Japanese Tetsubin Or Cast Iron Teapot History
Tetsubin is rooted more heavily in the drinking of Sencha - or loose leaf tea.
Many people tend to associate the Tetsubin with the Japanese tea ceremony Chanoyu.
Chanoyu was a very formal, elaborate ritual, practiced primarily by the wealthy and upper-class.
All of the elements involved in the chanyou are carefully orchestrated to invoke a calming, sensory experience, from the taste buds of the tongue to the inner workings of the soul.
Also- and notably- the Chanoyu used powdered tea, and not loose leaf tea leaves.
The cast iron tea kettle, or Tetsubin, was not the tool of choice in such ceremonies; rather the elite Chanoyu performers typically prefer the chagama or ortegama, which are actually iron kettles without the traditional spout or handle.
Instead, the Tetsubin is rooted more heavily in the drinking of Sencha- or loose leaf tea.
Sencha was introduced to the Japanese by China around the 17th century, and rose steadily in popularity among the middle class.
One of the reasons Sencha offered such appeal to the middle class was due to the ease of preparation- rather than the meticulous, drawn out details of a Chanoyu, Sencha required little work in advance and did not require the oftentimes unaffordable tools and equipment involved in Chanoyu.
Also, because Chanoyu was primarily practiced by the upper-class, the middle class viewed Sencha as a way to revolt against the exclusive traditions of the privileged.
There is some argument as to its original roots, but many believe the original cast iron teapot was used as a simple device to boil water over the hearth; however with the rising practice of Sencha came a rising use and evolution of the Tetsubin.
Some remained plain and used for what most know as a tea kettle or teapot.
These simple cast iron teapots were used for actually heating up water over a stove.
The evolved version of this simple model instead of being actually heated over a flame, came equipped with tea diffuser inserts inside that allowed users to brew an entire pot of tea by pouring pre-heated water into the device; its present-day relative would be the traditional tea pot.
As Sencha grew in popularity, the Tetsubin began to be seen as more of a status symbol, and the "tea pot" version of the Tetsubin became an art form, with heavily ornate and crafted models being created and growing in demand.
Owners would proudly use and display their ornate Tetsubins to guests- relatable to European ladies serving tea on their finest china.
Many people tend to associate the Tetsubin with the Japanese tea ceremony Chanoyu.
Chanoyu was a very formal, elaborate ritual, practiced primarily by the wealthy and upper-class.
All of the elements involved in the chanyou are carefully orchestrated to invoke a calming, sensory experience, from the taste buds of the tongue to the inner workings of the soul.
Also- and notably- the Chanoyu used powdered tea, and not loose leaf tea leaves.
The cast iron tea kettle, or Tetsubin, was not the tool of choice in such ceremonies; rather the elite Chanoyu performers typically prefer the chagama or ortegama, which are actually iron kettles without the traditional spout or handle.
Instead, the Tetsubin is rooted more heavily in the drinking of Sencha- or loose leaf tea.
Sencha was introduced to the Japanese by China around the 17th century, and rose steadily in popularity among the middle class.
One of the reasons Sencha offered such appeal to the middle class was due to the ease of preparation- rather than the meticulous, drawn out details of a Chanoyu, Sencha required little work in advance and did not require the oftentimes unaffordable tools and equipment involved in Chanoyu.
Also, because Chanoyu was primarily practiced by the upper-class, the middle class viewed Sencha as a way to revolt against the exclusive traditions of the privileged.
There is some argument as to its original roots, but many believe the original cast iron teapot was used as a simple device to boil water over the hearth; however with the rising practice of Sencha came a rising use and evolution of the Tetsubin.
Some remained plain and used for what most know as a tea kettle or teapot.
These simple cast iron teapots were used for actually heating up water over a stove.
The evolved version of this simple model instead of being actually heated over a flame, came equipped with tea diffuser inserts inside that allowed users to brew an entire pot of tea by pouring pre-heated water into the device; its present-day relative would be the traditional tea pot.
As Sencha grew in popularity, the Tetsubin began to be seen as more of a status symbol, and the "tea pot" version of the Tetsubin became an art form, with heavily ornate and crafted models being created and growing in demand.
Owners would proudly use and display their ornate Tetsubins to guests- relatable to European ladies serving tea on their finest china.
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