Some bloggers would probably walk on hot coals to serve their readers, and while I wouldn't go that far, I *can* say I'd take a photo over hot coals for you! It's all my friend Gwendol's fault. I guess I should explain ...
A few weeks ago, Gwendol called me up with an intriguing proposition. She had some sort of interesting contraption she and her late husband had purchased so she could make tea over a fire in the event of a power outage. (I thought of our friend Linda and that horrible weather they had in Kentucky last winter!) Would I like to try it out? Gwendol asked. Sure, I said.
It was sort of like a "stacking teapot" except it was a "stacking tea kettle" instead, and with an infuser basket in the small pot on top. Both the large tea kettle and the pot on top have holes for straining off the tea leaves. They are both marked on the bottom "Golden Star Imports." I poured just a few cups of water in the bottom pot and enough water to cover the bottom in the smaller pot before restacking them and placing both on the grill. Once the kettle of water was hot (maybe 10 minutes or so; we were getting the grill ready to cook turkey hot dogs), I took it off the grill and moved indoors where I simply poured the water as I would from any tea kettle into a waiting teapot.
I made some Fenghuang ShuiXian oolong tea, and it was just as easy as using a stovetop kettle and teapot, it was just all there together in one efficient package. I decided it wouldn't be fitting to make my "campfire" tea in a prissy bone china teacup, so I looked through the cabinets for something a bit more rugged and found the perfect tea mug: this T.J. Maxx find from several years ago, printed with an old diner type menu whose offerings included a "pot of hot brisk tea" for 15¢. Perfect! (And thanks for the loan, Gwendol!)
That is an interesting kettle and I like your diner style mug. I wonder what the going rate for a pot of tea is now (3.50-4.00)?
ReplyDeleteThat certainly is an interesting tea kettle. And, I agree the tea should be served in a mug not a teacup. I have a gas cooking stove, but still haven't bought a stovetop tea kettle to use in place of my electric one. I should have purchased one before tornadoes and floods. We sure have experienced a variety of weather in 2009.
ReplyDeleteI can see this as a perfect kettle for a rustic cabin-style tea party, which incidentally you would have if your power went out and you were having to cook over coals from your fireplace. I don't quite understand the two spouts, but it is a very nice kettle.
ReplyDeleteLooking at that mug, Angela, I've just gotta' laugh...reminds me of the days when I used to say, "If it took two cents to make it from here to California, I wouldn't make it to Albuquerque!"
ReplyDeleteWow - now that is very interesting!!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's pretty nifty. Thanks for experimenting and sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteThis is very common kettle in Middle Eastern households. You put loose tea in the smaller pot with just a few drops of water to wet the tea. Once the large kettle boils, add 1/2 cup of boiling water to the smaller pot and steam brew the tea for about 10 minutes over the boiling kettle. Since it makes stronger tea, usually you use little tea in your cup and add more boiling water.
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