cast iron kettle vs. tetsubin

[Dreamer]

Why can I buy an unlined cast iron kettle like this:
shopperschoice.com/item_name_Seasoned-Cast-Iron-Tea-Kettle-1-Qt_item_1463672.html?source=froogle (mod edit)
in the United States, but I can't seem to be able to
buy an unlined cast iron tetsubin???

I thought that unlined tetsubin weren't available here because of
the worry that too much iron is a health issue (it can be). But
we can get all kind of other unlined cast iron cookware...so what
gives?

(I am new...if the link is a no-no, please edit it out. Google
cast iron kettle to find it at shoppers choice.)

I just may have to hint to my Valentine that a gift of this little
kettle would give me warm feelings towards him!

Joy,
Dreamer

[wyardley]

I believe FDA (??) regulations require that if unlined kettles are sold in the US, they have to be labelled as for display use only.

[Salsero]

The link is a no-no, so here it is again
http://www.shopperschoice.com/item_name ... ce=froogle

I have wondered the same thing. This kettle says it is pre-seasoned, and there seem to be issues with that, as pointed out by Cheaton in another thread.

I personally suffer from cast iron paralysis, as I am unwilling to pay a lot of money for a beautiful Japanese tetsubin and I don't trust the cheap domestic kettles. My condition has been aggravated by Intuit's explanation that cast iron works well only for certain types of hard water.

[snafu]

My condition has been aggravated by Intuit's explanation that cast iron works well only for certain types of hard water.

I don't fully follow Intuit's explanation, but it's worth keeping in mind that water in Japan is very soft by world standards and yet this business about cast iron improving the taste of green tea is firmly entrenched there.
Personally, my tap water is also fairly soft (about 40 - 75 ppm as CaCO3 out of the tap) and my tetsubin definitely affects the way it tastes.

One thing I've noticed with my own kettle - while lots of people notice the change in tetsubin taste, not everyone prefers it. Surely you could test it yourself on your water with a cheap cast iron vessel from somewhere?

[Dreamer]

Thanks for all your quick info-packed replies!

I did notice that at that link (that I wasn't supposed to post...sorry)
they do offer an unseasoned kettle.
One could get that and season it as desired

So far I've only found
one site that indicated a method for seasoning a tetsubin:
Boil water in it over a low to moderate heat, empty it, dry it
and repeat 3 or 4 times.

What a great community there is here!

Peace,
Dreamer

[wyardley]

I think the one on that site is "seasoned" the way cast iron cookware would be seasoned (oil and heat to create a protective surface). Looks to me like this one is pre-seasoned in the same way a lot of pre-seasoned cast iron cookware is, but I could be wrong. This is different from the way you'd treat a tetsubin.