Customer Reviews

Joyce Chen Year Of The Dragon Tetsubi, Red

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have this dancing dragon tea pot and truly love it. For steeping tea only, not for top of stove as that is for the kettle. Nicely enameled inside. Stainless steel insert basket for loose tea leaf is a part of the pot package. I only use mine for fine green and Chinese teas. Tea connoisseurs say the build up of deposits from the water inside over time enhances your tea experience.

The sturdy cast iron pot makes enough for about 2 occidental mugs or 5-6 Chinese or Nihon-style tea cups. The Joyce Chien design is fun, as are all her Chinese Astrology symbol pots commemorating each animal year. (I particularly love the Year of the Horse pot, too). It comes in either black or red from various sellers. The company has a special instrument with which it puts the cast iron handle on. (Once I got one without the handle on and couldn't place it myself so the company told the seller I shouldn't even try. I sent it back for one with handle already on.) No flimsy affair is this pot! It's well made.

If you like green teas, like steeped tea, and like the Chien designs, this pot might be just your "cup of tea."

There is no decor that wouldn't benefit from the presence of this beautiful little heavy cast iron teapot. I've had mine long enough that the red paint is worn almost completely away. The only red that remains is nestled betwixt and between the fine releaf of the traditional dragon that winds its way across the top of the pot. I use it every day to drink my precious green tea, and I don't anticipate ever getting tired of appreciating its beauty.

May I suggest getting a warming stand and some Chinese teacups?

Yikes, I love this thing.

I ordered this tea pot because I am a thirty year old fire dragon and have never owned anything with a dragon on it. I received the tea pot with surprisingly little packaging and I thought for sure it was damaged. It was not. It was very small. I thought at first that I would have to return it immediately. Then I picked it up. The weight of this tea pot is amazing it added a new dimension to beauty that I had not considered. So I decided to try it. I put a nice green tea in the infuser and put it on my stove (it has the ceramic top so it heats very evenly and is safer for the cast iron). This little tea pot made the best tea I have ever had, it kept the second cup hot even thirty minutes later. This is definitely a keeper. It is small and heavy, it forces mindfulness when using it to heat the tea and makes beautiful tea. The smallness of the tea pot also serves as a reminder that we (americans) often over consume and that sometimes the greater treasures are in the smaller things. Thank you for this addition to my home.

I received this item with red paint on the packaging materials that were in contact with the tetsubi. I then noticed that the coloring wiped off very easily and when wiped with a wet sponge it would wring out red water! I tried to contact Joyce Chen numerous times regarding this issue, but they did not reply. I don't know what the red paint/stain is composed of, but I'm concerned about lead or other toxic materials since it's hard to keep some water from not touching the exterior when using the tetsubi. I would not recommend this item until that issue has been resolved. I feel strongly enough about this that is caused me to write my first Amazon review after hundreds of purchases.

Gave this as a gift so I haven't seen it for myself but the receiver was and is still enthralled by it.

Holds about 2 regular size mugs of tea. A really beautiful teapot and a joy to use.