Primula Flowering Tea Set with Half-Moon 40-Ounce Pot, Black/Glass
by Epoca Inc.
List Price:
Our Price: $13.26
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Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: Epoca Inc.Brand: Primula
Model: PTA-4203
Color: Black/Glass
Product features:
- Form and function combine in a teapot fit for serving the queen of the family
- Stylish black plastic and glass pot offers a clear view of the contents, making it lovely to include on a set table
- Holds up to 40 ounces; perfect for brewing Primula tea flowers or a favorite loose tea
- Included is a mesh loose tea infuser and 3 Flowering Green Teas with Jasmine
- The construction is both sturdy and dishwasher safe
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Primula Flowering Tea Set with Half-Moon 40-Ounce Pot, Black/Glass
Customer Review: Nice teapot but... [read listed price here]? - puh-leeze
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a NICE teapot and I'm glad I got it. Because I got it 'for free' as part of the Flowering Teas promotion at Amazon. However, paying the price this item lists as a stand-alone purchase would be a big mistake - it appears to be overpriced by a factor of 2 or 3. But, let's discuss the teapot itself.
CONTENTS, BUILD AND DESIGN
The pot's design is not awful but, given that it's supposed to be used with the 'flowering' teas, maybe a little less plastic and more see-through glass would have been preferable. As I already hinted, the glass bowl is partly covered by plastic, as seen in the picture. It's possible that the intent was to not fully show the 'flower' inside by keeping it in the shade or in the dark and leave some to our imagination but, then again, they (Primula) are also selling a full-glass teapot so maybe it has to do with saving a few pennies with the handle attachment.
The pot's mouth is covered by a plastic ring - this is where the mesh infuser would rest - and a plastic cover. The infuser appears to be made of stainless steel wire and it goes sufficiently deep into the pot to guarantee that loose tea would give you a brew even if you don't fill it to the rim.
Both the black plastic that surrounds half of the glass bowl and the glass look and probably are 'cheap'. This is not the kind of object you would display with 'the crystals' or your antique Chinese porcelain collection. It IS made in China, of course, but it's the product of some automated industrial plant, not of skilled hands. While cheap-looking, I did NOT see anything that would make me suspect that this teapot is not reasonably durable. If handled with care, it should be making tea for a long, long time.
OPERATION
The 40 oz. capacity while 'small' if the expectation was to make tea by the gallon, is a lot larger than I'm used to. To me, tea is a 'drink', not a 'beverage' and it's best enjoyed with good quality leaves and prepared properly. You drink tea from small cups. This pot will fill at least 6 teacups, maybe more so I feel that the size is adequate if not a little too large.
Depending of whether one is using the pot with with loose leaves or with the flowering teas, you will or will not use the infuser. It's easy to take it in and out. Once the tea is in, pour near-boiling water, cover, wait for a few minutes and... there's your tea.
The pot comes with 3 sample tea flowers, which is a good thing to try. I may actually buy some more beyond this Primula 12-Pack Flowering White Tea with Peppermint that qualified me for the free teapot. I am, in fact, enjoying one of the green-jasmine-flower combination samples that came with the pot as I am writing my review. I've been drinking mostly white teas for the past couple of years but the "green-jasmine plus yellow flower in the pot" tea is worth trying and I'm happy they included it. It should be noted that each of the flower pods can be steeped up to 3 times so you can make A LOT of tea out of one little flower pod.
When it comes to maintenance, the pot is easy to clean on the inside - it's just glass, after all. But, please, do NOT drop this into a dishwasher and do NOT attempt to separate the glass bowl from its plastic enclosure. Unless you really want to break it, of course.
RATING
It's a usable teapot and the 3 flowering tea samples add some value to what you get. However, if it stays listed at the price it was when I wrote this review, I can't justify the purchase. For a 'cheap-looking' teapot, it gets its 5 stars because it makes tea well and has a couple of extras - infuser, 3 sample flowering teas. As an obscenely overpriced item, it gets 1 star. The average should be 3 stars.
The last word is: get it if you can get it for free with a promotion but if the price stays what it is don't bother. Even if you want to try out the flowering teas, you do NOT need this specific teapot. ANY bowl-shaped, glass teapot will do.
April 14, 2010 Note:
I've been using this teapot for three months now and I'm using it more now because my Japanese teapot's lid cracked on my a few weeks ago - Okay, I dropped it. It's still good for private use and easy to clean but the cheap-looking plastic attachments don't make it suitable for public display.
Description of Primula Flowering Tea Set with Half-Moon 40-Ounce Pot, Black/Glass
The Primula 40-ounce teapot is perfect for brewing Primula tea flowers or your favorite loose tea. Included is a mesh loose tea infuser and 3 Flowering Green Teas with Jasmine. The stylish black plastic and glass construction is both sturdy and dishwasher safe.Tableware
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