Zarafina - amazing tea maker!

[mokie]

If you have expendable income, live on your own or with one other tea lover, love gadgets and a nice cup of tea, Zarafina is fantastic.

If you enjoy entertaining, have need for making 4 cups rather than 2 at a time, have an office full of tea drinkers and don't have as much time to devote to cleaning the unit, TriniTEA is your form-follows-function machine.

TriniTEA = go go Gadget efficiency
Zarafina = Willy Wonka wow factor

Must buy new toys!

[stugel]

Can this be used in Europe (220/240V) or is it just a 120V input machine?

Thinking about this as a gift for mom in France.

Cheers!

[Carla1943]

Stugel,

to the best of my knowledge it's a 120 v. machine. I do not believe it's available in France. If you find it in 220 v, please let me know, there most definitley be somebody across the ocean that I would like to share it with.

Cheers!

[stugel]

thank you!

[Carla1943]

Did you hear about the 15% discount on Zarafina? Unfortunately I have already purchased one - and by the way, I Loooo-ooove it! -

I heard that if you enter code "Teafamily" on www.zarafina.com you get a 15% discount as special promo (not sure how long it's for, I am just sharing here)

Let me know if it works.
Carla

[stugel]

With this discount you stated, and also the huge amount of Zarafina's going on the eBay market, I gotta wonder if they're not getting ready to come out with a new model. If they do, I hope they make it higher capacity and keep the price at the same level or lower, as that would make me purchase one.

BTW, I checked and the discount does work "Teafamily" but the site charges tax. There is free shipping though so it works out to $136 in MN.

[TeaFanatic]

The zarafina would be amazing if they just tweaked a few things and gave the users more options when it comes to brewing time and water temperature. I hope they do come out with a new version, because I would probably get one!

[Spotless]

I just purchased a Zarafina (got it off ebay so saved major cash) and it came today. The main reason that I purchased it was convenience while away at school since I don't have a stove handy and im not one to carry around a pot of boiling water. If you are a college student I would say this is a must for daily tea because it brews it for you relatively quick and makes a nice cup. I think the only drawback is the amount of components you have to clean compared to traditional gaiwan method and so-on.

Overall 8/10 (cleaning and non-changeable steep times like traditional method)

[scruffmcgruff]

Call me old fashioned... but I'm a college student and I'd take a gaiwan and an electric kettle (ok, sort of old fashioned) any day.

[Space Samurai]

Call me old fashioned... but I'm a college student and I'd take a gaiwan and an electric kettle (ok, sort of old fashioned) any day.

I keep a gaiwan at work.

[Chip]

This is buried in the ITC site. You almost have to know it is there in order to find it.

I call it a gaiwan for idiots, like me.

http://www.imperialtea.com/AB1002000Sto ... gory_ID=15

So, combine the best features of a gaiwan and a small porcelain tea pot and you have a Gai-bei. This along with the matching small cups, you have the best teaware bargain that is also very functional as well.

[scruffmcgruff]

Stéphane at TeaMasters uses gaibei as a synonym for gaiwan. I think it's just "lidded cup" vs. "lidded bowl" (I forget which is which) or something of the sort, though I would defer to someone who knows the language.

[Chip]

Stéphane at TeaMasters uses gaibei as a synonym for gaiwan. I think it's just "lidded cup" vs. "lidded bowl" (I forget which is which) or something of the sort, though I would defer to someone who knows the language.

..just going with what they call it...regardless, it is a nifty alternative brewing choice.

[HydeInFL]

This is a "timely post" for people in the Tampa Bay, FL area, so the information may not be any good in a few days, but I thought this deal was worthy of mentioning.

Williams-Sonoma at International Plaza in Tampa has a few Zarafina's they decided they want to get rid of. Apparently it wasn't a good seller for them. As of today the price was $118. If you're a good negotiator you might even get it a bit cheaper. Who knows?

[krose1000]

I had what I understood to be the first American electric tea brewing system - Krups back in 1983. It finally broke in 2004. No replacements. for Christmas 2007, I received Zarafina, which is FANTASTIC.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for the following minor problems:

1. Just began using regularily for last 2 weeks. I notice tea is now coming out a bit cloudy on top and I am using only cold bottled water. Why? Anyone notice this, as well? I completely clean immediately after I brew.
2. My mesh on the tea leaf basket has turned ugly shade of brown. The plastic water container and metal bottom are now stained. I used a light touch of Bon Ami cleanser only on metal and it removed. Afraid to touch plastic. How do you handle discolorization? I rotate daily from green in AM and white, or herbal in PM.
Don't want build up to affect taste of various teas.
3. My only real complaint is that they should make 4 cups. One little pot barely fills my AM mug. You would think Zafarina would want to expand product line to upgrade.
4. You can find it on other web sites for $99 or less!
Thanks,
LIFELONG TEA ONLY DRINKER