Tea Kettles
Tea kettles date back to the Ming Dynasty in China around the year 1500 when unglazed tea kettles were created by potters out of brown or red stoneware to be used for seeping tea leaves. Fast forward about one hundred years, and Dutch importers were bringing tea to Europe, along with small, broad-based tea kettles with spouts and handles. By 1700, porcelain began its production in Germany and soon France and England were making porcelain tea kettles and other teawares. Today, just like our tea has evolved, so has our tea kettles. Now, our selection has increased exponentially. There are tea kettles, also known as teapots, made of stoneware, glass, porcelain, stainless steel, enamel, and other materials that come in nearly every shape and form you can think of!
Tea Kettles are used to boil water for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and more. There are two types of teapots – electric and stovetop. Electric tea kettles are usually made of steel or aluminum and are able to boil water faster than stovetop tea kettles. However, on the other hand, electric tea kettles will occupy more counter space than traditional stovetop tea kettles. If you'd like a tea kettle to coordinate with the color or theme of your kitchen, a stovetop tea kettle is a better option. Many stovetop tea kettles are like works of art with beautiful pictures painted around them. Novelty tea kettles, like those in the shape of cats, cows, roosters, peaches, and other shapes, will also add a unique and whimsical touch to your kitchen and provide the perfect conversation starter!
When you're deciding which teapot is right for you, consider the size, heat efficiency, features, design, and maintenance. If you have a very large family or if entertain guests often, you may want to consider an electric tea kettle that will serve several people. Heat efficiency is important when choosing a tea kettle because different teas require the water to be heated at different temperatures. For example, some teas require the water to be seeped at the boiling point while other teas, like green tea, require a lower temperature. The biggest decision you will have to contemplate regarding features is whether or not you would like a whistling tea kettle. This decision, along with your design decision is all a matter of personal preference. Some people love the whistling noise they make signaling the water is boiling, while others dislike the sound. If you are always on the go and would like an easy-to-clean tea kettle, you should probably try to avoid one that is made of copper or cast iron because they require a bit more maintenance. Enamel coated and stainless steel stovetop tea kettles, as well as electric tea kettles, are generally easier to clean.