Kitchen

[sfnative]

Perhaps 8-9 years ago I purhcased an electric tea tray which had an electric kettle and a glass carafe from the Q. When the news became very public about BPAs, I researched this small appliance and came up with no answers, so knew I had to get rid of it. Using it every day and making tea from BPA tainted water worried me, so I set out to find a new one. It took me nearly a year to find one.

I'm so happy with my new unit that I wanted to pass it along. The base, or electric tea tray, has a 1-2/3 litre electric kettle on the right and a glass carafe with infuser on the left. The carafe sits on an electric plate which can be turned on and off. One may place loose tea or tea bags in the infuser and easily remove it to the sink after brewing.

I use mine to make hot tea in the morning and to make iced tea, which I always have on hand. To make iced tea with this unit, I fill the kettle to the "full" line and turn it on by depressing the little lever. After it boils, I pour it into the carafe, into which I have placed 3 tsp of loose tea, then push the top down and turn on the hot plate. It brews for 3-5 minutes, after which I remove the infuser. I grab my 2-1/2 quart pitcher and fill it 2/3 with ice, then pour the hot tea over it and then into the frig it goes.

This wonderful unit is the most popular unit sold in the U.K. and is:

Russell Hobbs

RHTT8W

1-2/3 Litre Electric Kettle with Glass Carafe [and infuser] on Electric Tea Tray

$78.83

Purchased from Sears online

(Same unit on Amazon is $299.00)

[KYToby]

Why would one need such a device to make tea?

[JeanLouiseFinch]

I don't understand either. I have a 2 qt. pottery pitcher. Boil the water, put the tea bag(s) and a little sugar in the pitcher, pour the water overall and let it steep. I enjoy it all year, but there I times when I can drink it as if it's water.

[MAmom]

I just boil water in a big stainless steel pot. Turn it off when it boils, then add my green tea tea bags along with some vanilla "Sleepy Time" tea bags. I let this steep, add 5 or 6 packets of Splenda & voila! I have cold green tea that I drink all the time.

I'm a bad girl though, bc I pour this into a huge Rubbermaid drink pitcher once it's cool. I'm 56 and just can't get into the habit of not using my plastic pitchers despite all the talk against using them.

[sfnative]

Well, this and the older one I had simply works for me and my lifestyle. I don't like to clutter the range with a tea kettle and like to be able to infuse loose tea, instead of bags of questionable quality (I don't use bags). It's also extremely easy to make a slew of iced tea. To each her own. Next time I'll keep my opinion to myself. If I could remove this, I would.

[ms traditional]

thanks for the info. that is a good lookiing set up.

[Dorothy11]

On 3/30/2014 sfnative said:

Well, this and the older one I had simply works for me and my lifestyle. I don't like to clutter the range with a tea kettle and like to be able to infuse loose tea, instead of bags of questionable quality (I don't use bags). It's also extremely easy to make a slew of iced tea. To each her own. Next time I'll keep my opinion to myself. If I could remove this, I would.

Thank you for the post. I'm a tea drinker and only use good quality loose tea. This product looks great. I currently have an electric kettle (don't like clutter on the stove either!) and use an insulated french press to brew the tea. The heating element for the tea pot is a good idea.

[aprilskies]

I appreciate this post. I am toying with the idea of getting an electric tea kettle because sometimes I get sidetracked and forget I have water boiling. So far, I have caught it on time. I dont have much room so this unit might be a little too bit but I might check it out along with a few others.

[Sooner]

We have an electric tea kettle and I LOVE it. It heats water to a number of different temps for different teas and does it so quickly! I used to have a very cheap one and it did a good job as well boiling water in a hurry!

This looks like a great tea-making device! Thanks for posting it!

[Sooner]

On 3/30/2014 sfnative said:

Well, this and the older one I had simply works for me and my lifestyle. I don't like to clutter the range with a tea kettle and like to be able to infuse loose tea, instead of bags of questionable quality (I don't use bags). It's also extremely easy to make a slew of iced tea. To each her own. Next time I'll keep my opinion to myself. If I could remove this, I would.

Don't worry about people who have nothing better to do than stand over a stove and watch water boil. A lot of busy people here, are glad you posted! Don't let those who only have something negative to add run you away from here.