Bodum Assam 17-Ounce Tea Press
by Bodum
List Price:
Our Price: $14.00
You Save: $13.00 (48%)
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: BodumBrand: Bodum
Model: 1842-01GVP
Color: Black
Product features:
- Brew tea without removing the infuser
- 17-ounce capacity
- Designed for the British Tea Council
- All parts are dishwasher safe
- Heat resistant borosilicate glass, stainless steel lid, polycarbonate strainer and plunger
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Bodum Assam 17-Ounce Tea Press
Customer Review: Not Ideal
Summary: 4 Stars
I've had my Assam for 4+ years and use it every day. It's cute, sturdy, and--if you discard your tea after one infusion--very effective. Problems occur, however, for those like me who don't.
I buy expensive loose tea; one of my rationalizations is that such teas are good for at least three infusions. Once the Assam's plunger is depressed, it will indeed stop the brewing process...for the water in the pot proper. Unfortunately, it doesn't press out ALL of the water in the infuser basket, which contains what is, in effect, a small amount of very concentrated tea that continues to brew. In order to arrest this process, it's necessary to quickly (my tea is always timed precisely) remove basket, pry off the lid/plunger (which has formed a vacuum after being depressed), dribble this tea through the holes of the basket's sides into another container before it gets bitter and ruins the leaves for subsequent infusions, then add it to the tea in the pot (which otherwise isn't the strength it should be). It's a messy, tedious process that can result in burns and is a real pain in the posterior. In addition, tiny particles can escape the rather large holes in the basket (also problematic for many tisanes); unless these are strained, they continue to infuse, resulting in a bitter liquor. Unfortunately, this can cool the tea more than one would like. Over time, the pot and infuser become stained, the pouring spout isn't as good as it should be (but isn't as bad, in my experience, as others have described), and the basket doesn't stay put very well--a problem with hot beverages.
I appreciate the virtues of borosilicate glass and so was glad to learn that Bodum's recent De Chine line looks to be an improvement on the Assam and which--unlike its predecessor--is actually offered for sale by at least one online purveyor of fine tea. The pots are all glass with a large glass infuser/filter (which allows for observing "the agony of the leaves" and other brewing phenomena that make fine tea a delight to the eye as well as the nose and palate) and no plunger--one just removes the filter (which looks to have small enough holes to be practical; I hope there are enough of them). I hit Zabar's in the interest of further research and liked what I saw, although even if I purchase, I plan to eventually acquire several Yi Xing pots to dedicate specifically to the various greenish, flowery oolongs that I cherish; I'll continue to use glass for whites, greens, yellows, and blacks.
I'd probably rate this lower but for the fact that it really is cute and durable, plus I manage to brew great tea despite its performance flaws (although this is likely the result of my extreme scrupulousness with regard to water temperature and brewing time). My advice, if you're really serious about tea and want an all-around brewing device for more than one cup at a time, is to investigate the De Chine.
Description of Bodum Assam 17-Ounce Tea Press
The Assam tea press from Bodum is tea sipping at its most elegant. Only a few steps are involved: first, put the desired amount of tea into the center column, pour in hot water then place the lid on with the plunger in the raised position. When the tea has reached your preferred stength, push the plunger down firmly - the tea is now sealed in the base of the column away from the hot, tea-infused water. Brewing is stopped and your tea will remain at its current strength. Bodum Assam Teapot will let you brew a perfect pot of tea, all the while allowing you to enjoy the visual delights of fine tea. 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..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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