Bodum Assam 4-Cup Tea Press Teapot

Product Review

Tea, as a beverage, was discovered in Assam in the early 19th century. Assam is.the rich, green land of rolling plains and dense forests is the gateway to the north eastern part of India. The mighty Brahmaputra river that has its origins in Tibet charts its majestic course through this state. This mystic land of eternal blue hills and beautiful rivers is renowned for its tea, rich flora and fauna. In Assam, tea is grown both in the Brahmaputra and Barak plains. Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagaon and Sonitpur are the districts where tea gardens are mostly found. Assam produces 51% of the tea produced in India and about 1/6th of the tea produced in the world. Almost equally reknowned, Bodum Assam 2-Cup Tea Press 1842-01GVP was originally designed for the British Tea Council and the British really take their tea seriously. Using a similar mechanism found on Bodum's popular French-Press product, the Assam gets more flavor from the tea leaves than an ordinary tea pot. The secret is in the plunger mechanism which squeezes the tea leaves down, retaining their presence at the bottom of the pot, to infuse all their properties into the hot water. There are so many teas on the market, and many are or can be blended for particular qualities. Whether you choose black, green white, herbal, or medicinal tea, the Assam teapot is the best and easiest way to get a really delicious tea. So whether you're British or not, this teapot from Bodum is personifies the best.

Amazon.com Review

Who knows more about tea than the British? When the British Tea Council asked Bodum to develop a new way of brewing tea, the result was this unique press that's almost as much fun to look at as it is to use. Simply fill the strainer with tea leaves and add boiling water--a slow process, but well worth the time. (You could also use tea bags, but why would you want to?) The clear jug lets you see the tea as it's steeping, allowing you to customize its strength to your taste. When the tea is strong enough, slowly depress the plunger to stop the brewing. You won't have any tea leaves to read at the bottom of your cup, but there's no mess and no need to remove the strainer before you pour. But be forewarned: the Bodum press doesn't retain heat quite as well as a traditional teapot, so you might want to use a tea cozy if you're not drinking the whole pot in one sitting. It's a shame to cover up such a beautiful design, but that's the way the tea leaf tumbles. --Mary Park

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