A tea kettle and a teapot are both used in the process of making and serving tea, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features:
Tea Kettle:
Purpose: A tea kettle is primarily used for boiling water. It is designed to heat water quickly and efficiently on a stovetop or using an electric heating element.
Construction: Tea kettles are typically made of materials that conduct heat well, such as stainless steel, aluminum, or copper. Some modern tea kettles also have heat-resistant handles and whistling mechanisms to signal when the water has reached boiling point.
Function: The main function of a tea kettle is to boil water for making tea, coffee, or any other hot beverages. Once the water reaches the desired temperature, it can be poured into a teapot or directly over tea leaves or tea bags.
Capacity: Tea kettles usually have a larger capacity than teapots since they are meant to hold a significant amount of water for boiling.
Teapot:
Purpose: A teapot is used for steeping tea. It is designed to hold tea leaves or tea bags in hot water to extract the flavors and create a brewed tea.
Construction: Teapots are commonly made of materials such as ceramic, porcelain, glass, or clay. They are often equipped with a lid, a handle, and a spout for easy pouring.
Function: Teapots have a built-in infuser or filter that allows tea leaves to be immersed in hot water while keeping them separate from the brewed tea when serving. Some teapots also come without an infuser, allowing you to use traditional loose tea infusers or disposable tea bags.
Capacity: Teapots are generally smaller in capacity compared to tea kettles, as they are intended for brewing and serving specific quantities of tea.
In summary, a tea kettle is used to boil water, while a teapot is used to brew and serve tea. The tea kettle provides the hot water needed to steep the tea leaves or tea bags in the teapot, which then allows you to serve the brewed tea to individuals or guests.