How do you get your water hot enough?

[Mufassa27]

Hi, I just got into loose tea drinking and I'm just curious how everyone gets the water to the right temperature? I drink mostly greens which only neeed the water to be 180. But I have tried a few black and cant seem to get the water to 220. I am using a store bought water kettle, it has a copper bottom. I'm using a candy thermometer to measure the temp. Is there something else I can do? Do you think the thermometer is wrong? Honestly I have a hard time getting the water to 180. Thanks for all your help.

[garden gal]

That's odd. I was just using my small stainless pans and it got to a good boil within a matter of minutes. Boiling is where you want it for black teas. I just bought a jenear water kettle because I love the glass teaware I've gotten from that company. With it you can see through the kettle and see the water boil which is cool. My trinitea is my constant companion though- he runs 3-4 times a day. I can't wait for the new one to come out inthe summer with 180 on it.

[procarel]

When your kettle comes to a boil that would be 212 degrees, the right tempurature for black tea. You don't need your thermometer for that. Just wait for it to come to a rolling boil. As for green teas you can just bring it to a boil and let it sit for perhaps two minutes to cool down a little. It should be close to 180. Hope that helps.

[Mufassa27]

Thanks for you advice Thats good to know.

[Guest]

Also, when water gets hotter than 212F, it turns into steam. Technically (liquid) water can't get any hotter.

[yresim]

But I have tried a few black and cant seem to get the water to 220.

I think someone has misinformed you. Under normal conditions, water cannot exceed temperatures of 212 degrees F. And, that is where you want your water to be for black tea: 212 degrees F. Look for a rolling boil.

As for how I heat my water, I have switched to the utiliTEA, and I'm never going back.

~Yresim~

[teatotaler]

I just bought a jenear water kettle because I love the glass teaware I've gotten from that company. With it you can see through the kettle and see the water boil which is cool.

I just bought this recently myself! I love it because you can see the tiny bubbles that start to rise before it boils, and that's just about perfect 180 degrees for my green tea. This kettle is gorgeous!