Tetsubin

"Tetsubin" (鉄瓶) are Japanese cast iron pots having pouring spout and handle crossing over the top, used for boiling and pouring hot water for drinking purposes, such as for making tea. Because iron is released into the water, the water is appreciated as a dietary source of iron.

"Tetsubin" traditionally are heated over a charcoal fire. In the Japanese art of "chanoyu" (Japanese tea ceremony), the special portable brazier for this is the "binkake" (瓶掛) (see list of Japanese tea ceremony equipment). "Tetsubin" are often elaborately decorated with relief designs on the outside. They range widely in size, and many have unusual shapes, making them popular with collectors. A relatively small "tetsubin" may hold around .5 litres of water; large ones may hold around 5 litres.

The historical origin of the "tetsubin" is not certain [ [http://www.calacademy.org/research/anthropology/tetsubin/hist.html History of Tetsubins ] .] At last one authoritative Japanese source [原色茶道大辞典: Tankosha, 1975.] states that it developed from the spouted and handled water kettle called "tedorigama" that was already being used in "chanoyu" (see Japanese tea ceremony) in the era of Sen no Rikyū (1522-91). During the 19th century infused tea became more popular, and tetsubin were considered primarily status symbols, rather than functional kitchen items. There is also a kind of relatively small cast iron pot that resembles a "tetsubin" but is glazed with enamel on the inside in order to lend itself to making brewed tea, and is referred to as an iron "kyūsu" (急須) or teapot. Most often, however, ceramic is used for making "kyūsu". "Kyūsu" often come with a tea strainer that fits inside.

The prefectures of Iwate and Yamagata are best known for producing "tetsubin" as well as iron "kyūsu".

ee also

* Japanese tea ceremony
* Teakettle
* Cast iron cookware

References

External links

*en icon and ja icon [http://www.suzukimorihisa.com/ Tetsubin Studio]
*en icon [http://www.JapansTea.com/ Japanese cast iron tea pots and tea sets.]
*ja icon http://www.kougei.or.jp/crafts/0801/special/ all about Nanbu ironworks