How does one use a ceramic tea pot?!
How does one use a ceramic tea pot?
They are gorgeous, was thinking of buying, but it said I couldnt use it on the stove top? Does that mean I have to boil the water in a seperate container, then pour the hot water into the ceramic one??
If so, what is the purpose of that? Sounds like a waste of time if it is beautiful, but not functional... Or do I have it all wrong?
sammie
Answers:
Tea is never made on the stove top.
You need to boil water in a kettle. When it's close to the boil, pour some into the pot, swirl it around (that's called hotting the pot), and dump it. Then put in your tea bags or leaves, and the boiling water. Let it steep, then remove the bags. If you use leaves, strain the tea into the cups.
If what you bought is what's commonly called a "Brown Betty", a brown ceramic teapot, then what you've bought is the best that there is in the western world in which to brew tea. In fact, when tea is served in the fanciest of silver tea sets, it's been brewed in a brown betty. That's because of the way that they hold the heat.
usually ceramic teapots are used just for decoration--pouring boiling or very hot water into them eventually cracks them over time. depending on how cheap its made--it can crack after 2 or 3 uses.
yes you have to boil/heat the water seperately-then pour into the ceramic pot.
Warm the inside of the pot by swishing hot water in it. In the meantime boil as much water as the teapot will hold, in a seperate pot or container. Then transfer the boiled water into the teapot and add the tea. DO NOT put the teapot on the stove to heat or it will crack.