My Butler Julius
by Julius Smith
IN WHAT KIND OF POT SHOULD TEA BE BREWED?
I have been asked whilst serving afternoon tea, if there is any difference between using a porcelain tea pot and a silver one. The obvious answer is price; however, the complete answer is a little more complicated than that: Traditionally, tea was sourced from two countries—China and India.
Tea from China is more delicate and so is better suited to porcelain pots, as these are flavor-neutral and do not alter the taste, colour, or bouquet of the tea.
With regard to silver teapots, the minerals in the metal react with the water and, over time, people found it enhanced the flavour of the more robust black teas that came from India.
Today, especially with the advent of tisanes, we see glass teapots in use, which also work well for herbal and delicate white or green teas from China.
Whichever tea pot you decide to use, make sure it is well maintained and it will provide service for many years to come.
The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.