# Keeping the tea hot **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385 "2010-10-16T23:38:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/1 "2010-10-16T23:38:05Z")
If I make a large pot of tea, it cools down before I finish it. My friend made me a teacozy that works to a point, but I’d really like the tea to stay _hot_. Any thoughts on how to do this? The tea pots are crockery, so I can’t put them on the stove. I put one of the smaller ones in the microwave oven many years ago, and it’s finish ‘crackled’. (i.e., the glazing now has a cracked appearance. The pot itself is fine.) Since my big tea pot was something like $50, I’d rather not risk it in the microwave oven. Is it safe to put the teapot on the warmer of the coffee maker? (And yes, the kettle is on the stove as I type.) ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/2 "2010-10-16T23:51:17Z")
I use a vacuum carafe. I pour from the brewing pot into it through a strainer and it keeps four cups nice and hot for hours. Not sure of the brand, but I bought it at Target. Update: And of course by transferring it to a different pot, I can get the tea leaves out and keep it from stewing. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/3 "2010-10-16T23:51:17Z")
New word time: [Crazing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazing) It’s probably not worth the cost, but I’d imagine you could put the whole thing in your oven on low. Do you have your mind set on keeping it in the teapot? I’d suggest either a small glass lined airpot (we use them for coffee at work, even 8 hours later, the coffee is still hot enough to burn) or some other type of vacuum insulated thermos. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/4 "2010-10-16T23:55:43Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > New word time: [Crazing](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazing) :smack: That’s the word I was fishing for! > [@gaffa](#): > > I use a vacuum carafe. I pour from the brewing pot into it through a strainer and it keeps four cups nice and hot for hours. I do have a Stanley Thermos around here. I’ll heat up the inside and use it. And I’ll only have to strain once. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/5 "2010-10-17T21:29:58Z")
For a whole pot, meanwhile, a polished metal pot will work much better than ceramic. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/6 "2010-10-17T21:45:38Z")
I suppose it would, since you could put it on the stove. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/7 "2010-10-17T22:23:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If I make a large pot of tea, it cools down before I finish it. My friend made me a teacozy that works to a point, but I’d really like the tea to stay _hot_. Any thoughts on how to do this? The tea pots are crockery, so I can’t put them on the stove. I put one of the smaller ones in the microwave oven many years ago, and it’s finish ‘crackled’. (i.e., the glazing now has a cracked appearance. The pot itself is fine.) Since my big tea pot was something like $50, I’d rather not risk it in the microwave oven. Is it safe to put the teapot on the warmer of the coffee maker? > > (And yes, the kettle is on the stove as I type.) Take a lamp and cut the cord. Take the cord and splice it down the middel about two inches and bare the wires, plug cord into wall and place wires in crockery. Seen this in Bullit, when he wakes up in the morning and makes coffee. Declan ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/8 "2010-10-17T22:39:16Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > > If I make a large pot of tea, it cools down before I finish it. My friend made me a teacozy that works to a point, but I’d really like the tea to stay _hot_. Any thoughts on how to do this? The tea pots are crockery, so I can’t put them on the stove. I put one of the smaller ones in the microwave oven many years ago, and it’s finish ‘crackled’. (i.e., the glazing now has a cracked appearance. The pot itself is fine.) Since my big tea pot was something like $50, I’d rather not risk it in the microwave oven. Is it safe to put the teapot on the warmer of the coffee maker? > > > > (And yes, the kettle is on the stove as I type.) > > Take a lamp and cut the cord. > > Take the cord and splice it down the middel about two inches and bare the wires, plug cord into wall and place wires in crockery. > > Seen this in Bullit, when he wakes up in the morning and makes coffee. > > Declan Sorry, but this is a very bad idea. I wouldn’t do it even though I am a skilled electrician. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/9 "2010-10-17T22:43:33Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > > [@Declan](#): > > > > Take a lamp and cut the cord. > > > > Take the cord and splice it down the middel about two inches and bare the wires, plug cord into wall and place wires in crockery. > > > > Seen this in Bullit, when he wakes up in the morning and makes coffee. > > > > Declan > > Sorry, but this is a very bad idea. I wouldn’t do it even though I am a skilled electrician. I sorta expected that Johnny would bypass that little pearl of wisdom and move on to something else, but concidering that electricity and water generally dont play well, I was surprised to see that in Bullit. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/10 "2010-10-17T22:44:54Z")
Actually, I’ve done something similar to that. Only I clipped all but one of the interior strands. Just the thing to set off a squib. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/11 "2010-10-17T23:54:03Z")
> [@](#): > > I suppose it would, since you could put it on the stove. Even if you take it off the stove, since polished metal will radiate almost no heat. This is one of the principles used in the construction of a thermos. ---
**Author:** ![dwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwyr/32/363_2.png) [@dwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwyr)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/12 "2010-10-18T05:28:57Z")
[A teapot warmer](http://store.elmwoodinn.com/glassteapotwarmerwithcandle.aspx). Works great for china or silver pots. I have three-one silver plate, one china, and one earthenware. Candles can be bought cheaply by the bagful. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/13 "2010-10-18T06:03:31Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > I use a vacuum carafe. I pour from the brewing pot into it through a strainer and it keeps four cups nice and hot for hours. Not sure of the brand, but I bought it at Target. > > Update: And of course by transferring it to a different pot, I can get the tea leaves out and keep it from stewing. Do you find that yours gives the tea a strange aftertaste? I got a really sweet thermos last Christmas from my mum (A Tim Horton’s one) that keeps tea warm nearly 8 hours. But after the first cup it tastes really…off. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/14 "2010-10-18T06:14:04Z")
> [@antonio107](#): > > Do you find that yours gives the tea a strange aftertaste? I got a really sweet thermos last Christmas from my mum (A Tim Horton’s one) that keeps tea warm nearly 8 hours. But after the first cup it tastes really…off. ☹ No, but then I’m a completely uncultured heathen and have my tea with both milk and sugar (Splenda, actually), and according to some, may as well be drinking it through an old sock. Seriously, tea changes flavor over time, and fresh brewed does taste better than reheated or tea that has been sitting around being kept warm. But not enough to forgo drinking it. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/15 "2010-10-18T06:25:39Z")
I’m a tea snob. I mean really a tea snob. I own five different kinds of teapots (for different kinds of tea) and drink tea morning noon and night. I think the worst thing you can do to tea is to continually try to keep it hot (like with those candle-thingies). All that will do is concentrate the tannins and eventually give you extremely bitter tea. If you want fresh tea that is hotter longer, there are two things you can do; make smaller and more-frequent pots and change the pot you are making it in. Personally, I highly recommend those Chinese cast iron pots. [Linkety to pictures.](http://www.google.com/images?q=cast+iron+teapot&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1440&bih=640) I have three of these in different sizes but tend to use a smaller one when I am alone. Because I drink so much tea, I am impatient to have water boil on the stove and so the only kitchen appliance on my counter other than a toaster oven is one of these [hot-water dispensers.](http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=hot+water+dispenser&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5210599901328069682&ei=eOe7TKjzLoKosAPJvI2yDw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=image&resnum=3&ved=0CE4Q8gIwAg#) It dispenses boiling water with a touch of a button and I am therefore able to make smaller, fresher pots of tea more often with little or no inconvenience. For larger parties, the other thing I use (which is harder to find and requires an eBay search), is an old-fashioned Japanese tea pot in an insulated basket cozy. [Here is a picture of an example](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.craigslist.org/3n73ma3pa5W15R15S2a7n35ceec570a601ac6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.iclassifieds.com/forsale/antiques/600899011/18-pc-rose-medallion-japanese-porcelain-ware.html&usg=__GDywGEFCdvCIpLpCnewhKq-hY5I=&h=225&w=300&sz=7&hl=en&start=45&sig2=G7689iPpgrTDc36F0eMeKQ&zoom=1&tbnid=z6I8eF9IvtQTRM:&tbnh=156&tbnw=208&ei=8ue7TMm2E4aisQPov-mMDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djapanese%2Btea%2Bpot%2Bin%2Ba%2Bbasket%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DvCP%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D640%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C1223&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=432&oei=7Oe7TLnQLYv0tgPn8vT0BQ&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:45&tx=80&ty=92&biw=1440&bih=640). I have had tea made in these stay VERY drinkable for several hours as the pot sites in a pre-formed, insulated nest inside the basket. Sometimes there is also a spot for the cups, sometimes not. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/16 "2010-10-18T14:48:37Z")
I ditto the votes for smaller pots of tea, more often… however… If you could get your friend to make you a second tea cozy that contains a layer cut from one of those heat-reflective emergency blankets, that would make the most of the original heat. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/17 "2010-10-18T14:58:41Z")
I reheat my tea in the microwave. Doesn’t change the taste unless you screw up and let it boil. ---
**Author:** ![antonio107](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ea924/32.png) [@antonio107](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antonio107)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/18 "2010-10-18T17:22:34Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > No, but then I’m a completely uncultured heathen and have my tea with both milk and sugar (Splenda, actually), and according to some, may as well be drinking it through an old sock. > > Seriously, tea changes flavor over time, and fresh brewed does taste better than reheated or tea that has been sitting around being kept warm. But not enough to forgo drinking it. I drink mine with sugar, as well, but just the same, my tea comes out really weird tasting. And I don’t exactly have the most refined palate. I’m told it’s the tradeoff for not using plastic that’s leaking odorless, flavorless death into my drinks. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-tea-hot/557385/19 "2010-10-19T01:10:05Z")
You get yourself a [Brown Betty](http://www.cauldonceramics.co.uk/uploads/324_301_Brown%20Betty%204%20Cup.jpg), so you can keep it on the stove on low. But leaving it more than two hours will make it taste, as my mother and grandmother put it, “stewed”. A Scottish lady would make it in a metal teapot and let it basically simmer for a couple of hours. That’d be too strong for me!