Tea Kettles

[melissamary]

I'm a big fan of tea.  A big, big fan.  Every time I go to reenactments I get bored with lemonade and water and I just want a nice, hot cup of tea.  However, there's no possible way to make a proper cup of tea when in a camp situation and without a tea kettle.  Or is there?  I'm wondering what you ladies do to get your cuppa at events.  I have considered buying a tea kettle but all of the antique ones that I've seen have been either too expensive or gross on the inside and all of the new ones have been too expensive.  Where can I find a cheap (under $25) PC tea kettle?  I have PC teapots, I just need a way to boil the water.  I'm sure that either we can build a fire or borrow one from friends.  And how is it rigged?  Goodness me.  I just want a cup of tea!

Melissa

[RachelJ]

I've also been on the lookout for a kettle. In the meantime, I use a mucket.

[Marta Vincent]

You should be able to boil water in a PC saucepan.  Then brew your tea in the pot.

[Trish Hasenmueller]

I have a small copper kettle I bought online.  I don't remember how much it cost but I think it was less than $30.  It was well worth the investment because it heats water so quickly.  It can sit right on the coals of the fire to heat and always gets hot faster than everybody else's coffee pots.  It is small...did I mention it heats quickly?...and we usually refill it for the next pot of tea and to start the wash water.  I gave up long ago trying to keep it pretty but it does its job even with the black patina it has gained from being in the fire.  I got it new because all the old ones I found were also icky inside.  I know it is safe to use with its nickle-coated insides.

Here's one similar to mine, except that mine has a copper spout.  Mine does have the brass handle.  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1UMMC/ref=asc_df_B000I1UMMC2122306/?tag=becomcom00379-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B000I1UMMC&linkCode=asn

Trish Hasenmueller

[Jessamyn]

Watch out - the reviews for the kettle in the link (and the others by that brand) are AWFUL.

[Trish Hasenmueller]

Ew...Sorry I sent that link!  The reviews are not good.

Trish Hasenmueller

[Ms. Jean]

Who is good at finding genre paintings?

Kiss Me and You'll Kiss the 'Lasses, 1856 by Lily Martin Spencer has a variety of kitchen implements but no teakettle.


Boiling the water in a saucepan is a grand idea.  In the past week in this area, your water would start out at 100 degrees anyway!

Jean
Route 66

[bevinmacrae]

I found an old, but clean, copper kettle somewhere and use it nearly daily on the gas stove for tea water as well as for events straight on the fire. My mom found an un-PC trick about the black from the fire: coat the pot with a thin layer of dishsoap before you stick it in the fire. If you ever want to clean it later (I don't b/c I just keel using it) the black washes off right away. Similar to how dirt comes out with the starch on a white item.
Anyways, I love this kettle so much, that I'm afraid I'm going to use it to death, so when i saw one just like it last year at an antique place, i bought it for reserve!

I have also boiled other things in it in a pinch, like pasta, but I don't recommend that (clogged up the spout!) Usually when i have seen them, the inside is just caked with layers of calcium build-up (white and crusty) so I just use some CLR and rinse very good after that has done it's thing.
Bevin

[melissamary]

I just bought a tea kettle from an antique store--one that I had seen previously in the year that was still there when I went back about 4 months later.  It was just $12 and the interior of the kettle is better than any other antique ones I've seen.  Let's hope all goes well with it! Thanks everyone for their input!