New and needing Teapot guidance!

[inspectoring]

I'm lazy as hell, so I just nuke my water in a glass pitcher. As for the teapot, it really depends upon what your brewing. As olivierco said, a small porcelain pot, or gaiwan are both perfect for all round brewing. If its just you drinking, I wouldn't get anything too large though. Its best to brew a cup at a time.

I have used the teapot http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_p ... 841b6c2a97

and then I also have the red clay tokoname and dark brown clay pot- and there is a big difference in taste. I would recommend a simple and very affordable rishi pot http://www.rishi-tea.com/store/fukugata.html.
It also has the highly coveted clay mesh screen.
I have personally witnessed this difference in taste and my palate is not as developed as most of these guys here on the forum....

[Vulture]

This all sounds interesting. I definitely will have to order at least one for now. At the moment my main rotation of tea is 2-3 steeps of Flavored Black at work. Home I get at least one cup of rooibos + spearmint before I go to sleep.

Initial I think I will get a pot to do the rooibos tea and use my more portable ingenuiTEA for work. And later might pick up a second pot to do blacks when i am off work.

My next problem is water but I don't know where to post about that. Here where I live they use a huge amount of chlorine in the tap. I have a filter but I don't know how much its helping keep chlorine out. I will play with that because buying mineral water will add up fast.

[Vulture]

This is the exact pot I used to own.
http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.a ... egoryID=88

Here's a pic from the chatsford website which shows the infuser basket.
http://www.tltpc.demonweb.co.uk/graphics/pic_5pots.jpg

Looking at the different ones I think I will get this one for making rooibos tea. I like the idea of the ceramic filter on the other one so might get that later for my flavored teas.

[eor1122]

Looking at the different ones I think I will get this one for making rooibos tea. I like the idea of the ceramic filter on the other one so might get that later for my flavored teas.

If you are concerned with chlorine what I do is let the water set out for 24hrs or so. The chlorine dissipates as it sits.

[Vulture]

Looking at the different ones I think I will get this one for making rooibos tea. I like the idea of the ceramic filter on the other one so might get that later for my flavored teas.

If you are concerned with chlorine what I do is let the water set out for 24hrs or so. The chlorine dissipates as it sits.

Oh that is an awesome idea (I don't sound southern Californian at all...). I am guessing you have to leave it in an open container for it to dissipate. I will have to find a container that won't spill easily. I have clumsy friends... The best thing about that is I keep the minerals I get in the tap water but get rid of the chlorine.

[Victoria]

A Britta pitcher might be right for you - or one of those Pur add-on filters for your tap. May be worth the investment in the long run. If you advance search for water on this forum - there is plenty of info.

[Vulture]

I have a filtered pitcher but I didn't know if it got rid of the minerals too that helps teas. Also if I leave the water in the pitcher it would be gone in less than 24 hours thanks to my roommate

I will play with things and see how they work on. Thanks all.

[Trioxin]

I use an under sink filter. For $40, it does a damned good job. It ran clear even after they flushed the pipes in our neighborhood (every other faucet ran brown). My water has never tasted better.

[Vulture]

I use an under sink filter. For $40, it does a damned good job. It ran clear even after they flushed the pipes in our neighborhood (every other faucet ran brown). My water has never tasted better.

sounds like a nice idea though I am in an apartment at the moment so I can't.

One thing though is I finally found what taste was bugging me. It seems my tongue is sensitive to tasting Iron. Black teas have a lot of Iron in them and it just stays in my mouth each cup. So its not necessarily the water's fault.

One thing is if that monthly taisting goes though I might get the set they spoke of. Though I should probably get a separate pot for my rooibos.

[Vulture]

Update:

My quest for a pot has continued. I have done a little research and see that the 'Yixing' pots are more for blacks and oolongs though they can be used for any. Gaiwans are more used for greens and whites though again they can be used for any. Gaiwans can be made of yixing clay (forgot the name) so it has the clay's properties.

So in general to be able to try out teas the best thing to do would get both a 'Yixing' and Gaiwan pot/set. That way I have something to brew any tea in. I can get the teabags from adagio's for my rooibos and cover that ground.

Any comments or additions? I am just starting so 2 pots would be my max

[Salsero]

'Yixing' pots are more for blacks and oolongs though they can be used for any.

Yixing pots should not be used with greens, yellows, and whites. They retain too much heat for these teas.

[Vulture]

'Yixing' pots are more for blacks and oolongs though they can be used for any.

Yixing pots should not be used with greens, yellows, and whites. They retain too much heat for these teas.

Ok thanks for the correction, what about Gaiwan pots made of Yixing clay? I am guessing that its the shape/thickness of the pot not necicarily the material that handles that?

[Salsero]

what about Gaiwan pots made of Yixing clay?

You're making the questions more difficult now!

[cheaton]

Personally speaking, a Gaiwan made of Yixing clay kind of defeats the purpose. For me a Gaiwan would be something I can use which stays "clean" and untainted with which I can sample many types of tea in the Gong Fu style. Perhaps leading to buying a Yixing pot for a certian type of tea which I enjoyed in the Gaiwan (if it's a type of tea that lends itself for Yixing brewing). Remember that Yixing clay is unglazed and will soak up the flavors of the tea you brew in it and impart these flavors into the next brew. Just my two cents....

[Vulture]

Gotcha. I just read of Gaiwans made of Yixing clay and it sounded interesting.

Thanks again for the help, I am checking some local shops soon for pots. If not then there is always the interwebs