Cast iron tea pots are traditionally known as “tetsubin” are Japanese invention and are a central part of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The small iron pots are usually equipped with a small short spout, a lidded opening at the top for contents and a wide handle that spans across the top of the pot as opposed to other tea pots which sport a side handle.
The top handle design of the Japanese cast iron tea pot is due to the fact that these pots are designed to be heated over braziers (charcoal tea warmers fore cast iron teapots of this style) and the top handle aids in removing the pot from the fire.
These cast iron tea pots are widely known for their ornate decorations usually formed in relief in the actual casting of the pot. Japanese cast iron tea pots also come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes and this along with the exemplary craftsmanship they display make them highly prized as collectors’ items.
Although the Japanese led the way in using cast iron for a heated drink vessel, the Russians also developed cast iron tea pots called “samovars” that while being esthetically very different than a tetsubin, it performed many of the same functions with similar technology.
Also variations of the iron kettle for tea have been found all throughout Asia including small iron Chinese tea pots, which bear an obvious similarity to their Japanese counterparts. Iron tea parts are not only prized for their beauty, but they are also coveted for their strength and durability over glass tea pots.
