| The European Teapot has become an American | | | | rounded surfaces. The English added their touch |
| heirloom that most of us thought originated here. | | | | by mixing bone ash with porcelain clay to give it a |
| Craftsmen and glassblowers from Europe have | | | | freshly distinct look. The evolution of the teapot |
| immortalized their craft for the American market | | | | spanned hundreds of years to attain its present |
| where most European Teakettles are sold as | | | | form. Today teakettles can be found in large |
| gifts. | | | | varieties ranging from clay, porcelain, glass to |
| A teapot makes an attractive gift selection that | | | | even stoneware. |
| adds character to a kitchen and is practical for | | | | There are certain factors to be kept in mind while |
| daily purpose. A vast amount of history and | | | | selecting the rightteapot. The European Teapot is |
| culture is attached to the teapot. Its invention | | | | the most sought after of all teakettles. Do |
| dates back to the sixteenth century. The aim | | | | remember to check the following: |
| behind creating this kitchen staple was to provide | | | | 1.. Looks - A thing of beauty is a joy forever. |
| a vessel to brew and serve tea. | | | | Selecting a European teapot that is visually |
| Tea has been a popular beverage since its | | | | appealing is the first step. It should look good |
| discovery in the third century. The tea plant was | | | | enough to make a person long to use it. An |
| first cultivated in the fourth century. This plant is | | | | attractive teakettle becomes a conversation piece |
| actually a tree of evergreen variety and can | | | | and makes you want to show it off to your |
| grow up to a height of about 50 feet. However, | | | | guests. |
| for cultivation purposes, it is usually pruned into | | | | 2.. Material - The right material is based on the use |
| bushes and allowed to grow up to a height of five | | | | you want to put it to. A clay or porcelain teapot |
| feet. | | | | is a good idea if you only want something to |
| The discovery of tea has debatable origins. Some | | | | serve tea in. A special glass teapot is ideal if you |
| give credit to the Chinese Emperor named Chen | | | | want to avoid unnecessary hassles as you can |
| Nung who reigned during the third century. It is | | | | brew as well as serve tea in it. It is sturdy |
| said that he once sat under a tree to boil water | | | | enough to be used on the stovetop and at the |
| for drinking. The leaves of the tree Camellia | | | | same time, it makes for pretty tea ware for |
| sinensis dropped into his bowl. The resultant | | | | your guests. |
| mixture was so tasty that it prompted tea | | | | 3.. Handle - Ensure that the handle is of a material |
| making. | | | | that does not get heated making it difficult to |
| Some attribute the discovery of tea to a | | | | hold. This should be especially looked into while |
| Dharuma Buddhist monk who went to India from | | | | buying a stovetop teapot. A handle that gets hot |
| China in the fifth century. It is reported he | | | | on heating will only serve to increase your |
| discovered a brewed drink from the leaves of | | | | troubles and the risk of burning your fingers. |
| the tea plant which assisted in keeping him alert | | | | 4.. Flow - A good teapot is one in which the liquid |
| and awake. | | | | will flow out smoothly through the spout without |
| Tea making, as practiced in ancient times was not | | | | any risk of leakage. If the teapot is equipped with |
| as simple as it is today. In the eighth century, tea | | | | an infuser, its even better, as the tea will |
| leaves were rolled manually and then dried. These | | | | automatically be strained on pouring. |
| dried leaves were ground into a powder, mixed | | | | 5.. Tightness - Keep in mind to check that the lid |
| with salt and shaped into cakes. To make tea, a | | | | of the teapot istightly fitted. This will ensure that |
| cake was dropped into a bowl of boiling water to | | | | tea will remain hot longer and is an essential for |
| form a thick fluid. In the later years, the loose | | | | brewing good tea (in a glass teapot only). |
| powder began being used. The powder was | | | | 6.. Gravity center of the teapot - Try this small |
| mixed with hot water and a froth was whipped | | | | test. Fill the teapot with water to three-fourths of |
| up, steeped, and the mixture was poured. | | | | its capacity. Lift and pour the water into a cup. If |
| Teapots were first introduced in China during the | | | | you find any difficulty or if the hand becomes |
| Ming Dynasty. They were made of purple clay | | | | unbalanced, the teapot's gravity center is not |
| called "zisha". Teapots were also known as | | | | right. Reject such an item immediately. |
| teakettles and used in Europe only after 1610, | | | | The style of European teapot is an ideal kitchen |
| when the Dutch importers introduced tea there. | | | | gift for any virtually any occasion - a birthday, |
| In the eighteenth century teapots were made of | | | | anniversary or Mother's Day. |
| porcelain and contained artistic paintings on its | | | | |