So, I was given a high quality yet not quite authentic Japanese cast
iron kettle for my birthday earlier this year. I say "not quite
authentic" in that it has a ceramic lining and one of those screen
things to put leaf in that can be removed.

Am I correct that these were really only meant to boil water and not
actually to steep in? What use might this be suited for? I use a
Zojirishi for heating my water so I really have no use for such a nice
vessel to boil water in, but is it really suitable for brewing tea?

Mike

www.pu-erh.net

Mike Petro > writes:

> So, I was given a high quality yet not quite authentic Japanese cast
> iron kettle for my birthday earlier this year. I say "not quite
> authentic" in that it has a ceramic lining and one of those screen
> things to put leaf in that can be removed.
>
> Am I correct that these were really only meant to boil water and not
> actually to steep in?

I've heard that opinion, but I'm no expert on Japanese tea practice.

> What use might this be suited for?

As a decorative accent?

>I use a Zojirishi for heating my water so I really have no use for
>such a nice vessel to boil water in, but is it really suitable for
>brewing tea?

With the screen enclosing only a small part of the brewing volume,
it's kind of like using a small tea ball in a mug. In my book, that's
a No.

/Lew
---
Lew Perin /
http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

Mike Petro wrote:
> So, I was given a high quality yet not quite authentic Japanese cast
> iron kettle for my birthday earlier this year. I say "not quite
> authentic" in that it has a ceramic lining and one of those screen
> things to put leaf in that can be removed.
>
> Am I correct that these were really only meant to boil water and not
> actually to steep in? What use might this be suited for? I use a
> Zojirishi for heating my water so I really have no use for such a nice
> vessel to boil water in, but is it really suitable for brewing tea?
>
> Mike
>
> www.pu-erh.net

These kind of pots suck. In fact you can't even boil water in them,
because of the lining. (That's what instructions on mine said, I think
this applies to all of these pots). And they make terrible tea, it may
be because the iron sucks out a lot of heat when you pour. I think
I only had good results with one type of tea, but I don't remember
which it was.

The only good thing about these is that you can't break it and it
has a very nice, solid feel to it, you just know they're built to
last.

If I was forced to use one I'd experiment with pre-heating the whole
volume of the pot.

Infuser basket is so small that it's best not to use it at all and
instead
pour through a strainer into a second pot (or just the opposite - brew
somewhere else, preheat entire volume of the pot and then strain tea
into this pot).

I'm trying to remember which tea worked ok with it and I think it may
have been a medium-grade pu-erh. If you get one or more teas to
brew well in them please let us know! I really love how heavy this pot
is, I just hate the tea I get.

[mike petro] Am I correct that these were really only meant to boil
water and not actually to steep in?

[corax] hi mike!

you may recall reading that marshaln does use his as a kettle: see at
e.g.
http://tinyurl.com/58qv89 and http://tinyurl.com/6pnmpz
but his are not lined, i'm sure.

On Dec 8, 3:34*pm, Mike Petro > wrote:
> So, I was given a high quality yet not quite authentic Japanese cast
> iron kettle for my birthday earlier this year. I say "not quite
> authentic" in that it has a ceramic lining and one of those screen
> things to put leaf in that can be removed.
>
> Am I correct that these were really only meant to boil water and not
> actually to steep in? What use might this be suited for? I use a
> Zojirishi for heating my water so I really have no use for such a nice
> vessel to boil water in, but is it really suitable for brewing tea?
>
> Mike
>
> www.pu-erh.net

RIght-- traditionally they were just for boiling water. I've got one
of those kettles buried in the attic somewhere. I think I recall that
it's made in Japan, but Japanese business "visionaries" aren't above
"revisioning" a traditional gadget as something totally useless It
was a very well-meaning relative who wasted about $60 for that very
pretty pot.

james-henry

You hit the main points. You can think of Iron as a metallic tea
cozy. Iron cools off boiling water fast but maintains a higher
temperature ideal for 'cooking' Japanese thick teas or as you said
perfect for brewing shu puer. I find them impractical more than
anything else. I might bring my bookend Joyce Chen because you know
everyone will bring their gongfu pots for the puer tasting event next
weekend.

Jim

PS Nothing better than 20 year old Temple of Heaven after shoveling a
half foot of snow. Thick taste slightly soupy no bitterness with hint
of smokiness. Perfect for nursing yourself back to health or soothing
a sore back.

On Dec 8, 5:44 pm, Rainy > wrote:
> Mike Petro wrote:
> > So, I was given a high quality yet not quite authentic Japanese cast
> > iron kettle for my birthday earlier this year.
....welcome back...
> These kind of pots suck. In fact you can't even boil water in them,
> because of the lining. (That's what instructions on mine said, I think
> this applies to all of these pots). And they make terrible tea, it may
> be because the iron sucks out a lot of heat when you pour. I think
> I only had good results with one type of tea, but I don't remember
> which it was.
>
> The only good thing about these is that you can't break it and it
> has a very nice, solid feel to it, you just know they're built to
> last.
>
> If I was forced to use one I'd experiment with pre-heating the whole
> volume of the pot.
>
> Infuser basket is so small that it's best not to use it at all and
> instead
> pour through a strainer into a second pot (or just the opposite - brew
> somewhere else, preheat entire volume of the pot and then strain tea
> into this pot).
>
> I'm trying to remember which tea worked ok with it and I think it may
> have been a medium-grade pu-erh. If you get one or more teas to
> brew well in them please let us know! I really love how heavy this pot
> is, I just hate the tea I get.

On Dec 9, 9:28*am, wrote:
...........
> ...welcome back...

Thanks Jim

On Dec 8, 3:34*pm, Mike Petro > wrote:
> So, I was given a high quality yet not quite authentic Japanese cast
> iron kettle for my birthday earlier this year. I say "not quite
> authentic" in that it has a ceramic lining and one of those screen
> things to put leaf in that can be removed.
>
> Am I correct that these were really only meant to boil water and not
> actually to steep in? What use might this be suited for? I use a
> Zojirishi for heating my water so I really have no use for such a nice
> vessel to boil water in, but is it really suitable for brewing tea?
>
> Mike
>
> www.pu-erh.net

They make great decoration That's a plus. I'd leave it be for
actual use personally, but you can 'speriment with it if you like, you
may coax some good tea from it. I wouldn't use any special green teas
or try to boil or pour boiling water in from cold as most are fairly
cheap and the lining will crack or spider. Same for cooling. I just
enjoy mine as decoration.

- Dominic