Teapot or teapot. How to choose a teapot? What is a French press used for?

Fake Montana watches and Chinese-made pencils that manage not to write have long since sunk into oblivion. Today, the Celestial Empire is honored and respected - and there is a reason for that! For example, it was the Chinese who came up with the perfect teapot - with many thoughtful nuances that guarantee convenience and great taste drink. Guided by Chinese wisdom, we will try to find the same on the shelves of modern Russian hypermarkets.

Material

Modern teapots are usually made of glass, metal, earthenware or porcelain. In terms of maintaining temperature and the quality of welding, the leader and outsider are immediately visible: porcelain is among the favorites due to its strength and ability to retain heat. Metal takes the last place in this rating - the temperature reaction during brewing often rewards tea with an unpleasant metallic aftertaste.

Glass performs better than others: it is practically perfect option, If we are talking about its borosilicate variety or models of teapots with a double flask - such solutions are not only beautiful, but also leave tea leaves hot for a long time.

Shape, size and proportions

Classic approach: teapot should be round! In extreme cases, cylindrical - like, for example, the flasks of well-known French presses. In fact, geometric wisdom does not play any role here: just when brewing tea leaf you need maximum space to turn around, and the ball is the best shape for this. A "cubic" teapot can fit the bill, too, if it's large enough. So the taste and color here again fade into the background: choose the largest capacity!

But with the nose of the case - you can’t imagine more seriously. For maximum convenience, it should not form a too wide jet, be high enough (so that the kettle can be filled to the brim) and not be too short. Plus, the spout should not drop drops of tea leaves after you have finished pouring it - however, it will be possible to check this only at the first tea party.

Approach the choice responsibly, otherwise the purchase will be overshadowed by tangible inconveniences - when pouring, the tea leaves will splash, which is unpleasant when your ceremonial table is covered with a snow-white tablecloth.

Welding technology

Getting rid of tea leaves is also not an easy task: for this, the spout must be equipped with a mesh filter. Another option is a sieve container, in which the brewing process itself takes place: particles are screened out already in the teapot flask. Such models are becoming more and more popular - not a single tea leaf will fall into your cup, and the container can be easily taken out and filled with fresh contents.
The third option is a special tea french press. In such teapots, tea leaves are pressed down to the bottom with a special press, the same press provides control of brewing. As soon as you lower the piston-press, as soon as the tea leaves are pressed to the bottom, the brewing process is suspended. The tea no longer gets stronger.

And, as a bonus, a few more nuances that will help you make the right choice:

The teapot needs to be rinsed enough cold water – detergents do not use;

It is better if the kettle lid has a latch - if it is tilted too much, it will keep the lid from falling out.

Cast iron teapots are gaining more and more popularity - although they can be found infrequently. The material retains heat well and does not leave a "metallic" aftertaste in the drink;

It is known that taste ready drink largely depends on the quality of the dishes in which it was brewed. Modern manufacturers produce a wide range of similar products that differ from each other not only in shape and color, but also in the material used in the manufacturing process. The most popular of all the options presented is the cast-iron one, which stands out among the rest of the mass with an unconventional design.

A small historical digression

It is generally accepted that China is the birthplace of this dish. At first, special bowls were used to make tea. After that, pre-crushed tea leaves were placed in them, which were mixed with water using a special brush. But cast iron was widely used not in its homeland, but in Japan. The masters of this country have long been famous for their reverent approach to everything, no matter what they do.

It was here that the first schools for those who wanted to master the intricacies of the art of making such dishes once appeared. Each of them had own secrets, thanks to which the products acquired unique design features. Thus, cast-iron teapots for brewing, produced by the masters of the Maroni-Momiji school, can be recognized by images in the form of small maple leaves.

The main advantages and disadvantages of such dishes

These products are not only beautiful, but also very functional. One of the most important advantages that a cast iron teapot has is long term operation. The water poured into it stays hot longer. Due to the even distribution of heat inside the dish, the drink brewed in it is not only very tasty, but also incredibly rich and healthy.

The only significant drawback of such products can be considered the likelihood of oxidation. But it will be a long time before that happens.

How to properly use a cast iron teapot?

To extend the life of such products, you need to follow a few simple recommendations. First of all, you should remember that they are not designed to heat water. Kettle cast iron preventing the formation of rust. As a result of prolonged exposure high temperatures the protective layer may be destroyed, as a result of which the tea brewed in such a vessel will acquire an unpleasant metallic taste.

Before the first use, the product must be rinsed hot water. Do not wash with abrasive cleaners. At the end of the tea party, it should be washed and dried thoroughly. Otherwise, rust may appear on the surface of the product.

What drinks are suitable for making such dishes?

As mentioned above, the cast iron teapot first appeared in China and gained popularity in Japan. In the territories of these countries, it is cultivated for the most part green tea, which requires more than cold water than for brewing other varieties. However, it should still be boiled. And not to wait until the liquid cools down to desired temperature, tea began to be brewed in cast-iron dishes. The fact is that this material is characterized by high thermal conductivity, so the liquid poured into a container made of it instantly cools to the required temperature.

How to brew tea in a cast iron teapot?

To obtain tasty, fragrant and maximally healthy drink it is necessary to follow a certain algorithm. First of all, you need to fill the cast iron kettle boiling water. Thanks to this, it will heat up faster, and therefore will not take heat from the drink brewed in it. After a few minutes, you need to pour water from the kettle and pour tea leaves or crushed tea leaves into it. After that, the container must be filled with boiling water, the amount of which depends on how Reviver you want to get, and cover with a lid. After a few minutes, the tea is completely ready for use. Exact time brewing of one or another variety can be found on the packaging.

What to look for when choosing such dishes?

The first and main criterion by which the product is evaluated is the quality of the material used for its production. Do not purchase damaged, uneven, rough teapots that exude an unpleasant odor.

Before buying a product you like, you should ask the seller to pour boiling water into it. A low-quality cast-iron teapot will begin to make a barely audible crackle, and small cracks may appear on its surface. If the consultant refuses to fulfill your request, then with a high degree of probability it can be argued that you are being offered a low-quality product. Therefore, it is better to refuse such a purchase.

After that, the product should be checked for tightness. To do this, the kettle, half filled with water, must be covered with a lid and make sure that no liquid seeps out during draining. It is recommended to pay special attention to the jet pouring from the spout of the product. Ideally, it should be smooth and reminiscent of a smooth glass tube. Intermittent pouring of liquid may indicate a poor quality spout or drain holes.

After removing the lid, you need to turn the kettle over and put it on a flat surface. This will ensure that the spout is flush with the filler hole. At the end, you need to completely fill it with water, lift it and hold it a little on weight. In this case, you should not experience discomfort, and the centering of the product should not be disturbed.

In addition, you should pay attention to the design of the teapot, but here you should already be guided solely by personal preferences.

Cast iron kettle: reviews

People who have managed to evaluate the advantages of such products speak of it only in a positive way. According to the hostesses, a drink brewed in such a container acquires an indescribable delicious taste and aroma. The only thing they advise is to turn Special attention on the quality of the material from which the kettle is made.

In addition, some people mention a slight off-flavour that is common to almost all new products. To eliminate it, it is enough to do a few simple manipulations, and only then you can proceed directly to making tea. Dishes filled with boiling water should be poured over with hot water. After waiting for the product to cool completely, you should pour tea leaves into it, pour boiling water over it and leave it for the whole night. In the morning, you need to drain the infused drink, remove the tea leaves and rinse the kettle with hot water. After all these steps, the product is ready for further use.

All those who are not indifferent to tea ceremonies sooner or later ask this question - which teapot is better to choose? Interestingly, the Chinese were the first to brew tea in the 14th century. For these purposes, they used small clay vessels and could hardly imagine that after six centuries there would be such a variety of containers for brewing tea.

In the case of teapots, the choice of material is not only a matter of taste and aesthetic beauty. The quality of the prepared drink, its aroma and preservation directly depend on its choice. useful properties. In addition, one or another container for brewing is better suited for each type of tea.

Nowadays, you can find teapots made of the following materials:

• glass;
• porcelain and faience;
• clay;
• cast iron;
• steel.

When thinking about how to choose a teapot, you should consider weak and strengths each material.

Glass

For lovers of bound tea (bunch dried leaves tea wrapped around one or more dry flowers) is simply an indispensable material. To see all the beauty of a blossoming bouquet, glass fits perfectly. Although classic large-leaf black tea looks very beautiful in such containers.

Teapots made of glass are of the following types:

1. Vessel with spout. Visually, it will be similar to ceramic models. If preference is given to such a kettle, then you should pay attention to the handle so that it is not too close to the body. Otherwise, it will heat up and it will be uncomfortable to use such a teapot.
2. Kettle with a press. As a rule, this is a glass flask with a metal holder. This type of teapot is very popular and is known as a French press. Its advantage is a piston with a mesh, which allows you to express tea leaves without tea leaves and get a clean drink.
3. Filter pot. Such glass teapots have spring filters at the base of the spout or mesh in which the tea leaves are placed. Such a vessel is very appropriate if fine tea is used, because the result will still be a clean drink.
4. Kettle with heating. At first glance, it does not differ from the usual one with a spout, but it has a special stand, under which a pill-candle is placed. This a good option for those who like to have a long tea. In this case, you do not have to drink a cold drink.

The main advantages of glass teapots:

• heat resistance;
• does not add any flavors to the drink;
• aesthetic nuance.

But the fact that tea in such teapots gets direct Sun rays, is still reflected in palatability tea. Besides glassware requires careful care, otherwise it will quickly lose its beauty due to water drips and hand marks.

Porcelain and faience

All over the world, Chinese porcelain is valued and enjoys great popularity. Such products can rightly be called a real work of art. Tea prepared in porcelain retains its temperature for a long time and is most fully revealed. taste properties and aroma. Real Chinese porcelain has only two components - kaolin and porcelain stone. The absence of chemistry allows you to get excellent brewed tea.

Among the main disadvantages of porcelain teapots are the following:

• high price segment;
• from frequent temperature changes can crack;
• It is quite difficult to take care of such dishes.

Porcelain teapots come in all sorts of shapes, colors and designs. The teapot in the form of a house is very popular. As a rule, such pleasure is expensive, but such tea accessories are a whole work of art.

Faience teapots are in many ways similar to porcelain teapots, but are much cheaper. But in terms of strength, they are inferior to porcelain dishes.

Clay

Real gourmets prefer clay teapots. The Chinese claim that this the best dishes for green tea. This material is valued for its heat resistance and long shelf life. taste characteristics and flavor of the drink. Clay teapots come in several varieties.

An inexperienced consumer would describe any clay teapot as follows - the body of the teapot, the handle, the spout and the lid. But Chinese masters can distinguish up to eighteen in each teapot. constituent parts. Vessels made of dark clay are usually used for pu-erh, and light clay for oolongs and green tea.

Cast iron

Cast iron teapots are quite rare, and their price is far from affordable. They are able to retain heat for a long time and do not absorb aromas. different drinks. Such teapots retain heat longer than porcelain and glass ones. In addition, such dishes are much stronger than ceramic ones. They are considered to be one of the best teapots.

Since cast iron is not so easy to process, dishes made of such material are usually decorated with drawings, and not with artistic dressing, which does not spoil them at all. appearance. But the subjective drawback of such teapots is their weight. It is impressive enough for a very small size.

Steel

Metal teapots are a good option for daily tea parties. Containers from of stainless steel are of excellent appearance. They shine like mirrors. However, they have a significant drawback - the taste of metal. It is unlikely to be suitable for particularly sensitive consumers.

Shape and volume

To date, there are all kinds of forms of tea vessels. The consumer should choose what is closer to him in spirit and corresponds to his preferences. Most teapots can be classified according to the type of artistic style used:

• without the use of decorative elements;
• unusual shapes taken from geometry;
• the use of flower arrangements;
• reminiscent of chrysanthemum petals.

It is desirable that the vessel was spherical "pot-bellied" shape. Thanks to this, heat will be evenly distributed, and the aroma of tea will be better revealed. The volume of the teapot depends on how many people will use it. For a family of 3-4 people, a capacity of 1-1.5 liters is enough.

So, which teapot is best for brewing tea? The answer is simple - in the one that is chosen with knowledge of the matter. Having given preference to a particular material, shape and volume, the following points should be taken into account:

1. In order for the device to be comfortable to use, it must be light enough.
2. The lid must fit securely in the neck. When tilted, it should not pop out.
3. There must be a special hole on the lid to let the steam out.
4. The vessel must not be chipped or chipped.
5. The spout of the teapot should look up.
6. The holder should expand upwards, such a handle should be conveniently located in the hand.

Before buying it would be good to do a little experiment. Remove the lid from the kettle, turn it upside down and place it on flat surface. Now you should evaluate the neck, handle and opening of the spout. They must be on the same level. Otherwise, the tea will spill.

Because the taste preferences everyone is different, and the best teapots for everyone are their own. But a careful approach will help avoid big disappointments and help you truly enjoy the tea ceremony.

The variety of teapots today makes you think when choosing them. But in order not to get completely confused, you need to initially decide on the following basic criteria:

• size;
• form;
• material.

teapot size

The standard volume of a teapot for brewing tea is 0.5-0.8 liters. There are also models designed for one person - 0.2-0.35 liters and for big companies- 2-3 liters.

In addition, there are no restrictions on brewing. Some love strong tea, others are weak. Some prefer to dilute tea leaves with boiling water in cups, and some pour ready tea from a large teapot without the addition of boiled water. These criteria also influence the choice of teapot size.

teapot shape

This moment is purely individual, as everyone selects the shape, as well as the colors, to their taste.

teapot material

It is important to pay attention to what teapots are made from.

Faience and porcelain

Most of the teapots found in our kitchens are made of faience. Products made from this material are practically no different from porcelain teapots, yielding to them only in aesthetic terms.

Ceramics

Ceramic teapots retain heat well, which makes the tea brewed in them strong and fragrant. At the same time, experts say that ceramics are able to absorb odors, and do not recommend using it for making highly fermented teas. Sainiks made of this material are better to choose for brewing green, white, yellow teas.

Metal

This material is considered unsuitable for teapots. First, metal is not capable long time retain heat, and the tea does not have time to brew well. Secondly, when tea comes into contact with metal, polyphenols precipitate and give the drink a taste of iron.

Glass

Glass teapots are attractive because they show the entire brewing process. They also look very stylish in any interior and go well with another. kitchen utensils. But teapots made of glass have one drawback - they quickly lose heat, and the tea does not have time to fully give off the aroma. This flaw is deprived of modern kettles with heating, electric.

Plastic

Plastic teapots are the worst option. First, they look cheap. Secondly, tea from such a teapot has the taste and smell of plastic.

Which teapot can be considered a quality one?

1. The teapot should be "pot-bellied". This shape allows the heat to be evenly distributed.
2. The lid of the teapot should be with a hole and a ledge on the rim. The hole is used to remove steam, and the ledge so that the lid does not fall at an angle when tea is poured.
3. The neck, the tip of the nose and the handle should be located on the same level. This is done so that the tea leaves do not spill.
4. The holes in the wall of the kettle should not be too small or too large. Small ones will prevent comfortable pouring, large ones will skip pieces of tea leaves.

Teapots can hardly be classified as essentials, but one or even several of these products are in almost every home. However, their range depends not only on popularity, but also on traditions. various countries, from where certain models began their march around the planet. Let's figure out together what varieties can now be found in stores, what is the difference between them, and which one should be preferred.

Design

Whatever simple kitchen utensils the teapot did not seem to be, but even it has several design options.

The first option is the usual, most often pot-bellied, teapot, well known to our grandmothers. Tea was folded directly into its cavity, which is why there were always tea leaves in the cup. They fought with the help of a semicircular strainer hanging on the spout. However, a kettle of this design did not become a relic of the past. Its analogue, made from more modern materials, can still be found now, but it is used to brew large-leaf or tea in pearls - dense balls that bloom in boiling water with a flower.

The second one is a complete copy of the previous teapot, but already equipped with a strainer “out of the box”. In such models, it is placed under the lid, and tea is poured directly into it. The strainer can be made from different materials: ceramics or faience, metal and plastic. There is not much difference between them, and the choice of a particular material is usually dictated by the overall design of the product.

And the third option is French presses. Such teapots are distinguished by a more complex design and versatility, because they can be used to brew both tea and coffee with equal success. They are a glass flask framed by a metal or plastic frame that serves as a stand and a handle at the same time, but the most main feature is hidden in the lid. The cover is combined with a movable piston - strainer. After brewing, it descends and presses the brew or ground coffee to the bottom of the teapot, preventing them from being in the cup.

materials

The fact that teapots are now made from a variety of materials can be seen by barely looking at the showcase with dishes. And here are some of which we will tell further.

Porcelain

An exquisite teapot made of real porcelain was an indispensable attribute of the Chinese tea ceremony many centuries ago. Such a product was also popular in Tsarist Rus', but due to the high cost, only high-class people could afford a porcelain teapot or service. In addition to the high cost, porcelain dishes have always been distinguished by elegance and magnificent painting, instantly transforming them from the category of everyday things into an attribute. holiday table.

Buy porcelain teapots it is possible even now, and they can be decorated the most different drawings, including perfectly suitable for daily use, but the price for many will still remain quite high.

Faience (ceramics)

Faience (they are also ceramic) teapots are much cheaper, while their appearance is practically not inferior to porcelain, and the material has approximately the same properties. Heat is evenly distributed throughout the kettle, which contributes to better brewing drink.

Now you can easily find the models of the most different forms and sizes. And for their decoration, not only painting can be used, but also individual three-dimensional elements formed directly from ceramics, for example, convex fruits, berries, or simply patterns.

Clay

Much less often there are teapots made of baked clay, not decorated with paintings. Such dishes are considered oak barrel» for tea, that is, the most natural and natural vessel. Due to the even distribution of heat and the porous structure of the material, such teapots are very popular among the most important tea lovers - the Chinese. Particularly good clay dishes suitable for brewing green and white varieties.

Glass

Another fragile material for manufacturing is glass. The main advantage of such a kettle is its appearance. Through its transparent walls, you can not only see how much tea is left, but also observe the brewing process itself. Glass teapots are especially appreciated among lovers of green tea in pearls, which we mentioned a little higher, because only through transparent glass you can best see how they open.

Metal

All-metal products, despite their attractive appearance, are not very popular. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, metal retains heat much worse, which is not very good for brewing tea. Secondly, the drink may have a metallic taste, especially if it is tea with pieces of citrus or sour berries.

Material combinations

Now only gift or festive ceramic, porcelain or clay teapots are made entirely of one material. As for the simpler models, for every day, but most often they use a combination of materials. It can be glass and metal or glass and plastic. The simplest example is a French press, in which the flask is always made of transparent glass, and all other elements are made of another material.

Often only the strainer differs in material. For example, a sieve made of fine metal mesh can be installed in both ceramic and glass models.

Which teapot to choose for the house?

It is rather difficult to answer this question. It's all about differences in preferences and use cases. If you do not take into account the design, the choice of which entirely depends on your taste or the overall design of the interior of the kitchen, then the recommendations can be given as follows.

Beautiful for a festive table ceramic teapot. Here you need to look at large-volume models so that the drink is enough for all guests at once.

For daily home use a very convenient option would be french presses, which are very easy to clean, or any other models with a strainer. The volume should be chosen based on the number of people in the family and the tradition of drinking: pour all fresh tea leaves into a cup or brew tea for several days in advance and dilute it in a cup big amount boiling water.

For true connoisseurs excellent choice there will be small teapots that allow, according to all the rules, to prepare exactly one serving of the drink. Well, for those who simply prefer individual brewing, while not striving to observe all the subtleties, you can look at the teapot, complete with a lid and a ceramic strainer, or a special silicone teapot.