Tetsubin Cast Iron Kettles - Some Historical Facts

Nobody is really sure when the Tetsubin cast iron kettle was first introduced or made in Japan. It is said that sencha was responsible for making the Tetsubin so popular among tea drinkers. Sencha is a way to drink tea made out of loose tea leaves, foregoing the powdered variety. This practice originated in China, and was brought to Japan at around the seventeenth century.

At the time in Japanese history they were greatly influenced by the Chinese, and Neo-Confucianism was all the rage. While sencha is not really a form of traditional tea drinking ceremonies, it is often used to drink medicinal herbs. This is why it became an iconic way to drink tea. Because it is so informal, it is a great contrast to hechanoyu or the formal tea drinking ceremony in Japan. The lower class used this to revolt against the upper class.

By the eighteenth century, the use of the cast iron teapot has spread throughout Japan. Revolutionists were not the only ones to drink sencha, but those from the middle class and ordinary townspeople began to realize the joy of tea. They were used much like a social event. Because Chinese tea sets and tools were quite expensive, the Japanese found a way to improvise. They developed their own version of the teapot; it was inexpensive, and was quite durable. More and more, the Tetsubin cast iron kettle began to replace the original Chinese teapots.

Originally, cast iron teapots were only used to boil water either for tea or baths. They were not really used as teapots, but rather as Tetsubin cast iron kettle. In time, they found that brewing tea was much more satisfying in the cast iron teapot, so they began to make the design even sleeker. It wasn’t always beautifully designed. They were very plain, and did not have designs because nobody would see them anyway as they cooked on a hearth. As drinking sencha became more popular, it became more of a status symbol than anything else. People began to design them with luxurious and elaborate relief designs and had more expensive and valuable metals like gold or silver inlayed.

Cast iron teapots or tetsubins are great to use because they are not only durable, they are beautiful as well. Because of the cast iron, they spread the heat at an even pace, distributing it throughout the pot. It also retains heat very well, so that your tea does not get cold even after a long while. This way you won’t have to keep reheating your tea every few minutes just to make it drinkable. Because it comes in a lot of different designs, you won’t think twice about whipping this out on the dinner table. The design and workmanship is enough to leave guests in awe. The can be a great addition to any kitchen, as they last for a very long time. You might even be able to pass it down to your granddaughters in the future. If you’re looking for high-quality teapots, this is the choice for you.

During our research we visited many online vendors and discovered that the best prices are typically found on Amazon.

	Black Antique Coin Cast Iron Tetsubin Tea Pot Kettle Set (w/ Trivet) List Price: $109.99 Sale Price: $45.05
	Black Antique Coin Design Cast Iron Tetsubin Tea Set -Designed by "Rikyu" -Holds up to approximately 20 Fl. Oz. of Tea! -Inner Surface of the teapot and teacup is coated with black enamel. With proper care, this set shall last over generations...

	Unity Tetsubin Cast Iron Tea Pot red List Price: $60.00 Sale Price: $49.99 Used From: $57.70
	Old Dutch cast-iron teapots combine traditional Japanese styling and a modern aesthetic that result in very evocative shapes. The largest of the line with a capacity of 48 ounces, the Mythology teapot forms a wide, flattened sphere balanced by a graceful spout and arching handle...

	Primula Cast Iron Tea Pot, Green Mist, 28-Ounce List Price: $34.99 Sale Price: Too low to display
	The Primula Cast Iron Tea Pot is a graceful, elegant tea pot for brewing, with it's interior coated with enamel and other FDA approved coatings. Completely lead free, it displays a Green Mist with dragonfly surface that is sure to be a conversation piece...

	Old Dutch 38-Ounce Cast-Iron Nobility Teapot, Moss Green List Price: $52.00 Sale Price: $34.80
	Old Dutch cast-iron teapots combine traditional Japanese styling and a modern aesthetic that result in very evocative shapes. Generously sized with a capacity of 38 ounces, the Nobility teapot forms a wide, flat shape, much like an upside-down bowl, balanced by a graceful spout and arching handle...

	Old Dutch 38-Ounce Cast-Iron Nobility Teapot, Pale Blue List Price: $52.00 Sale Price: $34.80 Used From: $32.09
	Old Dutch cast-iron teapots combine traditional Japanese styling and a modern aesthetic that result in very evocative shapes. Generously sized with a capacity of 38 ounces, the Nobility teapot forms a wide, flat shape, much like an upside-down bowl, balanced by a graceful spout and arching handle...

	Japanese Cast iron Tea Pot Cup Set Green Bamboo List Price: $70.00 Sale Price: $31.05
	A lovely example of the traditional cast-iron teapots known in Japan as tetsubin, this pot with its delicate, hand-cast, raised design highlighted in black is not only prized as a collectible, but also brews 20 ounces of tea perfectly...

	50 oz Matte Black Cast Iron Tranquility Teapot List Price: $86.99 Sale Price: $38.75
	Matte Black Cast Iron Tranquillity Teapot 50 Oz.

	Primula Cast Iron 40-Ounce Tea Pot, Black with Tea Sample List Price: $39.99 Sale Price: Too low to display Used From: $16.21
	The Primula Cast Iron Tea Pot is a graceful, elegant tea pot for brewing, with it's interior coated with enamel and other FDA approved coatings. Completely lead free, it displays a black textured surface that is sure to be a conversation piece...

	Black Color Cast Iron Tea Set Bamboo #ts7-06bk Sale Price: $34.99
	This Cast Iron Tea Set includes: * 1 Teapot, 2 Teacups, 1 Trivet * Raspberry Color * Stainless Steel Teapot Strainer Included * Enamel coating to prevent rusting * Pattern: Bamboo * Brand New in Gift Box * Dimension: * Teapot: 6 in Dia x 3-1/2 in H * Teacup: 2-7/8in Dia...

	Japanese Cast Iron Pot tea set Black ARR w/ Trivet List Price: $70.00 Sale Price: $39.99
	Product Description This Cast Iron tea pot set is in Black color The set includes: 1 Tea Kettle (7.5" Dia. 2.5"H), 16 oz 2 Matching Black Tea Cups (3"Dia. 2"H) 1 Removable Stainless Steel Infusing Basket 1 trivet "Tesubin" Teapot Cast Iron teapots were first created in ancient China...