In the 13th and 14th centuries in China, cast iron teapots made their first appearance. It didn’t take long for the trend to spread to Japan, where sencha was first brewed. Sencha is the use of loose tea leaves to brew tea instead of the usual crushed powdered tea which was used originally in most tea brewing in Japan.
Presented to Japan by the Chinese around four hundred years ago, sencha was also considered a medicinal herb which cured many physical and psychological ailments. The well-educated members of Japanese society drank sencha to show their resentment against chanoyu, a very formal, ceremonial tea preparation by the ruling class who used matcha, or powdered green tea leaves instead of sencha.
As sencha became the usual way of drinking tea with cast iron tea pots, tetsubin – the traditional Japanese name for these pots – was the typical way of drinking tea in Japan. This brought a sense of informality and warmth to tea ceremonies that could be used with friends and family.
The tetsubin were traditionally intended strictly for boiling water and brewing tea leaves and therefore weren’t painted in any way. However in the 19th century cast iron tea pots became decorative and even status indicators depending on how they were used. Some tea pot makers would decorate their cast iron pots with flowers, figures, and similar designs, which were then layered over with silver and copper – or sometimes even gold – on the inside of the pots. Later, in the 19th century, these cast iron tea pots became more than functional kitchen implements but became viewed as status symbols. Makers of these tea pots began decorating the plain, gray cast iron with relief pictures of flowers, geometric figures, and other small designs, while placing layers of silver, copper and gold on the inside of the cast iron tea pots.
Two counties in Japan, known as Iwate and Yamagata, later became known for their intricate tetsubin designs thanks to the fantastic craftsmanship, quality, and affordable prices they offered.
Since cast iron is a cooking utensil that is very durable and also retains heat, it is popular to cook with beyond just brewing tea. Many people actually had a health increase because of the use of cast iron pots, because there was an iron deficiency that was later made up with by cast iron. It was also discovered that because of the iron, people who suffered from iron deficiency also benefitted from eating and drinking food from cast iron tea pots.
Tetsubin care and maintenance requires watching carefully to ensure that tea doesn’t stay in the pot too long, since this can lead to rusting especially in non-ceramic pots. Don’t wash a teapot with scratchy scouring pads or any type of detergent that is not mild and easy on the dishes. Never wash your tea pot with scratchy scouring pads or use something other than a very mild dish detergent.
Most of the time you can probably get by with just rinsing the tea pot with cold water and gently toweling it off. Japanese tradition claims that the all-natural mineral coating which accumulates from brewing tea is beneficial for one’s health. Also, don’t let oil or salt lay on the surface of the tea pot as this could damage the surface.
Cast iron teapots are great gifts for any type of event, and can be wonderful in lending to the ambience of a kitchen or other dining area. The appearance of a teapot, unique and antique, is a good contrast to technology and the usual modern appearance of our kitchenware. You can have many years of enjoyment with a good teapot made of cast iron. Its antique appearance is the perfect antithesis to the modern technology of today’s kitchenware and will give you years of enjoyment with the proper care.
Doc No:1208-CF-ULT5-dc16
Add Asian style to your team time with cast iron teapots, yixing teapots and glass teapots that brew your favorite tea and look great in the kitchen.
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