Tea Tip: Hot the Pot (or Cup) Before You Brew Your Tea.
Before preparing your tea, pour some hot tap water in your pot or cup and swirl it around until the cup or pot has warmed. Then pour the water out.
“Hotting the Pot” is a simple process, but doing so will help you achieve an optimum brew, protect your porcelain and earthenware from damage, and will help keep your pot of tea warmer for a longer time.
When you place hot water into a cold pot or cup, the overall water temperature will drop. Tea leaves, especially black tea leaves, need to be infused in very hot water so that they will fully open and release all their oils and flavor. A hotted pot will keep your water temperature high, and that will provide a full-bodied brew.
Have you ever seen a teacup or mug that looks like it’s got lots of tiny cracks on the inside? Those hundreds of fissures on the cup’s coating, which is called crazing, are created when extremely hot water comes in contact with a cold mug, or vice versa. Crazed cups stain easily and are nearly impossible to clean. If you have a vintage or antique cup that may have a lead glaze, lead can also leach out through those cracks. Hotting your cups just as you would hot a pot will help you avoid damaging them.
Finally, if you prefer to make tea by the pot instead of the cup, a hotted pot will keep your tea warm longer. You may recall learning about the principle of thermal mass in your high school science class. Simply put, a teapot has the ability to absorb, store and release heat. Your hotted pot will help ensure that tea is still warm when you go back for seconds.
Are you ready for a piping hot cuppa? Check out our shop. Whether you choose to hot your pot or cup, our Edwardian Tea Infuser is an easy and mess-free way to brew in any vessel.