Ok, first off… I know that cast iron teapots are not the best thing to use for all teas. The only teas I would probably make in it is pur-er, black, or herbals; I would most likely use my glass teapot for whites, greens, and less oxidize oolongs. I also know that if you are going to use one you need a thermometer to check the temp. Also just to keep my water warm will I make a couple different steepings in another pot….. and cause it is pretty.
The main thing I want to know is if the ones sold at Teavana(yes i know they kind suck at times, but i do like their tea ware, except the yixing which is meh.) are of good quality. As in: Not a lot of rust issues, enamel chipping, stuff like that. I know they are really expensive, but I did a little bit of research and the brand they sell is very good quality.
P.s I also know that they are not for boiling the water in(at least not these ones) and to not use metal utensils in it.
I’ve had one now for almost 2 years and it has no rust, no chips, nothing of the sort. The only issue is that if you just leave water on the outside after rinsing, the paint can somewhat wear off and form a ring around the surface you leave it on but wiping it down has eliminated that at least for me. The one negative review they actually left up on their site about the one I have talks about that but just a 5 second pat down on the exterior after rinsing it does enough for me.
As long as you take care of it you shouldn’t have many problems. Let everything dry before putting it back together, don’t use soap in it, just rinse it, etc. That’s pretty much all I do to take care of it and those problems should be avoided, it’s definitely a nice pot.
Question here – I have not purchase or used one of these – why are they not for boiling? What are they used for exactly?
There are ones that are made for use on like an induction plate/burner but they’re definitely not the ones at Teavana. Even then I’d think I’d be worried about the possibilities of cracking. But these are more for just steeping the tea so you’d boil the water in a kettle or pot and pour it in.
Traditionally, the tetsubin or Japanese cast iron teapots were used to boil water over the open fire. Contemporary good quality tetsubin most often are coated inside with porcelain enamel to minimize rust. As posted by others, cast iron teapots can last a lifetime and best cared for by rinsing and drying with a cloth after use.
Hi, Ze_Teamaker. First off, I completely agree with what you said about cast iron. I might add that I prefer all oolongs and pu’ers to be brewed in yixing over cast iron any time, just because of the small size, near-perfect amount of heat retention, and the fact that it releases flavor of older brews into the current brew.
They rust easily, if you do not care for them properly. There is one cast iron pot that I use every day at work that has rust on the bottom of the spout because we let it sit wet in open air all day.
The enamel chips off with the slightest ding. I once dropped the lid of a cast iron pot. It was not a sever drop. Nonetheless, there was a large chip in the enamel where it made contact with the floor.
Even so, I wonder if all cast iron pots do this? IMHO, I prefer smaller pots than the ones that Teavana sells, regardless of them being cast iron or some other ware. I prefer lots of leaf in a small (4-8oz) brewing capacity, such as a gaiwan. This always gives me a better flavor. I wonder if there are any cast iron pots this small?
Go points. I do plan on getting a couple of Yixing teapots; really good ones, like the kind were they tell you how hot it was fired and stuff. I am still new at buying good lose teas so I am still trying a lot. That being said the benefit of cast iron is that it doesn’t absorb the flavors, so I can use a bunch of different teas.
I don’t think they make cast iron post that small. The smallest I see are usually 20oz. You could us one to keep your water hot for before you pour it into your yixing and stuff. Also wile I think all cast iron pots do chip if you use metal utensils or drop it, the ones that cost more will probably be more resistant; I would not quote me on it cause I have no evidence, just assumptions.
It is definitively not going to be my work horse teapot. I am going to get a Brown Betty teapot for that… that is if the craftsman ship comes back up. The one I want to get is the 40oz tea pot with the tiger on it(I love them). It will be nice to have when I have guest over or when I want to be fancy and brew a big pot of tea.
I love mine! I have the black and gold dragonfly pot in the large size. I use it over the warmer, make a big batch of tea, and it stays hot for hours. I love it so much, I want to get the matching small one for smaller batches as well, but that is for later when I haven’t spent so much on tea as lately! 🙂
Teavana carries Iwachu testubins, which are the best in Nanbu ironware. The Republic of Tea carries the brand, too, but make sure the catalog/web description states “Made in Japan.” I own several, and can’t imagine the tea experience without ’em!
Go on Amazon and search for Teavana Teapots. There are several for sale there, some with reviews and I don’t think Amazon tampers with reviews unless they are inappropriate.
I am pretty sure these are the same ones sold by Zen Tea, at least the ones on the Zen website look just like mine. Also, I used to see them on the Mariages Freres site.
Honestly, I think iron pots are highly overrated. They’re pretty to look at and they’d make a good self defense weapon, but I’d never want to make tea in one. I’d recommend investing in a good porcelain/ceramic tea set instead. Cheaper by alot, you can still brew any tea you might desire, and spend the money you saved on more tea. Lol! Granted it might not necessarily hold heat as well as a cast iron pot, but you can either make/buy a cozy for it or get a pot warmer for it if you don’t/can’t drink a whole pot at once.
Stay away from cast iron tea cups they sell at Teavana. A friend bought a set and they became too hot to hold when filled with hot tea. We had to wait more than 15 minutes for the iron cups to cool and the tea also cooled to a point of being lukewarm. Use ceramic, porcelain, or glass.
I am new here but need your help, as I know very little about this and hope to become an avid tea enthusiast along with my wife. I went to Teavana today to look at cast iron tea sets for my wife’s b-day and found that I needed to budget around $300 for the pot, warmer, trivet, set of 4 cups and saucers. She choked at the cost and looked at Amazon, where I found what looked to be an almost identical product for tons less ($130 vs. $38 for what looked to be almost identical). Same for the cups and everything else. So here’s my question – is there really a difference here that I’m missing, or does Teavana just enjoy marking their product up really high now that theyre owned by Starbucks? I’m willing to pay for it if it makes sense, but I would like to know why…can anyone help me?
I have all sorts of pots and like them all! I use my large cast iron pot when I am making a LOT of tea and want it to stay hot for a really long time, mostly when I have a tea that I want to sip on over the course of several hours. Mine came from Teavana but mostly because I loved the shape and design. I found it two other places and they were both charging more than Teavana.
That’s great, Tea junkie! Saucers would definitely solve the heat problem. It probably feels a lot like drinking out of a gaiwan. I do love my cast iron pot and use it frequently even though it is the really big one, and I would love to get the smaller one someday.
Hi, Ze_Teamaker. First off, I completely agree with what you said about cast iron. I might add that I prefer all oolongs and pu’ers to be brewed in yixing over cast iron any time, just because of the small size, near-perfect amount of heat retention, and the fact that it releases flavor of older brews into the current brew.
Question here – I have not purchase or used one of these – why are they not for boiling? What are they used for exactly?
Go on Amazon and search for Teavana Teapots. There are several for sale there, some with reviews and I don’t think Amazon tampers with reviews unless they are inappropriate.
The enamel chips off with the slightest ding. I once dropped the lid of a cast iron pot. It was not a sever drop. Nonetheless, there was a large chip in the enamel where it made contact with the floor.
Go points. I do plan on getting a couple of Yixing teapots; really good ones, like the kind were they tell you how hot it was fired and stuff. I am still new at buying good lose teas so I am still trying a lot. That being said the benefit of cast iron is that it doesn’t absorb the flavors, so I can use a bunch of different teas.
Cast Iron Teapots – How to Use and Take Care of Them
FAQ
Can you put a teapot directly on the stove?
Can enamel teapots go on the stove?
Is it OK to heat a glass teapot on the stove?
Can you use a cast iron teapot on a stove?
This is the main reason you should not use cast iron teapot on a stove. If you accidentally or unknowingly put your cast iron teapot on a stove and the inner enamel layer gets chipped or damaged, there are a few things you can do before you decide if it is worth being used for brewing tea or for decoration.
Can you put a cast iron teapot in the dishwasher?
Don’t ever put your cast iron teapot in the dishwasher, it can remove all the seasoning you have worked on achieving, and more importantly, it can ruin the finish and cause the cast iron to rust. Note: Never use soap in or on your cast iron teapot; just warm to hot water is all the cleaning it needs. 3.
Can you use a cast iron teapot over an open fire?
However, if your teapot’s interior is the same as the exterior, then it’s an all cast iron teapot, which means you can use it over an open fire, just like you would use a kettle. Note: When the enamel cracks on your cast iron teapot, it can begin to rust. 5. Don’t Remove the White Spots That Form After the First Weeks of Usage
Can you put water in a cast iron teapot?
Never allow the tea or water to remain in the cast iron teapot for an extended time; when you’re done using it – simply rinse it and pat dry with a towel or some paper towels. Don’t put your warm teapot under any cool water; this can permanently damage your cast iron teapot.