Glass Vs. Cast Iron
Ok, show your support. What’s your fancy?
I’ve never tried cast iron and know nothing about it. What’s the benefits? Do certain countries historically use them? Only for certain teas? I love glassware because you can see the liquor and the leaves, but want to get into clayware as well.
From what i know i see glass and ceramic pots more in english / US tea houses, and cast iron in Japanese tea houses. The cast iron keeps the tea warmer longer, but it’s even more important to pre-warm the pot than with glass.
Glass allows you to see the coloring and leaves as it steeps and cast iron does not.
We have both kinds, we use cast iron more because we drink slowly and the heat retention is important.
Hmmm… heat retention during steeping really concerns me (see http://steepster.com/discuss/118-maintaining-temperature-during-steeping). How does cast iron compare to clayware for this purpose?
Cast iron keeps the tea hot for a longer period of time. Some iron gets into the water as well. It’s super sturdy, but I don’t like how it’s so hot on the outside. Burned myself the first time I touched one.
I’m in a wheelchair so lifting a hot, heavy pot full of hot liquid when I also have to push and use my hands for other things I don’t think would be very practical or safe. Not to mention I’m an ubber klutz.
@Cofftea – if you keep your tea stuff together (kettle, pot, cup) you won’t need to worry about moving with the pot – and pouring the smaller cast iron pots isn’t much harder than the large ceramic pots.
notice you should use a kettle and pot, you should not heat your water in a cast iron pot.
My small cast iron pot works well at the office since I expect constant interruptions. I pour out only half a cup at a time. This way I can usually have warm tea most of the pot.
My girlfriend bought me a lovely cast iron teapot, enamel lined inside. I love it but don’t use it terribly often because I usually just steep in the cup with a mesh strainer. She got me beautiful matching cast iron cups to go with but I don’t care to use them often because they do get very hot when the tea’s poured in them. I would only use them for greens at a sub-boiling temperature, really. There’s nothing like a cast iron pot for keeping your tea warm, though!
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