FoodBanter.com - View Single Post

Michael Plant

11/16/06

> I'm curious about people's experience with less-than-perfect teapots.
> The rule is balance of spout-mouth-handle and perfect occlusion of the
> vent/ spout. If you block the vent-hole and the spout keeps pouring,
> what kind of an effect does this have on the tea? What about an
> imbalanced spout-mouth-handle? If you've got one of these imperfect
> teapots, what do you do with it--do you keep it? Get rid of it? I'd
> love to know other people's thoughts/ experiences.
>

It's a great question, and my answer is this: You
develop a relationship with a teapot, most of
which are imperfect in some way, as you would
develop a relationship with other bits of this
imperfect world. The specific answer to the
spout question: You need to decide if you
like the pot, and if you do, what tea this pot
would like to make. The flaw is not serious
with all teas. A painfully slow pour is a far
more serious flaw since it ruins the steep
time, but you can compensate even for that
by shortening the steep time. In other words,
the flaws and you work together to produce
the brew. Anyway, that's my personal
opinion on the matter. Cut the pot some
slack. That's the spirit. Most likely you can
learn more about brewing tea from a flawed
than from a perfect pot, if such a thing ever
should be.

Michael