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Not many of us ever care about the history of the tea kettle we use at home. All we are interested in is to buy an appliance that serves us efficiently when we want hot water or tea. Today, we want to stop for a while and think about how this amazing tea kettle was invented. Click here to check types of kettles.
Ancient travelers and soldiers from China used to boil water to remove impurities and to give it flavor. They accidentally discovered that when you add green tea leaves to boiling water, it gave the water some great flavor. In Europe, nomads and warriors boiled water and added wheat grain to give it some great flavor. In fact, this practice led to what we know today as malt beer.
Cowboys in North America used a tea kettle to make coffee. The kettles that existed at that time were made from materials that conducted heat quickly such as copper. The Chinese used porcelain to make kettles, tea cups, and pots. Kettles became an essential kitchen appliance and was traded in large volumes.
Early Forms of Kettles
Between 3500 to 2000BC, people who lived in Mesopotamia used kettles made from bronze and, which had decorated sprouts.
Before the 19th century, earth kettles were made from iron. These kettles could be placed directly on the flame.
The Electric Kettle
The first electrical kettle was developed by Carpenter Electrical Company in 1891 in the United States. The kettle took about 12 minutes to boil water because the elements were placed in separate chambers. In 1992, The Swan Company designed a new electrical kettle in which the element was sealed into a metal tube and placed into a water chamber. This design boiled water faster and attracted many companies into the field of making electrical kettles.
Automatic Appliances
In 1956, Russell Hobbs managed to develop an automatic electrical kettle. It was an eye-opener that led to the development of an automatic kettle that we know today. Further innovation resulted in the modern practice of producing plastic kettles.
Stovetop Kettles
It is one of the inventions that came without a lid and was filled through the spout. A good example is the Kettle whistle. The vessel is pitcher-shaped and was used to heat water on a stovetop. The kettle had a handle, a lid, and a spout. The new stove kettle comes with a steam whistle which helps to alert the user when the water has reached a boiling point. The kettle is designed in such a way that when steam builds up in the container, it causes the vibrations to occur within the chamber. When the speed increases, the vibration becomes louder and causes a whistle.
The new whistling kettle has an actual whistle cover at the end of the spout. The kettles are made of stainless steel; they are light, come with a bright finish and are durable. Stainless steel is crack resistant, a thing that makes it easier to keep it clean. There are also other examples of stove kettles made from aluminum, iron, copper, ceramic and polished chrome. Kettles are preferred for boiling water since they are enclosed, reduces heat losses resulting in quick boiling.
