Sky Kingdom erected a 35 foot tall pink tea pot on its property as a symbolic gesture. The following year it was demolished. The world's largest architectural tea pot still standing, however, is located in Chester, West Virginia. The 12 feet tall, 44 feet wide tea pot was built in 1938 by William "Babe" Devon as part of a Root Beer ad promotion. It was originally built as a giant keg but in 1990 was restored and turned into a tea pot.
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Resources
- Photo Credit sxc.hu/debsch, sxc.hu/BenDad
