Teapot or Tea Pot
There used to be something comforting about the sudden whistle of tea pots as they began to steam on the stove. Whistling the signal that it was time to take the pot from the stove and pour a cup of hot water to make tea. Some used the tea pots to brew the tea directly, using a metal ball to hold the loose leaf tea or the tea bags in the water as it was heated on the stove. The tea would steep while the pot heated the water to a boil.
Tea Bags and Tea Pots
With the invention of the tea bag, many tea pots became simply vessels in which to heat water to a near boil. From there it would be poured into a cup containing a bag of ground tea leaves. The longer the bag was submerged in hot water, the stronger the tea would be. With those preferring weaker tea, a bag may be used for two, or more cups. However, the majority used one bag for each cup of tea.
For others, a number of tea bags equal to the amount of water in tea pots would be placed in the boiling water and allowed to brew together. How long they were left in the water was determine by the strength of the tea desired.
Tea Pot Designs Made To Match Kitchen
For many, tea pots were chose by their exterior design and coloring, to match either the décor and color of the kitchen or to meet the desire of the owner. The use of plain, typically silver tea pots soon became lost in a sea of color, decorated with numerous designs. The usual size remains at about two quarts, boiling enough water for several cups, and when the bags were placed in the pot with the water, it would take about eight bags to make tea of sufficient strength.
As the use of microwave ovens became more common place, heating water in a cup for tea threatened the use of tea pots. However, most use the microwave to heat enough water for one cup at a time. For those who enjoy making several cups of tea at a time, tea pots are still a popular appliance.
Automatic tea makers are also is use, taking some of the work away from tea pots, as they can be used with loose ground tea leaves to brew hot tea for several cups. They are also used with removable pitchers to be placed in the refrigerator when making fresh brewed iced tea.
Written By The Tea Lady
The Tea Lady carefully tends to The Official Website for Tea and sends an occasional Tea Newsletter to ardent and casual tea lovers around the world.
