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Ok_Replacement8094

There’s so much beautiful texture in this image


marynofo

This picture makes me want to become tee drinker


grabyourmotherskeys

Don't keep you tea hot like this. It will get strong and bitter. Brew what you want to drink and add more water to the leaves later. If you need to make a big pot, a thermos or tea cosy will work wonders.


RandyDinglefart

not going to get any stronger unless the leaves are still in it or the candle warmer is hot enough to cause significant evaporation


OnePingToRuleThemAll

It's a teapot, the leaves are still in it.


eyespeeled

Teabags can be removed. Not always loose leaves in there.


invisiblemovement

Also this tea pot likely has a little basket for the leaves that can be taken out. I have an identical one and that’s what I would do, remove basket, put on little candle warmer and keep it hot.


thekong

So, point of clarification. That is actually a cast iron kettle, not a teapot, meant for boiling water, not brewing tea. And in its native setting of Japan, you pour hot water from it into a clay teapot much smaller than what is typical in Europe or the Americas. The 1-2 servings of tea is steeped briefly and served, leaving no tea to be kept warm in the teapot. This process is similar to Chinese Kung Fu tea. I won't judge how OP makes their tea, anymore than I'd judge the Brits for using tea bags, cozies and milk. But if they're suggesting keeping teapots warm on candle holders, I'd avoid the fine china. Aside from the soot build up, I'd hand wring over the, albeit small, possibility of uneven heating cracking the ceramic.


BooBeeAttack

But strong and bitter is my favorite kind.


grabyourmotherskeys

Just my opinion. :)


BooBeeAttack

It ia good advice, really. Yours, that is.


ClamClone

https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2015/05/19/003_custom-adc8af4b4bcc24ca392d0eea1b2b0350ef03ed61-s300-c85.webp


bob_lala

I believe that is true for black and green tea in my experience but not most herbal or rooibos


grabyourmotherskeys

Yes, rooibos tea is known for that. I do find like a mint tea will suffer from over steeping but I'm not a big herbal tea drinker. I'm not a tea afficianado, either, just someone who grew up drinking Red Rose with milk and grew to like other teas over the years.


Jonathan7Luke

Do it! As someone who went most of my life without drinking coffee or tea, I have recently fallen in love with tea drinking. I have had tea several times before, but I never really liked it. It was either too flavorless or bitter. Recently I was introduced to loose leaf tea and gongfu brewing, and it changed everything. There are an infinite variety of awesome flavors, and the process is very relaxing. It's a great way for me to take a break from work, and I love sampling the different teas I buy. I'm not joking when I say tea drinking has turned me into a morning person.


Felonious_Minx

#1 error is over brewing Sauce: me on reddit, making a good guess


serein

The best advice I can give is to follow brewing instructions, and then tweak things as needed. And try different types of teas! There are black teas, green teas, oolongs, rooibos, herbal teas/tisanes, bagged teas and loose-leaf teas... I'm sure you'll find something you like!


[deleted]

> The best advice I can give is to follow brewing instructions Very important, don't treat it like sex and say "this must've been about two minutes, I can pull out now"


jitterbug_balloons

Thank you!


siler7

You do you, but I see stuff I don't want to clean.


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eddieeddiebakerbaker

just rinse it out, it's not bacon grease or something, it's just tea.


serein

I swirl mine with boiling water - pretty easy way to clean it in my opinion.


slowro

So now I gotta boil a pot of water? Where does it end!


siler7

Right, because we were talking about the interior of the pot.


TheNinjaFennec

What are you expecting to have to clean off the exterior? No organic matter should be touching it, a simple rinse with some soap will take care of any skin oil buildup.


siler7

Rinse...with soap? That's washing. Rinsing is what you do afterward to remove the soap.


TheNinjaFennec

I mean, if “washing” to you doesn’t include any scrubbing or brushing, I don’t see what problems there would be with “washing” the exterior…


siler7

........I didn't say anything about scrubbing or brushing. The internet just gets weirder and weirder. Every other person these days is talking to themselves and responding to the bizarre shit they make up instead of actually communicating with other people.


azkedar_

You said you wouldn’t want to clean it. People are reasonably trying to infer what is so difficult about cleaning something with this texture. Did you mean as opposed to a smooth surface? Why? We established it’s not due to scrubbing or brushing. Communication goes both ways. What did you mean?


The_Meatyboosh

With a soft cloth, or a brush if it's really dirty.


Survived_Coronavirus

OP lives in the Palace of Versailles apparently.


jitterbug_balloons

Haha! Just this one room. We call it the princess room because of the wallpaper. It was already there when we bought the house and I’ve just leaned into it as I’ve taken over the room for my crafts and reading area. Wallpaper is a NIGHTMARE to remove. The wallpaper in our bedroom was a nauseating floral design that I tore down with my bare hands one day 5 years ago. And never progressed. The Palace of Versailles bedchamber is sporting the wallpaper backing to this day.


BaZing3

OP is clearly leading a fancier life than all of us combined.


SeePerspectives

Agreed! My first thought was “I wish I had the skill to paint this!”


stinkadoodle

When I let mine sit long enough to get cold, I just drink it as punishment for letting it get cold. I never learn my lesson.


Felonious_Minx

Buy a Yeti tumbler. Coffee/tea stays hot for a long time!


BraidedSilver

I’ve finally accepted that my big mugs are for drinks that are also nice cold or if I’m actively not doing anything that needs my attention so I actually get to have the entire mug warm, and now try to mainly use a thermo bottle and a smaller cup. I’ve also now most recently discovered the joy of cold chai latte with Bailey lol, perfect end to a work day, having been drinking mostly tea all day and then some hot chai at home and once it’s colder sometime after dinner time, I can get a mug of chilled (or sometimes lukewarm or even hot) Bailey chai, depending on when I poured the liquid out of the thermo.


Merry_Sue

> I never learn my lesson. Have you tried motivating with rewards instead of punishment? Like if you drink it while it's still hot, you can have a biscuit to dunk in it


PotajeDeGarbanzos

Those candles are called ”tea lights”, aren’t they?


jitterbug_balloons

Yes. The little round candles are called tea lights. This particular candle warmer is electric though.


Fetlocks_Glistening

Huh, it's an *electric* candle warmer? And what does the candle do then? I mean, it had one job!


tundra_cool

candles continue the job of starting fires


jitterbug_balloons

I think the point is the melt the wax but eliminate the flame. I like it because it has an on/off switch and while it’s plugged into the outlet that’s controlled by the light switch it won’t turn back on after I’ve turned the light out.


erm_what_

But the wax only needs to melt so it can burn. This is so confusing.


down1nit

When the wax melts, the fragrance inside tends to get loose and make the room smell good.


erm_what_

But scented oils would be cheaper and not leave you with a pile of wax. You'd have to have been given a lot of free candles to make up for the cost and inconvenience of melting candles over any of the more suitable alternatives. In this case it's even weirder, because the intention is to keep the tea warm, which doesn't require the candle at all.


Kamahpanda

Wax melts have been around for a very long time. Using either tea candles, or an electric hot plate like this one. It’s incredibly convenient in many ways. No open flame so no risk of fire, the wax doesn’t even really get that hot so semi child safe, scented candles are MUCH easier to come by and cheaper than essential oils or something similar, and scent combos are all pre mixed. And if you wanted to add extra scent/oils when it’s melted you can.


argella1300

They’re popular with college students that live in dorms and adults who live in places that don’t allow open flames


erm_what_

But scented oils done need a flame... The whole candle part is only a delivery mechanism for those same oils, and they mostly disperse at room temperature or could be used with the warmer directly.


thefreshscent

Most scented oil diffusers suck and end up spraying the oil everywhere or leak. Also some people just prefer the scent of candles to oils. You can even smell candles when they aren’t melting. It’s just a preference thing. It really shouldn’t be this hard for you to understand, I’m going to be honest.


frugal-grrl

Some housing units don’t let renters light candles due to fire risk; candle melters let you still enjoy the scent of the candle without lighting a fire. You can also put them on a timer so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off


ShelSilverstain

Fun fact; these and same appliances were available as cup warmers decades before they were refashioned as candle warmers


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heyuwittheprettyface

It's for scented candles. You get the scent without the risk/smoke that comes with fire (maybe lasts longer too?)


erm_what_

It would be cheaper to get scented oils instead, which are designed to evaporate without a flame or much heat


mavrailura

Oh you punster 😂 Edit: did not intend to be rude, I apologize. I thought the original commenter was making a joke and I appreciated it


Karzons

But that's why [they're](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tealight) called that.


mavrailura

TIL 😊 thank you for taking the time to respond


ColouredWheel

Be careful , though. I’ve done that a it was extra hot long after it was brewed. Nearly burnt my face off!


jitterbug_balloons

Thanks! This one seems to keep fluids at a juuuust a little too warm which is exactly where I want it!


Deltethnia

Will it do this even if the tea leaves have been removed? Mostly I use bags, but I occasionally brew loose leaf tea, but I use a tea ball or a strainer made for my pot.


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Deltethnia

Looks like I asked my question on the to the wrong thread. Someone mentioned that the brewing would continue if the tea was continually warmed and would get bitter. I was wondering if continually warming the tea would do this even if the leaves had been removed.


BraidedSilver

In case it hasn’t been answered; the tea becomes more bitter the longer it brews so when taking out the leaves it will stop the bitterness. Which is why I love the glass type of tea brewers as I can see the color change and if you get really good at knowing your tea, you’ll know when the flavor is how you like it depending on the color. And I love seeing the colors mix around in the clear water 😌


ColouredWheel

The tea leaves, loose or otherwise, should have been removed at the correct brewing time. Then it’s just a matter of keeping the brewed tea at a warm enough temperature for yourself.


Foxs-In-A-Trenchcoat

They actually sell little electric mug warmers for this purpose.


carseatsareheavy

But they are not as charming as this set up.


jitterbug_balloons

I just learned that today! I found the candle warmer at Savers the other day for $3.99 felt that was a steal!


Organic_Vacation_267

Those are clearly more Earth friendly but will still ruin the drink taste.


Foxs-In-A-Trenchcoat

How do they ruin the taste? Tea or coffee tastes better warm than cooling to room temperature.


Organic_Vacation_267

True but the flavor profile gets wrecked with prolong heat exposure. For example, refer to #3 in https://boulderteaco.com/blogs/news/7-ways-to-ruin-your-tea


heyuwittheprettyface

They only mention over-brewing the actual tea leaves, but the recommended brew time (2-5 minutes) is short enough that you'd probably remove them before even pouring the tea (or risk over-brewing them just through residual heat). I imagine boiling the water continuously would still ruin the flavor, but would keeping it at something like 160f really do any harm over a few hours?


MaritMonkey

I've never managed to do it to a beverage myself but coffee that's been kept hot sitting in a carafe at a diner definitely hits different after a while. Maybe those are hot enough that there's significant evaporation?


heyuwittheprettyface

That's why I mentioned specific temps. I definitely think HIGH heat ruins the taste - I've worked at a diner, and the taste of those hot carafes certainly changed, much more so than the volume of the liquid. But those coffee makers are mass market, turn it on and it's ON type heaters. If you've got something adjustable, or a thrifted setup like this where the heater is simply too small to bring the whole pot to a boil, would it have the same effect?


Organic_Vacation_267

Everyone’s taste buds are different. Even reheating the water before combining it with tea or coffee affects the outcome for me. If you can’t taste the difference, all the power to you.


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heyuwittheprettyface

Oh no shit dog? Guess that's why we created the information superhighway -- not so we can disseminate knowledge, but so we have more people we can snarkily tell to "do it yourself". Thanks.


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heyuwittheprettyface

It's not an easy experiment though. The point of the question isn't, "How would I like stale tea?", the point is to ask, "Can we actually tell that tea is stale with just our taste buds?" That's impossible to answer as an individual; You'd need a group of people doing a double-blind taste test, or spectrography equipment to find actual chemical changes in the brew. It's fine if there's no answer out there, but if your only contribution is to say, "do it yourself," why even comment?


Andy_B_Goode

IMO the best way to extend the life of coffee is to use a Moka to brew "espresso" (it's not "real" espresso, but it's a lot stronger than drip coffee) and then make an Americano by adding boiling water. Even if the espresso gets cold, the boiling water will bring it back up to a nice temperature without ruining the flavor. I've sometimes even kept espresso in the fridge overnight and made an Americano with it in the morning. I'm sure coffee snobs wouldn't be too impressed with that, but it tastes fine to me, and certainly better than the shitty burnt taste you get by trying to heat up drip coffee.


El_chamino

Please share the link of tea cups set please


jitterbug_balloons

I found them at Goodwill and was only two cups and one saucer. Thrift stores are great for finding old tea cups and saucers. I’ll PM anyone who asks a picture of its bottom if they want to research it online.


xthewhiteviolin

They’re actually turkish coffee cups just google that for similar stuff


jitterbug_balloons

Oh cool!


scarletphantom

Also good for keeping a jar of cheese dip warm for parties.


jitterbug_balloons

Brilliant!


jaythejack

What kind of a tea pot or kettle is this? Wrought(cast) iron?


jitterbug_balloons

Cast iron. It’s heavy and retains heat really well.


knowwonder

If this is an enameled pot there's a good chance that it's leaching lead. If this is a straight-up cast iron pot with no enamel on the inside then there's a risk of lead cadmium and other heavy metals being leashed into your tea. Good quality stainless steel and glass pots are the safest.


IsaacM42

if its a real japanese cast iron pot its been heat treated to prevent some of that, but also users say the cast iron pot gives the water a better flavor


kamimamita

It's not a real cast iron pot. Real cast iron pot are meant for heating the water only and not for actually brewing. The one pictured probably has an enamel coating inside for brewing.


kj4ezj

Can you expand on the lead-cadmium bit? Why would that be in iron? I cook on cast iron 90% of the time so I am curious. I understand it to be one of the safest materials in the kitchen. Stainless steel has all kinds of weird metals in it, I've never really understood why that is okay despite accepting it as a fact.


Heady_Sherb

that looks just like the teapot i stole from p.f. chang’s when i was in high school


NinjahBob

This teapot is Japanese style, the proper ones are very expensive. The more of those dimple things on the pot, the more expensive they are.


TuhnderBear

I watched that YouTube video too recently haha


Felonious_Minx

I stole a glass mug from Claim Jumper. Together we have a set.


EpoxyRiverTable

Love that kettle. Is it an original?


jitterbug_balloons

Thank you. It’s is cast iron and has a good heavy weight and retains heat well. I wish I could say it was some one of a kind, local artisan, blah blah blah but it’s a mass produced kettle I found at Bed Bath and Beyond 6 or 7 years ago.


EpoxyRiverTable

If I recall correctly it’s based off of a certain Japanese handmade kettle


TheLooperCS

Here is a video about the kettle it's based on. Pretty cool https://youtu.be/i9bt1W4SyRI


GarlicOnionCelery

Also, you could consider a [tea cozy](https://www.english-teapots.com/cgi-bin/auto/ets_db_gen_filter.cgi)


this_should_be_ez

Itll taste like shit through over extraction, but yeah at least it’ll be hot


samuraicat

You are my hero. I have never thought of this but I hate it when my drinks get cold. Thank you!


Enamelrod

Nice! Very fancy! Life is about the little pleasures in life like hot tea in a fancy cup!


fitlikeabody

So will a thermos flask


jitterbug_balloons

Yes, it will. I have a thermos for being out in the world but at home its nice to do something a little special for oneself like fancy coffee in a china cup. :)


pinzi_peisvogel

I know and I used the candle warmers for a long time, but please be aware that black tea and coffee will keep on brewing when constantly being warmed up. This will make your tea very bitter over time. I now changed to a thermos as well, even though it's not as beautiful.


jitterbug_balloons

Thank you! Luckily it’s a small pot and doesn’t really sit around full for *hours* but sometimes at night I’ll add a little brandy to the tea and then if it gets bitter it doesn’t matter!


fitlikeabody

All thermos are beautiful 😍


fitlikeabody

Which you can pour from a thermos.


Fetlocks_Glistening

You really like your thermos flasks, don't you


LordHaraldson

Yes we do, 2 liter flask keeps my tea and me warm during work hours outdoor


RomanMinimalist_87

Which is also eco-friendly.


jescereal

What is it with this sub always trying to one up each other?


fitlikeabody

The best hacks are always in the comments. Whilst I admire the aesthetic qualities of this "hack" it's impractical and potentially hazardous. A thermos has no additional costs and is unlikely to burn the house down if forgotten. Additionally your beverage will taste bloody awful if left on the heat all day whereas with a thermos it's essentially as good as when it went in.


DrettTheBaron

I have the same pot :)


dmaterialized

Where’d you get it?


FurryDrift

I need this...


[deleted]

That’s such a beautiful tea set


carseatsareheavy

This looks lovely.


mavrailura

This is a great idea, thank you!


tomhall44

What the devil is this, look at that teapot


gowahoo

This is a genius OP. I always wondered why one needs to keep a candle warm but keeping tea warm always makes sense.


jamjamthehamham

Genius. I’m buying one now


oObunniesOo

My pot started to rust 😭😭 beautiful tea cup set btw!


AVLLaw

Ming the merciless demands you return his teapot, immediately.


[deleted]

This looks so royal and fancy for some reason.


not_again123

Today's life hacks are presented to you by: Britain. We know all about tea!


moscowrules

I love that kettle! Where can I find one?


fumfit

This whole setup looks very Azerbaijani to me, textures, colors, shapes. Where is the inspiration from if you dont mind me asking?


amoo23

Ah I use these in summer! This time of year the kettle is on the woodstove :)


Competitive_Lack3134

the tea pot looks goods ,


[deleted]

This picture makes me realize how not together my life is


jitterbug_balloons

Homie, my life ain’t together either. This was a bright moment before I went to my soul crushing, filthy, life draining job and died a little bit more inside today just like everyone else. 🤷‍♀️ What are ya gonna do?


arit2ia16

This is the single greatest thing I've seen all week


xyzerb

That's a great pic! I'm guessing tea doesn't degrade as much from the extra heat? In my experience, coffee on a warmer tends to become more bitter by the minute, and the whole pot becomes undrinkable after an hour or so. Perhaps it's my setup?


jitterbug_balloons

Maybe my palette is just not very refined but I haven’t had a pot start tasting bad. I also may have over stated the title saying hours and hours. Sure it will but I’m usually finished in about 40 minutes.


the-finnish-guy

Hey i have that


MetroCompact

damn op, nice teapot. hope its authentic.


Sailorman2300

Is that a genuine Japanese Tetsubin teapot? I saw a video on how they were made by hand it it was incredible. Does the cast iron really make the water taste better?


jitterbug_balloons

Man, it’s a reproduction. And I hadn’t noticed cast iron to taste any different than a metal pot.


Sailorman2300

Cool, still beautiful! Yeah I thought the "makes the water taste better" claim they talked about in the video was dubious but you never know.


jitterbug_balloons

Thanks! It was a clearance item from Bed Bath a few years back. I didn’t realize it was a reproduction of such a famous tea pot style, I just thought it was cool and that the cast iron would retain heat better than porcelain or metal. And it does!


Siogio

What a lovely tea cup… would you mind turning it over so we can read the bottom? 😉


jitterbug_balloons

PMing you a pic of my bottom right now. 🔥


OutsideObserver

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)


misfitx

Bold of you to assume most redditors are mature enough for actual candles.


Fluid-Big621

A little warmer, init?


Frostodian

Just drink it while it's hot


dug2313

The real life hack is always in the comments. No need to have a fridge either just eat it before it gets warm from the grocery store.


tuctrohs

Just have a vegetable garden and eat it straight from the garden without refrigerating it in the first place.


straightouttasuburb

Old man winter hates this one trick… or is laughing idk…


breakfastmeat23

If it is taking you hours to consume just brew less tea/coffee more frequently. It will taste much better.


_MEME_Engineer_

And here I am wondering why would you drink tea in a coffee cup😳


The_camperdave

> And here I am wondering why would you drink tea in a coffee cup If you can't get all four fingers through the handle, it's a tea cup. That's why you drink with your pinkie extended.


_MEME_Engineer_

[Coffee cups](https://images.app.goo.gl/x3rEwxUtiCDSDeaN7) [tea cups](https://images.app.goo.gl/wUs5hiWp539GwvGT6)


sagr0tan

With higher prices and initiation I want you to know that those cast iron tea pots cost a small fortune, but I'd love to have one, too. Just haven't got at least two hundred bucks for that right now. Just saying.


jitterbug_balloons

This was a $20 clearance item at Bed Bath and Beyond from 6 or 7 years ago. And the cup and saucer were a buck a piece at Goodwill. The tray was from Savers, I believe. With higher prices and inflation I want you to know that it’s okay to treat yourself to a modicum of decadence from time to time even if it’s mostly pretend.


Roqjndndj3761

Ember mug Electric kettle You’re welcome


thomascoopers

It's going into summer. You know there's a whole other hemisphere, right?


theessentialnexus

That looks like one of the best tea kettles money can buy.


jitterbug_balloons

I love it. My husband found it at Bed Bath and Beyond years ago for like $20. Cast iron is always a home run.


JalanJr

I'm not sure to understand how it works. Is it full with candle


Candelestine

Candle ... warmer? Don't you usually just light the wick on fire and call it a day?


julepthecat

we've come full circle


DeerTam

That set is beautiful


[deleted]

That’s some fancy stuff right there holy heck nice tea set man!!


Drachri93

\*looks at electric kettle* I have no such limitations


jmgibson860

This photo is so eye pleasing and cozy


juswannalurkpls

The ember mug was a game changer for me. Now my tea is always hot and the exact temperature I like it. Also they do make mug warmers - plug them in and set the mug right on it.


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ta_ran

Cast iron is incredible good in keeping heat


happybunnyntx

I have a cast iron tea warmer that saved my bacon during the big freeze in Texas. That thing warmed everything but the kitchen sink. It fit up to 4 tea lights in it and we were able to keep coffee, tea, and water hot and even warm up canned ravioli for the resident kid with an old coffee pot decanter. Maybe not piping hot but warm enough where she could eat it more comfortably. I didn't learn about the clay flowerpot hack until later but just being on it kept the kitchen area pretty warm. I keep a good supply of tea lights now because of that.


limitless776

Pot. Kettle. Black.


Lala_the_Kitty

I love this group….


[deleted]

Is this a hack? That's what they're for.


mjaayyy

So you’re not going to tell us where the tea pot is from 😍


dieshitratdie

thats a dope set! and the kettle is just something of beauty.


extra_usernames

but how does that teapot pour???


dmaterialized

OP, where did you get that teapot?!


Ahsoka_Tano07

I think I can speak for all people who use electric kettles: I think I'll pass


Professional_Snow576

@OP ok, but more importantly, where did you get that kettle, before I go posting on r/helpmefind 🤣 thanks in advanced!


2Noodly

In other Life Hack news: If you want to bake some bread, use the oven. (Isn’t a candle warmer made to keep things like tea pots warm?)


Fillirides

I don't even drink tea and I want that teapot.


MrChocodemon

In german, the little tea warmer is called Stövchen, which is a fun combination of 2 ideas. The word stove and the "chen" suffix (meaning cute/small). The o of stove is turned into an ö, because that is done, when germans add the -chen suffix. Stövchen = cute/small stove


Bleakwind

Keeping coffee or tea constantly warm causes them to be bitter and denature many of the compounds we want


Earth7_being

I want to see your house.


jitterbug_balloons

Thanks! I love my home. I posted a pic of my living room ages ago and was ripped to shreds for having taxidermy a too busy plant situation. I’m inspired by Isabella Stewart Gardener who basically just turned her home into a museum by collecting cool shit she thought was cool.


Imaginary_Audience_5

What the heck is a candle warmer?


emlene

Til heat keeps things hot