Teapot Use and Care

These suggestions for teapot use and care are from  Mrs. Isabella Beeton’s Book of Household Management, published in 1860.

-  have several teapots for different occasions

-  avoid using aluminum or enamel; aluminum may discolor the tea; chipped enamel may effect the flavor of the tea

-  ceramic or bone china teapots retain the heat best

-  check the glaze inside the pot for cracks and crazes

-  check the handle for finger and knuckle room to avoid burns

-  look for a hole in the lid to allow air to pass into the pot to avoid dribble and a mess from the teaspout

-  a lug should be part of the lid to hold it in place so the lid doesn’t crash into the cups as the tea is poured

-  avoid using detergent inside a teapot as this will affect the taste of the tea

-  remove tannin stains inside the teapot by filling and soaking the pot over several hours with a solution of hot water and four tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda – rinse thoroughly.

Funny how this advice was given nearly 150 years ago, but it is just as relevant today as it was then.  The only thing I do differently is using a paste of baking soda to clean the inside of my teapot, instead of soaking it and this is only because I don’t want to wait for several hours.