Friday, May 2, 2014

Tea Time! - My P-series Cornflower Collection (Part 5)

I am not really that much of a tea drinker.  Oh, on occasion I enjoy a cup of fresh Ginger Tea or a antioxidant rich Green Tea. When it comes to black tea I love Earl Grey (such a classic) and first flush Darjeeling.   But I really don't brew tea very often.  But that does not mean that teapots gather dust.  Oh no.  They are usually employed to warm stock when I am making Risotto, or in heating milk for Hot Chocolate... Even warming Apple Cider.  Yes, they get a severe workout regardless.

Back Left: P-105 (8 cup)  Back Right:  P-104 (6 cup) with tea strainer   Front: P-103 (3 cup)

I also ran across the P-106-N a few weeks back (which is also a 6 cup) though this is technically a coffee pot.  The P-106-N originally came with a plastic cone that fit in the top for making "pour over" drip coffee.  Alas, bereft of the drip cone, it does duty as a teapot as well.

This is the Deluxe Tea Kettle (P-57).

Which, incidentally, has the same lid as the original Buffet Servers (B-1 & B-1 3/4), though the knob on top is different.

Magic Bananas!!!!  See?

The P-57 Deluxe Teakettle isn't really designed for brewing tea per se. It is a Kettle after all.  By definition (and design) a Kettle's sole purpose is to heat the water; water which is then taken to the teapot for brewing the tea. 

Though the tea strainer came with my P-104 Cornflower teapot, when I actually brew tea, I prefer to use my English Pyroflam teapot.

I think it's much more fitting.

Where is your CorningWare??
~~

13 comments:

  1. When I use my diffuser, the tea leaves fall out. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

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    Replies
    1. Make sure the top is secure, obviously, and also make sure the tea has not been ground fine.

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  2. Does the strainer attach to the pot, once immersed? I would think it would either attach to the lid or mouth of the pot, no? I came to that conclusion looking at the fish hook loop end. I pictured it hanging from one of the above. What say you?

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    Replies
    1. There is a small loop on the underside of the lid that you hook the chain to for brewing. :) There are 2 other lids that came on these teapots (later), a bakelite one, and a brushed steel one, neither of them have the loop under the lid.

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  3. Just wondering if these are glass or enamel? I picked up a 3-cup teapot today at a thrift store and it's in great condition ... was hoping to use it for camping but obviously I won't if it's glass! Thanks :)

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    Replies
    1. They are made of glass-ceramic. So camping should not be a problem. They are tough enough to withstand an open fire, BBQ pit, gas or electric stove. :)

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. I have purchased 2 of the P 104 in Blue Cornflower. I managed to get the brushed metal tops for them as well. I want to give one to my friend. I am not selling just wanting to be knowledgeable in their care and use. Can it stand the heat of gas or coil electric stovetop without a diffuser and is glass-ceramic the same as pyroceram?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, they can take the heat of Gas, Coil and Radiant cooktops without a diffuser. You can even use them on a BBQ grill. Pyroceram is just a trademark name for glass-ceramic, owned by Corning, Inc.

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  6. Hey my friend, I was looking to invest in a kitchen when I found corningware and your website, thanks for this, it has helped a ton.

    My question, on the kettle p-57, how quickly does it boil the water for tea? I'm thinking of investing, but I want to make sure. Does it whistle like other tea kettles?

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  7. I have a plain white tea pot marked p 104 and M86 . I haven’t come across others on the internet. Do you know anything about it?

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    Replies
    1. It's a Just/All White teapot. Sounds like it has. The block mark on it, since there is an M68 in the mark... Just means it's from 1978-1985

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  8. I really like my two tea kettles but the black handles are staring to show wear on them ( now kinda grayish). Is there anything I can polish them with? Should I be putting them in the dish washer?

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