Green Tea Forum

Manji2012 · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 14

What is a Tetsubin good for? Have one? What are some of the advantages or benefits in using a Tetsubin? Is it just used for serving larger sums of tea like say for a group of five rather than one or two people?

Ice Tea:

I am interested in picking up some Houjicha and Genmaicha for ice tea from this site but, I can not decide between the regular Genmaicha or the Matcha-iri Genmaicha. Is the latter any better or do they taste really just the same but high in antioxidants. How would you describe the taste of the Matcha-irigenmaicha in comparison to the regular Genmaicha? Are they just about the same or does one taste a little bit different or better than the other? Does it depend what you are looking for? What is your opinion.

By the way, what are Antioxidants and why are they good for your health?

[/b]

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

I've used tetsubin before, but I don't like them. I see only a few uses for them. Either for a multi-purpose pot, as they aren't porous, for larger quantities, as you already indicated, or because you just like them.

Antioxidants. They get into everything. Antioxidants, as I understand them, fight "free-radicals" that float around in your body that can cause problems for you such as cancer. Here's a link to wikipedia that will give you a much better anser than I just did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidants

The thing is you can find antioxidants in fruits, vegetables, grains, chocolate and in other foods. If you are eating a healthy, balanced diet, odds are you are getting a fair portion of anitoxidants, or so I would presume.

Since I work in specialty foods, I've seen the word antioxidants on everything, and it seems it has become just another buzz word, a marketing term used to sell products.

Chip · Posted: Apr 20, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

My tetsubin looks great on a display shelf...and a small one is a nice paper weight...but for brewing tea...not for me. Wink

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 187

Tetsubin is used in the tea ceremony for heating water on the "heart", those sold for tea brewing are abominations ment to mislead western customers.

brianlavelle · Posted: Apr 20, 2008 7:15 pm Post subject:

I have a tetsubin, which does look very nice, but I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I've actually used it to heat water for tea (I've never used it to brew tea). Most that I've seen (including my own) include a wire mesh basket to allow you to brew tea, but everything I've read would suggest that's not a good idea at all and was not what these kettles were originally for, I believe.

If you do get one, be careful about making sure it is completely dried after use. I think rust forms very easily with these if not dried properly.

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 187

tetsubin with mesh strainer and little capacity is called artisan tetsubin, the real ones are huge and with the heart cost a fortune, look at tea-circle.com for more explanation, it is for water heating, you put coal underneath it, nowdays there are electronically heated ones as well, if you are obsessed and want to build your own teahouse in your garden than think of investing in one, it is nothing more than a huge kettle.

Chip · Posted: Apr 21, 2008 2:19 am Post subject:

If you decide you want to use your tetsubin as a kettle, please be certain it is not glazed or enameled on the interior. The kettle will be just iron on the inside.

Ones that are enameled on the interior are made to be used as a teapot only and should never be placed over heat. These are made to pour hot water into and for brewing.

In the USA, it is virtually impossible to find a tetsubin w/o this enamaled interior due to "health regulations." Imported ones for resale are virtually required to be lined.

This is unfortunate, I would love a true kettle, but am rather reluctant to pay several hundred thousand in Yen for one and have it shipped here. I will one day I am sure...just struggling with it.

As a teapot, tetsubins are just cumbersome IMHO.

greenisgood · Black Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 112

I just use my teapot tetsubin once in a while when I want a whole lotta' genmaicha. I kind of like them for american style brewing, they stay hot a long time which is good for the times you just want a large pot of tea.