Ancient warriors all had their unique weapons that, when revealed, made it clear who they were and how powerful. Today, while we no longer live in a world of sword fights and storms, having a unique tool can still give you an edge in modern life. A photography app can instantly enhance your Beauty; a kitchen gadget makes chopping and mixing easy… And Tea drinking is no different. To enjoy a cup of excellent Tea, one tool – the kettle – becomes our tea-brewing magic, helping us bring out the best in the tea leaves and providing a unique experience. Additionally, the pursuit of different types of kettles has gradually evolved into a kettle culture, adding more joy to our tea lives. However, with so many types of tea kettles available on the market and differing preferences, let's explore how these magical kettles can become our brewing tools.
To enjoy a cup of excellent tea, one tool – the kettle – becomes our tea-brewing magic, helping us bring out the best in the tea leaves and providing a unique experience. Additionally, the pursuit of different types of kettles has gradually evolved into a kettle culture, adding more joy to our tea lives.
Yixing Clay Kettle / The Most Prestigious Magic
Mentioning tea kettles, most people first think of Yixing clay kettles, which are highly esteemed and have a long history. Yixing clay kettles are outstanding representatives of Ceramic tea wares, already gaining significant fame during the Northern Song Dynasty. They come in various shapes and became very popular in the Ming Dynasty. As Yixing clay kettles are fired at temperatures between 1000 and 1200 degrees Celsius, they have a dense texture but also contain tiny pores invisible to the naked eye, allowing them to absorb tea juice. Over time, the color of the Yixing clay kettle naturally deepens, and the tea inside seeps into the body of the kettle, infusing it with the flavor of the tea.
Care Instructions: Yixing clay kettles are particularly sensitive to grease and unclean environments. If the body or lid accidentally slips and falls, it may break. Despite their preciousness, newly purchased Yixing clay kettles should not be left unused as this could significantly affect their color and hinder their value appreciation. Those knowledgeable about Yixing clay kettles often say that the life of a Yixing clay kettle exists within the sea of tea. Without tea, it loses its vitality, indicating that nurturing the kettle with tea is the proper way to care for it.
If you have a new Yixing clay kettle, it's best to “open” it by separating the lid from the body and placing both in a pot of cold water. Boil them for about an hour using white water. This method involves separating the lid from the body and placing both in a pot of cold water, then slowly heating them until boiling. Boil for approximately one hour. This process allows the kettle's pores to release any earthy flavors and impurities through thermal expansion and contraction. When Drinking Tea, pour tea over the Yixing clay kettle, making it easier for the tea to evaporate due to the heat and be absorbed by the surface of the kettle. Alternatively, when cleaning the kettle and other tea utensils daily, use the tea dregs in the kettle to gently rub the entire surface of the kettle, which not only removes tea residue but also polishes the kettle to a glossy finish through the moist tea leaves. With regular use and cleaning, the Yixing clay kettle will become increasingly smooth and lustrous. It's also important to note that one kettle should be used for one type of tea, without mixing, as the flavors of the teas could influence each other, negatively affecting the taste.
Glass Kettle / The Clear and Transparent Magic
In recent years, glass kettles have become popular among tea enthusiasts. This is partly due to the growing interest in herbal teas, fruit teas, and tea pastes.
For glass materials, there are no pores, so they do not absorb the flavors of the tea, making them convenient for brewing various types of tea without the risk of flavor mixing. Particularly when brewing visually appealing flower and fruit teas, the fully transparent quality allows one to appreciate the graceful unfolding of flowers and fruits as they steep, imbuing the experience with a strong sense of artistry. The same applies to tea pastes. Slowly dissolving a piece of concentrated tea paste in a glass kettle allows the tea color to gradually blend with the water, turning into a beautiful dark red. Placing a small candle under the kettle gently maintains the temperature of the tea paste, making for a more enjoyable, extended healthy tea-drinking experience.
The market does not place high demands on the shape of glass kettles, with less emphasis on design compared to Yixing clay kettles and other types. However, the quality of a glass kettle primarily depends on its material, which determines its price. There are heat-resistant and non-heat-resistant glass kettles available. Non-heat-resistant glass typically has a usage temperature range of “-5 to 70°C,” while heat-resistant glass can withstand temperatures up to 400-500°C and tolerate sudden temperature changes between “-30 to 160°C.”
If you're considering purchasing a glass kettle, it's recommended to buy a heat-resistant and lightweight borosilicate glass kettle. While some teas don't require high water temperatures for brewing, glass kettles can also be used for boiling tea, which requires higher temperatures.
However, if you purchase a heat-resistant glass kettle, it should have corresponding labels indicating the usage temperature and range. If you find a kettle labeled as heat-resistant with a high heat tolerance but at a low price, you should question its authenticity.
Care Instructions: Before using for the first time, clean the kettle with vinegar or lemon juice. After brewing tea, rinse with warm water and then invert the kettle onto a flat, clean cloth to let the water drain and air dry, avoiding water marks. If not used for a long time, avoid storing the kettle upside down in a cabinet, as this can cause the accumulation of unclean or stale odors.
Silver Kettle / The Luxurious and Elegant Magic
Metal is a representative of sturdy materials, and among tea wares, silver kettles are one such example. Pure silver handcrafted silver kettles not only boast impeccable craftsmanship but also shine with a glossy luster and exude a luxurious and elegant aura, showcasing a noble and refined demeanor. They present the inherent opulence of silver while possessing high artistic appreciation value. Historically, such rare and precious metalware was often custom-made for royalty, with exquisite traditional craftsmanship techniques passed down through generations, fully displayed in silver kettles, making them a unique category of tea ware.
In terms of benefits, silver kettles release silver ions, which have antibacterial properties. Research indicates that just one part per five hundred billion of silver ions in a liter of water is enough to prevent bacterial growth. Water stored in a silver kettle can remain fresh for months. Silver ions can kill over sixty types of harmful bacteria and also promote detoxification, accelerate metabolism, and enhance disease resistance in the human body. Silver ions can also balance the central nervous system, achieving the effect of clearing thoughts and calming the mind. Moreover, utilizing the electrical and thermal conductivity of silver can quickly improve blood circulation and biological circuits, alleviating localized pain and treating various diseases in areas of the brain, joints, and organs where electricity and heat concentrate.
Thus, using a silver kettle to boil water softens and refines the water, as ancient people described it as “silk-like water,” indicating the soft and smooth quality of the water, like silk.
Additionally, silver kettles themselves are clean and odorless, and their stable thermodynamic properties prevent rusting. Therefore, even when used for brewing tea, they won't impart any off-flavors to the tea.
Care Instructions: After each use, wipe dry and gently polish with a soft, dry cloth. Over time, silver kettles will darken, which is a sign of high silver purity and does not affect normal use. For discoloration or stains during use, lightly polish with a silver polishing cloth or silver cleaner. However, due to the softness of silver, if subjected to pressure or hard impacts, it can deform or develop scratches, so extra care should be taken during maintenance.
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