WOW.....I have spent hours looking over this forum trying to decide on what teaware I need. I have been using a metal, laser cut infusor to put the tea in and then put it in a coffee style cup, boiling/microwaving water to the correct temp and pouring it in the cup, steeping the tea for the correct time. I usually drink 4 to 6 cups a day, going from oolong and green tea in the morn then to white tea later. I would like to take it to the next level since my wife is now enjoying it as well. (my wife really likes the white tea blends). I usually buy the better/best quality teas.
What I would like some opinions on would be what would be a real good setup to bring my tea loving enjoyment to the next level. What teapots to use for the tea I drink? How big of a teapot should I get for me, my wife, and possible friends? (mostly for my wife and I) What type teacups shuold I look at? Should i get a tea set or not to start with? Should I get a tea kettle? If so, which one? Are there any "have to have" accessories?
As far as how much I am willing to spend....I guess I am looking for that "sweet spot" ...the best quality for the money. I would like it to look nice, easy to use, last a long time, something I could grow into and be proud of, and most of all brew great tea since i am buying better quality tea most of the time. This isn't too much to ask for is it? (just kidding)
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and I appreciate any opinions!!
Steve
Re: Help deciding teaware for a newbie......
I think the first thing, as microwaved water is highly inconsistent in flavor, (did you heat up Chinese food earlier?) I think a good place to start would be a kettle. If you are doing this completely at home and often making tea in your kitchen then, for price vs value, I highly recommend picking up a standard stainless steel Tea Kettle for use on your stove top. These can typically be had for a reasonable price, and if its decently made, you need to abuse it beyond belief for it to fail.
I have not personally used the Utilitea from our gracious host, but many people on the forum recommend it, and like its features.
As for a teapot to steep the tea in, As you are making coffee mugs worth at a time, I'd go with a larger glazed pot.
I have not personally used the Utilitea from our gracious host, but many people on the forum recommend it, and like its features.
As for a teapot to steep the tea in, As you are making coffee mugs worth at a time, I'd go with a larger glazed pot.
Re: Help deciding teaware for a newbie......
Like Adam said, a kettle is definitely part of the next step - I recommend electric, like this one. This is very similar to the one I have; no temperature variety like the UtiliTEA, but I find I can either let it sit to cool, or pour into another cup then into the tea if I'm making something requiring cooler water.
As for teapot, as I've recommended elsewhere, I find that stainless steel works really nicely, especially if you want one pot for pretty much everything. It won't hold flavor from say, a black, and taint the flavor of the white. I have the top one I believe we have the 27oz one, and it's perfect for almost two average-size mugs apiece for me and my boyfriend. Or about 5-6 of our English-style teacups. Works fine for two of us, or for if we have friends over as well.
As for teapot, as I've recommended elsewhere, I find that stainless steel works really nicely, especially if you want one pot for pretty much everything. It won't hold flavor from say, a black, and taint the flavor of the white. I have the top one I believe we have the 27oz one, and it's perfect for almost two average-size mugs apiece for me and my boyfriend. Or about 5-6 of our English-style teacups. Works fine for two of us, or for if we have friends over as well.
Feb 6th, '10, 12:52
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Geekgirl
Re: Help deciding teaware for a newbie......
Agreed, the first thing is to get a consistent water method. If your teakettle is inconvenient enough that you are sometimes microwaving your water, switch it up to a UtiliTEA or some other cordless tea kettle variety. You want something that is all/mostly stainless, rather than one of the cheapy plastic teaboilers.
If you were going to drop a larger amount of money on just one item, and you drink lots of tea throughout the day, you might even think of stepping it up to a Zojirushi. I love mine so much you will have to pry it from my cold tea-less fingers. I have a cordless electric kettle at my office, which works just fine.
There are plenty of decent teapots out there, the problem is the infuser baskets, which often don't allow enough leaf expansion. A teapot with a built-in strainer, like this one, would be a good choice, but as you can see, it's only just over 11oz. With your current set-up, it sounds like that would only be good for one person/one cup at a time, unless you were thinking of moving to smaller cups.
Another "teapot" option would be to check out tea-presses/coffee-presses. A press that is made for tea doesn't have the plunger, just the press-type strainer, but you can generally find coffee-presses for much less than the tea-type, and you don't have to depress the plunger. My largest practical brewing vessel is a coffee-press. I use it when I want to make tea for two. I especially like being able to see what I'm doing.
$tarbuck$ frequently has one of their previous models on their sale table. Teavana sells a tea-press I believe, although it's VERY LARGE. Bodum makes several that they call "tea-press," but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them because you are back to the same problem with the infuser basket limiting leaf expansion. (They put the press inside the basket. Weird.)
There are no real "must have" items for making tea. There are degrees of convenience, and things that can improve the quality of the brew, so determining how far you want to take it is really the only qualifier of what you must have.
That being said, LOTS of us here have teaware acquisition syndrome, so look out!
If you were going to drop a larger amount of money on just one item, and you drink lots of tea throughout the day, you might even think of stepping it up to a Zojirushi. I love mine so much you will have to pry it from my cold tea-less fingers. I have a cordless electric kettle at my office, which works just fine.
There are plenty of decent teapots out there, the problem is the infuser baskets, which often don't allow enough leaf expansion. A teapot with a built-in strainer, like this one, would be a good choice, but as you can see, it's only just over 11oz. With your current set-up, it sounds like that would only be good for one person/one cup at a time, unless you were thinking of moving to smaller cups.
Another "teapot" option would be to check out tea-presses/coffee-presses. A press that is made for tea doesn't have the plunger, just the press-type strainer, but you can generally find coffee-presses for much less than the tea-type, and you don't have to depress the plunger. My largest practical brewing vessel is a coffee-press. I use it when I want to make tea for two. I especially like being able to see what I'm doing.
$tarbuck$ frequently has one of their previous models on their sale table. Teavana sells a tea-press I believe, although it's VERY LARGE. Bodum makes several that they call "tea-press," but I wouldn't necessarily recommend them because you are back to the same problem with the infuser basket limiting leaf expansion. (They put the press inside the basket. Weird.)
There are no real "must have" items for making tea. There are degrees of convenience, and things that can improve the quality of the brew, so determining how far you want to take it is really the only qualifier of what you must have.
That being said, LOTS of us here have teaware acquisition syndrome, so look out!
Re: Help deciding teaware for a newbie......
If you are looking at the UtiliTEA at Adagio's site, I would also check out the PersonaliTEA. It's a great little teapot and it's only $9. It comes with a mesh infuser, but also has filter holes in the spout if you are brewing larger-leafed teas.
I have this cordless kettle at work:
http://www.target.com/Oster-Brushed-Sta ... tailbutton
It heats quickly, has a keep-warm button, and has very little plastic.
I have this cordless kettle at work:
http://www.target.com/Oster-Brushed-Sta ... tailbutton
It heats quickly, has a keep-warm button, and has very little plastic.