Induction teapot

[MarshalN]

So it sounds exactly like what I found from observation -- induction glass kettles are useless on their own because they take way too long

[Herb_Master]

I think most shops that use glass pre-heat the water one way or another. It's maybe not the best solution, but necessary. If you'll notice, in that KL teashop picture, there's a metal electric kettle right behind the table.

Start of day they do use the electric one to fire up the water, once the glass kettle is up to it's first boil, successive brews are quick to reach the desired temperature.

Amazingly, though I thought I was keenly paying attention at the time - I don't recall all the details about topping it up! I can only once recall Ming touching the electric kettle and I must over the course of 5 visits seen him use the glass kettle for about 40 brews!

Whilst wandering round the shop and looking at the tea and wares, or whilst talking to tea group members, I was kept fairly occupied and don't ever remember waiting for the water.

[Herb_Master]

So it sounds exactly like what I found from observation -- induction glass kettles are useless on their own because they take way too long

Many of the Clay Kettles fall into the same category also - designed to be used over spirit burners they are slower than induction based Glass Kettles - the other tea shop I visited a lot suggested they were a thing of beauty to be used in one's tea shrine, but needed charging with water from a conventional kettle (in the kitchen) then transferring to the tea shrine.

[Intuit]

Two potential problems with using a glass kettle:

1. Mineral buildup, a unsightly problem with even mildly hard water sources, and

2. Heat retention and heat transfer are not ideal for kettle use. Sometimes your vessel can 'bump' (form large bubbles that rise rapidly and can cause water to eject rapidly, caused by uneven heat distribution within the water volume. Glass kettles will cool faster than a heavy metal or clay pot.


Other than that, I also like to see the water boil to judge it's suitability for brewing.

[wyardley]

So it sounds exactly like what I found from observation -- induction glass kettles are useless on their own because they take way too long

Many of the Clay Kettles fall into the same category also - designed to be used over spirit burners they are slower than induction based Glass Kettles

If you use a charcoal stove, you can get it to boil pretty fast, especially if the kettle is very small.

Alcohol burners are (in my limited experience) better for keeping hot water hot than for bringing it to a boil, unless you really want to learn the meaning of patience.

[Herb_Master]

Do you notice that red clay teapot on the table?!!

I'll be in KL next week and will check out what you say. In the 90's in Asia, I never saw a glass kettle being used anywhere. Maybe this gave me the assumption that glass was not preferred. Or, maybe, they were few and far between. I was also in Hong Kong recently and every tea shop I visited had a Kamjove, same here in Bangkok.

If you're not using pure clay for your pot it won't matter how the water is boiled, IMO. Glass does make a big difference in seeing those fish eyes.

That little red clay teapot is one of 100 that Ming commissioned to be made for the shop, he tells me the Chop on the underneath has the name of the shop.
When I was there apart from the one being used by the shop there were 3 left, and one was reserved for a customer. I bought one - so there may be one left.

The shop is at 135 Jalan Tun H S Lee - 3 minutes walk from Sentral Market or Pasar Seni station. On the way to Petalling Street from either of these turn right on to H S Lee and it's a few doors down on the right. It opens at 10 am but often only the 2 sales girls are in during the morning. Go after 1pm and one or both of the Co-owners Ming and May will be there, as the afternoon wears on it will fill up with friends from their tea group and the tea party starts.

[Tead Off]

Herb Master, thanks for the directions. Unfortunately, I will not have time on this trip to go there as I will be enroute to Java and have just a limited time in KL and already have something to do there.

Just had a Tie Luo Han, organic spring 2008, from Jing's Tea Shop. An interesting change from Da Hong Pao. Brewed in a red clay pot, not gaiwan. big difference.

[zencha]

Where can I get a glass kettle like the one shown in the photo ?

[wyardley]

it looks like

http://www.hailea.com/kamjove/E-kamjove ... KJ-101.htm

not sure where to find taht model in US though ......

The brand is Yama (http://www.yamaglass.com.tw/). Not sure who carries them besides Best Tea House and Tea Gallery. I PMed the guy who had questions with more details.

I imagine the Kamjove ones and some of the other similar ones are comparable in quality.

[MarshalN]

I used a kamjove glass kettle when I was in China. It works fine and I used it on a gas stove with no issues at all. Boils faster that way.

[andycr512]

Looking at the original post in the thread, it looks like there is a plastic seal between the metal and the glass. I would avoid that, as it leads to nice kettles like this being completely useless due to chemical taste: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_bt?ur ... le&x=0&y=0

[wyardley]

Looking at the original post in the thread, it looks like there is a plastic seal between the metal and the glass.

I think you'd have to get a closer look to see exactly how the metal is attached. It's not actually a metal bottom, but rather a glass bottom with a metal disk (or metal particles?) attached to it somehow, either on the inside or outside of the glass. The metal part gets hot and then heats the water.

btw, here's a Yama brand one on Yahoo TW auctions with the induction thingie. Same seller has a couple of similar ones... all are roughly around the same price - ~ $18 US.
http://tw.f2.page.bid.yahoo.com/tw/auction/b44506060

They also have a non-induction one that's from the same manufacturer & is similar to the one I have (T-15, rather than T-17), but it has an ugly print on the front, and the handle is wood colored rather than red. I think it's a little smaller in size.

It works fine and I used it on a gas stove with no issues at all. Boils faster that way.

Mine might boil a little faster on my gas stove than on that particular hot plate, but not by much (though I usually use the trivet burner rather than direct flame).