Kettle

Did you know that the Polish word “czajnik” (English: “kettle”) derives from Russian (Russian: чай) to which it came, in turn, from northern China – čha-ye which means tea leaves? In the past the name was used to denote a vessel for brewing tea, and nowadays for boiling water.

Kettles first  started to be manufactured in the 16th century in China. Over the centuries, the appearance of kettles and the material from which they were made has changed – porcelain, stoneware, metal, glass and even stone.

Some of the best kettles are considered to be the products from the Chinese Yixing manufacture. For the production they use clay containing large amounts of iron oxides, so they take on colours ranging from yellow and red-orange to dark brown moving into black. The design and material of these kettles are ideal for brewing tea leaves. Small, with porous walls, they heat up slowly and keep the beverage warm for a long time, while in the summer they protect it from spoilage.

Kettles should be cared for in a special way, protecting them against odours and not washing them with detergents. If regularly used for many years, the kettle covers itself with a tea patina, becoming smoother and shinier.