Tea Kettle (Sui Shou Bao)

Most gongfu tea requires boiling water, but the “boiling water” from many machines is only about 80ºC which is not suitable for tea brewing. A tea kettle is the most popular and convenient water boiling tool in tea brewing.

Function

It is popular for boiling tea, can easily boil water, and guarantees water temperature. 

Types

In ancient times, the main water boiling tool is feng lu (a pottery kettle). Nowadays there are different kettle materials such as stainless steel, iron, pottery, and glass. The heating system could be electric, induction, alcohol, or charcoal. 

Selecting

In general, the most popular kettle is the stainless steel kettle heated with electricity. Many are glass or pottery kettle with an alcohol or gas burner. Pottery and iron kettle can also work with charcoal. The iron kettle is sometimes matched with an induction heater too.

Use

1. New kettles, especially pottery or iron kettles need to be prepped before first use. Fill them with water and bring to a boil. Then let it sit for a while in order to eliminate any odor. 
2. When brewing tea outdoors without access to electricity, charcoal with pottery or iron kettle is a great choice.

Teapots

One of the most prominent teaware is the teapot, the king of teaware.

Function

The teapot is one of the main tea brewing vessels.

Types

Teapots have different types, such as Zisha teapots, porcelain teapots, glass teapots, etc.

Selecting

A good teapot should meet the requirements below:

The spout pours fluidly and stops decisively without splashing.

The lid and the body of the teapot match closely. The spout and the opening of the pot should be at the same level. The pot should be shallow rather than deep and the lid should fit tightly.

There should be no earthy, dirty, or any other odor.

The pot should be able to handle the drastic changes in temperature, without leaking or cracking.

The material should match the tea being brewed in it, bringing out the best of the tea’s character.

It should be easy to put the tea leaves in the pot, and the volume should be sufficient.

The put should have good heat retention so that the water temperature won’t drop too fast. This guarantees that the tea releases the proper amount of substance during a short infusion time.

Use

1. The standard way to hold a teapot is: thumb and middle fingers pinch the handle, using the wrist strength to lift the teapot. Index finger put on the lid without blocking the air hole. The pinky finger is unused but held close.
   Two-handed use: this is a great hold for those who are new to teapots. Using the middle finger of one hand to press again the lid button, the other hand using thumb, index finger, and middle finger to hold the handle.
2. Whichever way the teapot is held, be sure not to block the air hole.