The traditional style Tetsubin tea pot – without enammeled coating on the inside of the pot – gives the best tasting tea, according to tea connaisseurs.
Though to use properly, it is important to read and follow the “Before the first use and maintenance” instructions.
This instruction manual is included in English, Dutch, German, French, Italian and Spanish.
Important to read: Before the first use and maintenance
Before the first use of the Tetsubin iron tea pot, put a small cup of green tea leaves into the iron pot and fill the pot 2/3 with water. Boil for 20 minutes, turn off the fire and let it sit for 5-6 minutes. Then pour out the dark water.
Again, fill the kettle with water and boil 6-8 times until the water is clear; the kettle is now ready to use. This procedure is helpful because the dissolved tannin in the tea has a chemical reaction with the iron in the kettle. A layer of tannin iron film will be formed on the surface of the iron kettle, which has the effect of preventing the iron kettle from rusting.
About 5 days after the first use, something like red and rust spots will appear inside, and white scale will appear within about 10 days.
After long-term use, the inside will turn completely red. If the water does not become cloudy, it does not matter, please do not remove or wash it. Just leave it as it is.
After use, empty the pot, let it cool down and let it airdry on the inside. After it has dried, put on the lid. Do not to let water sit in the iron pot when not in use. Do not cover with the lid before the pot has cooled down. Wipe the lid dry with a cloth so that it does not cause the inside of the pot to get wet due to condensation.
Suitable heat sources for iron kettles are carbon fire, gas stove, induction cooker, and electric ceramic stove heating since the iron kettle is suitable for gradual heating process. Due to the gradual heating, a little iron is slowly released on the inside, thereby increasing the taste of drinking water, and helping the body to absorb the ferrous iron, which has the same effect as iron supplement.
Precautions
1. Avoid touching the inside of the iron pot with your hands directly; try not to clean the inside with a cloth or brush; do not use detergent, do not wipe.
2. Do not wash the hot pot with cold water. Do not dry cook the pot without water, this will shorten the life of the iron pot and can cause the iron pot to crack. Do not drop the pot, as the iron may break.
3. The iron pot is very heavy, and the weight doubles after filling it with water. It is recommended to only fill up to 2/3 with water to avoid overflowing when boiling.
4. If you do not use the kettle for a long time, please smear the inside and outside with food grade oil, and then store it in a cool and dry place. When you start using the pot again, fill with water, boil, and then pour out the water, and you can use it again.
5. Cannot be used in a microwave oven.
