A tea kettle… should be a no-brainer, right? Eh, not so much. As it happens, there’s more than one way to use even the best tea kettle, and there are a variety of types of kettles on the market. The sheer variety to choose from leads to a plethora of common mistakes when it comes to making your favorite cup of tea. In this article, we are going to focus primarily on the traditional tea kettle, specifically, whistling kettles.
The Basics
Depending on who you ask, some people may say that a tea kettle’s primary use is to make tea. These people would be wrong. The tea kettle’s main purpose isn’t to make tea, but rather to heat the water. Boiling tea in your tea kettle makes it trickier to clean, and leaves behind a residue that will eventually create a buildup and could even clog the whistle of your kettle. For this reason, we always recommend using a tea kettle to boil water and then pouring the water over your team leaves to create the perfect cup. Not only does this make your tea kettle significantly easier to clean, but it also gives the tea the proper time and environment in which to steep.
Properly Using a Tea Kettle
When you first get a new tea kettle, make sure to clean it out with hot water and allow it to air dry. Once your kettle is clean, you’re ready to start making tea.
Step 1: The Boil
When you’re boiling water, always make sure you have the kettle on the correct-sized burner. Using a burner that is larger than the kettle can result in the burning of the kettle’s exteriors. On the flip side, if you use a burner that’s too small, the water won’t heat as effectively.
Step 2: Pouring The Water
For some people, pouring a kettle of boiling water can seem scary, and for a good reason. Make sure you always use caution when pouring water over your leaves. Before you grip the kettle, test the handle first to see if it’s hot from the stove. Sometimes, even if you use the correct-sized burner, the handle can heat up on the kettle, and you can burn yourself. To prevent splashing, always pour the water at a low angle to the cup. Pouring at a high angle will cause splatters of boiling hot water to shoot up, which can lead to burns.
Step 3: Steeping
While not a direct job of the tea kettle, steeping your tea is the most important step in creating the perfect cup. Follow the instructions on the product you use to ensure you get the proper potency of tea.
Step 4: Caring For Your Tea Kettle
After every use, your kettle should be cleaned with warm, soapy water. If you choose to steep within the kettle, this step is especially important. Never use anything like steel wool or any other abrasive cleaners on your kettle. It can cause permanent damage and sometimes even cause small fragments of metal to break loose inside the kettle.
Closing Thoughts
It doesn’t take a genius to use a tea kettle. With a little bit of direction, the perfect cup of tea is within reach of just about everyone. What’s your favorite method for creating the perfect cup of tea? Let us know in the comments section below!