Non-Toxic Tea Kettle Not Made in China
Written by Irina Webb
Have you been looking for a non-toxic tea kettle not made in China? It may be because you know that the background level of pollution in China and general lenient attitude towards quality standards are discouraging. Or, you want to support local manufacturers, which is praiseworthy. Maybe you want to buy products from countries that have more effective environmental and consumer protection laws. Whatever the reason – it’s valid, and I totally understand you.
Moreover, I have spent a lot of time trying to find a high-quality safe tea pot not made in China. You know what I have discovered? First, it is almost impossible to find one (due to lower manufacturing costs in China). Second, when it comes to tea kettles, I don’t have to worry about them being made in China if I choose the right material. Yes, even China-made cookware can be safe enough for you. Keep reading to learn how to find the best tea kettle for your quiet and enjoyable teatime. And for assistance in finding safe cookware, turn to my Safe Cookware Guide.
Non-Toxic Tea Kettle Not Made in China
To begin with, remember this tip, and it will help you a lot: A non-toxic tea kettle should not be made of aluminum. Also, I am wary of kettles with enamel coating.
Aluminum Is Not A Safe Material For Your Kettle
First, aluminum cookware may leach aluminum salts. Unlike lead or mercury, aluminum’s negative effects on our health are controversial. While it is not an established carcinogen, it is linked to Alzheimer’s and may contribute to the depletion from the body of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron (source and source).
Unlike lead, which has no safe levels, our bodies can take some aluminum without suffering harmful effects. The generally accepted level of aluminum we can ingest is 3-5 mg a day. Independent tests show that food prepared in aluminum cookware can increase this daily intake substantially.
The good news is that our organs don’t absorb most of the aluminum we ingest as it gets excreted. However, we should take into consideration the fact that aluminum is bioaccumulation. Meaning, that it accumulates in the body over time. Therefore, I don’t think an aluminum tea kettle is the best tea kettle for you.
Be Careful With Enameled Cookware
Second, to be on the safe side, your non-toxic tea kettle should not have enamel coating due to potential contamination with lead. Indeed, lead is a common contaminant in cookware or dishware and can be found in enamel, too. It is a heavy metal that accumulates in the body over time. There is an array of potential health problems standing behind lead – anything from hypertension to brain malfunction (source).
When Tamara Rubin of Lead Safe Mama conducted XMF tests on several enameled household objects, some of them tested positive for lead or cadmium. Hence, in my opinion, an enameled tea kettle is not your best tea kettle.
Also note that when it comes to enameled kettles, the year and the country of manufacture matters. Vintage enameled kettles are suspect for heavy metal contamination. And in my experience, enameled kettles made in China or Mexico are more likely to contain the residue of heavy metals.
In addition, pay attention to whether there is a California Prop 65 warning and avoid those kettles, too
How To Buy A Lead-Free Tea Kettle
There are two regulations to look for – FDA regulations and California Proposition 65. In the table below, you will find their lead compliance limits side by side per the type of cookware/dishware. The measurements are in micrograms per milliliter (mcg/ml) after the item was soaked in a 4% acetic acid solution.
Let’s see how these numbers can help you buy a non-toxic tea kettle.
As I have mentioned above, there are no safe levels for lead because it accumulates in the body over time. However, when lead goes into your digestive system, there is a chance your body will not absorb all of it. (By the way, diets rich in fiber and lean protein reduce the absorption of lead.)
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, created by California Proposition 65, sets forth 2 types of limits for lead per day. The maximum limit for lead as a carcinogen is 15 micrograms. And the maximum amount of lead as a chemical causing reproductive toxicity is 0.5 micrograms.
So, if your tea boiler (large hollowware) follows the FDA limits, you can’t drink more than 15 milliliters of water out of it before you start increasing your risk of cancer. Fifteen milliliters is a little over three teaspoons – not very much. Considering that not all lead is absorbed, let’s say 6 teaspoons – still not much. And the safety limit for pregnant women would be much less than a teaspoon.
Related: A Helpful List Of Chemicals To Avoid During Pregnancy
As you can see from the table above, the California Proposition 65 limits are either 5 or 10 times more stringent. In our case, with large hollowware, it is 10 times better than the standard. So, 30 teaspoons of water from a tea kettle would be okay to drink without increasing the risk of cancer.
On the other hand, the California Proposition 65 warning does not always signal danger. For example, electrical cords usually trigger the California Proposition 65 warning because they contain BPA. I believe it is best to contact the company and ask what specifically triggered the warning.
Safe Materials For Your Best Tea Kettle
Safer choices for a tea boiler include plain (undecorated) stainless steel and plain (undecorated) clear glass. We use cookware made of these materials at home. Not only are they free of toxins, but they are inexpensive as well. And here is very good news – if your non-toxic tea kettle is made of stainless steel or plain glass, it doesn’t really matter whether it is a product of China. In other words, it’s okay for your tea kettle to come from China if it’s made of stainless steel or glass.
Stainless Steel
Definitely, stainless steel looks beautiful. And it is the number one choice of professional chefs. This is because it heats uniformly and reacts well to changes in temperature. Cast iron, in contrast, holds heat for a long time, making it tricky for some applications.
Tamara Rubin tested several stainless-steel items with an XRF instrument and detected no lead, cadmium or arsenic in them. However, there are some downsides of stainless steel. Such as leaching of chromium, nickel, and iron into food during cooking (source). While iron and chromium are essential nutrients for which stainless steel may be useful, you don’t need nickel for your health. (In the 18/10 and 18/8 types of stainless steel, 18 stands for percentage of chromium, and 10 and 8 – of nickel.)
Even so, my research into safe cookware shows that stainless steel cookware is one of the safest cookware options in the market regardless of its manufacturing location.
Plus, when water boils for tea, it does not create conditions that stimulate nickel leaching. Because you pour the water immediately into a teacup. Also, water is not acidic like tomato sauce, for example. Hence, the odds of significant nickel leaching into the water in your best tea kettle made of stainless steel are very small.
Glass As Non-Toxic Tea Kettle Material
Note that only clear non-crystal glass doesn’t leach lead or cadmium. Thus, Tamara Rubin tested glass kitchenware and found vintage glassware positive for lead. However, her testing of modern glassware with no decorations or added colorants detected no lead, cadmium, arsenic or mercury.
The glass in your best tea kettle should be absolutely clear — not even a hint of tint (especially the clear light green or blue tint that is often typical of recycled glass items.) Additionally, it shouldn’t be a recycled glass item if you want to avoid lead. According to Tamara Rubin, despite its environmentally virtuous appeal, recycled glass is often positive for at least trace amounts of lead, regardless of the tint or color or lack thereof. You can read more about glass products made of borosilicate glass, lime glass, and leaded glass in my Lead Free Glassware Brands post.
Are Xtrema Tea Kettles Safe?
Xtrema is a very popular brand. Almost every single blogger who writes about healthy living promotes their products. Despite the fact that they manufacture their cookware products in China and from ceramic, Xtrema has been able to persuade the public that their products are safe. On the plus side, they publish their test reports that show compliance with the California Proposition 65 regulations. On the minus side, Tamara Rubin tested Xtrema and didn’t find them heavy metal-free. You can read more about that in my Safe Cookware Guide.
When Xtrema started selling their products, I bought what I thought would become my best non-toxic tea kettle. When it took a long time to boil water, I increased the temperature form low to medium-low. As a result, the bottom started chipping away. And pieces would crack off with a noticeable popping sound and fly around the kitchen. Even though I am a “stay cool” person, I stopped using it. Because it was neither efficient nor safe, in my opinion.
Conclusion About Non-Toxic Tea Kettles
It Is Okay For Your Best Tea Kettle To Be Made In China As Long As The Materials Are Stainless Steel Or Glass.
In sum, even China-made tea kettles can be safe enough for you. Normally, such materials as stainless steel and clear glass provide assurance of safety as they don’t test positive for heavy metals and contaminants regardless of the country of origin. Make sure, though, that any plastic parts of your non-toxic kettle are at the very least BPA-free and do not touch the water.
In the “Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances” section of the IRLFY Amazon shop, you will find several options of easy to clean stainless steel tea kettles, a heat-resistant borosilicate glass kettle, and both induction cooktop compatible and electric kettles. If you are a fan of a whistling tea kettle, you’ll find one there, too. Actually, whistling kettles are a great idea. Because you don’t have to worry about forgetting about your water boiling on the stove. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions as to whether your stainless steel kettle or borosilicate glass kettle is dishwasher safe.
As for cast iron kettles, those that I’ve seen in the market are enameled cast iron tea pots, better used as accessories or humidifiers than for boiling water for consumption.
Explore the I Read Labels For You blog for useful information on healthy living. Also, browse the IRLFY shop for non-toxic products. Check out our e-books, and use one of our services if you need help understanding ingredients.
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Very nice stylish lovely electric kettle. I love it so much. Chefman 1.7 Liter Electric Programmable Glass.
Have you checked if it has a silicone ring inside? ~Irina
Hi Irina, thank you for this post. I’d like to buy the Cosori Kettle you listed in your store.
You posted an Instagram Story about it back in May that I saved to come back to, I see lots of reviews on Amazon saying the kettle rusted quickly and it needs a weekly descale and clean after each use. Which seems really high maintenance!
I’d love to hear your updated experience of it before I purchase.
Thanks for all your research!
Kim
Hi, Kimberley: I use and like it. No issues. It is the one made of stainless steel ~Irina
do you no longer recommend the tea kettle? I didn’t find it on your store. I really was hoping for an all glass interior without metal or silicone. and low emf would be a bonus!
Hi Kristy! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels For You! Please, check out our Amazon shop, namely, the “Kitchen Gadgets and Appliances” section for options of kettles and tea pots: https://www.amazon.com/shop/irina_ireadlabelsforyou
Would you recommend this kettle? Appears the finial is the only plastic piece that I’m aware of. (Not sure if this was the glass Cosori you were referring to in previous comments or you were talking about the electric one).
Thanks for everything!
Hi Ty! Thank you for your interest in our opinion! As long as the liquid or vapors do not get in touch with plastic, the kettle should be ok.
This talk of kettles that boil water like you have to put it on a stove is very confusing to me, and indeed, anyone else that is from Australia.
Here, in just about every household there is, we all have electric kettles. Cheap ones are made of plastic, but the better ones are made from stainless steel or glass.
I have a cordless kettle, so it just sits on a baseplate that gets plugged in, and the base of the kettle itself connects to a contact plug underneath it. It only takes a min or so to boil.
I have read that these are unusual outside Australia, so was wanting to chuck this out there in case anyone hadn’t heard of them, or wanted to give them a go…if indeed you can track them down online somewhere. 😛
Just found your site recently, and fell upon a discussion about clay cooking pots, and loved the raw truthfulness of the discussions…something that is much needed on the internet these days.
Have subscribed. <3
Hi Tanya: thank you for your compliments. And welcome! Yes, in the US, we also use electric kettles. Here is the only one I found that has no plastic parts: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product/cosori-electric-kettle/. ~Irina
Can I simply just say what a relief to find someone who actually understands what they are talking about on the web. You actually realize how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people need to read this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised you aren’t more popular since you surely have the gift.
Thank you, Alphonso! How do you know that I am not more popular? :). ~Irina
Do you still recommend Cosori tea kettle? I was looking at the Buydeem one but I see now that it is no longer recommended. Thank you.
Hi, Nicole: it turned out that the glass Cosori tea kettle has a silicone ring inside. ~Irina
Hi Irina! Thank you for all the work you put in! I am looking for a non-toxic electric kettle and since the one you recommended is sold out… I would love to hear your thoughts on another one. Also, do you have any other recommendations?
Hi, Esha! We appreciate your interest! Irina will be happy to help you with your question in a private consultation: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/
Hi! I am in the market for a new kettle. I saw your question to Julia about the Buydeem kettle. It’s on your website under Healthy Kitchen > https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product/electric-kettle/
Serra, thank you so much for letting me know. To answer, Julia’s question, it is not ideal for plastic to be inside. I will remove it from my Shop. ~Irina
Oops, I thought I had replied to that. Something must have gone wrong.
By the way, I also noticed that the all-clad kettle is actually made in China now. I think you highlight it as an option made in the USA. I don’t know why all clad changed this…. but too bad!
I don’t. All-Clad always made pots and pans in the US but accessories including kettles in China. ~Irina
The electric kettle you recommend – Buydeem – has a plastic ring on the inside of the lid. Would you still use it? I personally don’t like the idea of any plastic inside the kettle… whether it is “food grade” or not.
Amazon question:
“Q: Is the inside of the lid plastic? Where the steam will touch and drip back in the pot?
A: Thanks for asking, the inside of the lid is stainless steel with one plastic ring for avoiding slipping, but the plastic is food-grade material and we do have the FDA certifications for our products, so please don’t worry about this. The steam will mostly touch the stainless steel part and drip back in the German schott duran glass pot. Any further concerns, please feel free to contact Seller directly for prompt help.”
Hi, Julia, could you tell me where you located Buydeem electric kettle on my website? ~Irina
Hi Irina,
Here is the link to your store: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/product/electric-kettle/
You say, “It looks like there is no plastic that touches the liquid. The inside of the lid is stainless steel, too. There is only a plastic ring on the lid.” If this was the case, I would definitely buy it, but I read conflicting things on amazon. So I went with the all clad kettle instead.
By the way, I love your site. The non-toxic homeware and health worlds are so hard to navigate – and I even have a scientific background and worked in healthcare for the past 7 years. It’s really been a long learning process and I’m so grateful for the information you share here.
Hello, Julia! We appreciate your interest! Thank you for the kind words and reading our blog!
I have been reading labels for over 10 years. Besides the fact that I don’t trust China to not kill me with their products I do not purchase made in Asia to protest their treatment of dogs, cats and actually all animals. Horrific treatment there.
I do not understand why a US company has not jumped to produce US made coffee and tea products. I’m sure they’d rake in the cash.
Just bought a lovely saucepan made in Italy to boil water. Waiting for that US made teapot. 🙂
Can you provide a link for the saucepan you bought? 😊
Hi Maddy
This is the company, but I don’t see my pot there. I got mine at TJ Maxx.
That’s where I find my made in Italy cookware.I have a few different pans from different companies in Italy. They don’t exactly match, but it’s better than made in China.
http://www.barazzoni.it/products/0/0/1/0/&page=1
OMGosh! I’m getting brain freeze (not from cold) trying to decipher & retain all this info & make a decision based on my broken immune sytem. Help! I have hemachromatosis & told to stay away from iron & have allergy to nickel (& everything else in between) and can’t bear the thought of plastic or aluminum AND am living on the very low income level, wishing I could get healthier to continue living long enough to finish raising my two adopted small grandchildren. Can you please tell me if there is a safe, affordable WHISTLING tea kettle before I burn up another saucepan (from exhaustion & multitasking), forgetting I turned it on?
Thanks, Annie.S.
Are Stellar Tea Kettles made in England. I found one at a store today and it has a UK address on it for the company, but there was no tag that indicated where it was manufactured. It is a solid stainless steel kettle.
Have you looked into simplex teakettles?
Yes, the Simplex kettles are listed in the post. Thank you, Julia! ~Irina
Jake Lenson, if there is anything stupid about this page, it’s your comment. Green tea comes from China, yes, and you can pick up great quality tea, or very cheap tea. (Some green tea is more expensive than gold; a pot of fresh, first harvest top quality green tea – Long Jin, for example, – is auctioned for sometimes thousands of dollars!,) and then, you have tea of such low quality that for a couple of dollars you can buy a pound or two. Likewise, tea kettles, teapots and whatnot made in China, are mostly bad quality. However, you also can spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars in a tea pot. Traditionally, tea in China is brewed on clay teapots, made by artisans using YIXING clay (place name.) These teapots are safe, and beautiful, collectible art pieces. Some are also very cheap and affordable, but none are to be used on an open flame on a stove top. A candle or oil flame is however used in the tea ceremony to keep water warm, before being poured over the tea. The same does not apply to stainless steel, and even cast iron Made in China. You call this page a stupid page because you miss the whole point and purpose of the exchange of information here: Visitors to this page are concerned with finding a teapot/kettle that is not toxic, on one hand, and, on the other hand, something that can be used to heat water, etc. Your posting is inane, truly the only stupid thing posted on this page.
Does anyone else know anything that is not Made in USA? Plenty of things! Tea kettle not made in China? Tea itself is from China, a lot of great tea in fact. Quite a stupid page really. I am surprise I even bother to leave comment here.
We prefer nothing made in China since its dangerous.
Did you know that cat food with Chinese ingredients killed 1500 beloved cats in the USA about 10 years ago?
I make sure that nothing from China is in my cat’s food. Now I use Farmina but another good one is FROMM. NO INGREDIENTS FROM
CHINA!
Does anyone know of a good electric tea kettle- not made in China, no lead and 100% stainless steel (or other safe material)? Thanks!
After exhausting myself trying to find a whistling kettle not made in China, I finally found this one, made in Italy. I like it very much. My only complaint is that the handle edges are a bit sharp and you feel them when picking up the kettle. However, I am counting on them wearing smooth with regular use. I love the Staub so much, but the lack of a whistle is a deal breaker.
http://www.espressopros.com/frabosk-kettles-73761.html?gclid=CJy09O3UuNACFUtWDQodLtEMAw
It is a beautiful kettle, Christina. Great research! Thank you for sharing. ~Irina
The Alessi kettle shown above is DESIGNED in Italy, but made in China.
Hi, I am looking to purchase one of the glass tea kettles you recommended, German-made, and it has two options for the lids: a glass one and a stainless lid. The stainless one would probably be most durable, but I am concerned about the chemicals from the lid leaking since the tea pot does heat up significantly. Which lid would you recommend?
Karina: I think a stainless steel lid will be fine unless you are allergic to nickel. ~Irina
Thank you for your research! It’s nice to see others concerned about the same issues.
I found two copper options not made in China.
made in England -Simplex:
https://www.simplex-kettles.com
made in the USA – Pioneer:
https://www.jacobbromwell.com/pioneer-tea-kettle
While they are hand crafted pieces that look beautiful, I’m not sure about the health quality of tin-lined copper. They are also both very expensive.
I also came across a stainless steel one made in Italy- Lucido, but I don’t know about the overall health of it’s construction:
http://www.davidmellordesign.com/lucido-whistling-kettle-zani-serafino
I find it interesting that you forwent the Alessi for the Staub on price alone since they are only $10 different in price.
Primarily I was looking for a very large kettle, the Staub is disappointingly small. Has anyone found something healthy that also holds several quarts?
Hi, Kathryn: I am wary of tin-lined copper as the lining can wear off and copper will leach into food/liquid. I would go for the Italian stainless steel kettle. You might want to ask them what type of stainless steel they use but I think it should be fine. You bring up a good point about the price. ~Irina
Wait, what? There is different types of stainless steel? 🙁 Ok, that’s it… I think I’m done, it is just too much. How will we ever know if what you buy is safe. Eish! So what type of stainless steel should one look out for then? Sorry for all the questions Irina…
Look for stainless steel marked 18/10. But better yet, go cast iron, and if the traditional cast iron (such as Lodge) is too heavy for you (you you get a workout!,) look for SOLIDtechnics (Australian — they recently had a Kickstarter campaign, not sure if it is still active/live, but you may want to check it out.) You get what you pay for, so be ready to spend some serious money if you want the best quality… and if you can afford it, of course.
Thanks JB, I will definitely look into it… Going to start off with a stainless steel French Press for now, this is definitely going to be a long and slow process of replacing everything, but hey, Rome was not built in a day. 🙂
Solidteknics is super expensive but I think Tamara Rubin did a test on one of their pans and was very impressed with the results – I’m saving up for a Noni pan! 😊
Thank you Irina for all your hard work. I have been researching non toxic everthing that goes into our bodies forever and it’s very hard to get the information and believe it. Your website is one of the best I have read with the facts and figures. I’m impressed with Christopher Fox and how much more he pressed to find the answers. Even though the main part of the product is non toxic the parts are. I gave up my search for awhile for a teapot until I just found your site which I am so happy for and sharing with my family. I will purchase the Staub teapot with confidence. Please keep up the good work. It’s just as important to know how non toxic products are made and where besides just calling it non toxic I want to know why they are calling it non toxic. I don’t agree with Dr. Mercola about Xtrema it’s made in mainland China where the water is extremely polluted and yes they don’t share all info about ingredients just a copy of their testing. I plan on writing to Dr. Mercola about it because I follow him to. Thanks again. Tell Christopher to keep up the good work as I also press for more answers.
Hi! I’d love to know more about why you voted against a Le Creuset kettle, other than its country of origin. Is its lining toxic? Thank you ever so!!
Hi Elf: The focus of this post was on kettles NOT made in China because some people refuse to buy products made in China. ~Irina
I have a Le Creuset kettle. Unfortunately, it is not made of the same high quality as their other pots and pans. The interior of the kettle (which touches the water) is a sand papery black, rough textured. Sure doesn’t feel like ceramic. I stopped using it after black “sludge” was found at the bottom of every cup of tea, glass of warm water. You take a papertowel to clean out the bottom of the inside of the kettle and this “black stuff” just smears off. Whatever the black stuff is (paint? tin? iron?) we were drinking it everytime we boiled water in that kettle. No matter how many times I cleaned the interior with white vinegar, eventually even with baking soda and vinegar…the black stuff always returned. So this mysterious black stuff would leech into our water if boiled in that kettle. I would not recommend it. That can’t be healthy. Now, if Le Creuset decided to make a kettle with a genuine ceramic glaze on the INTERIOR of the kettle, like the rest of their pots and pans made in France, then yes, that I would buy. What Le Creuset has now for tea kettles..sure, they look cute. But I would not feel confident in their safety. Whatever the kettle is made of LEECHES into the water, which you then drink.
Hi Irina,
Have you researched Simplex Tea Kettles? I love the look and functionality of mine, but the inside coating is chipping off, which is scaring me… Here’s the link:
https://www.simplex-kettles.com/product/simplex-heritage-no3/
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Thanks!!
Thanks for this post! I do my best to never buy new Chinese products. If I absolutely have to buy something and I cannot find a non-Chinese equivalent, I buy used things. I don’t want to support their economy in any way. After seeing some documentaries on how they treat animals, and what horrors are happening for those who do not agree with the government, I’ve decided to stop supporting this country with my wallet. Obviously, I’m also concerned about the absolute lack of safety and quality of Chinese stuff.
But back to the subject of kettles – luckily, alternatives still exist. I have a “German” borosilicate glass kettle at home (someone gave the link to those already), I’ve had it for a couple of years and can really recommend it. It’s not really German but more Hungarian actually – that’s where the glass is made – but regardless, it’s a great thing to have for my gas stove. Unlike steel kettles, it’s really easy to clean. It does have some drawbacks though – you can’t add cold water while the kettle is still hot, and it is fairly fragile. The glass is really thin, so you have to be extra careful while handling it. I was really afraid that such thin glass will explode with the first boiling but surprisingly, it works quite well 🙂
Here in Poland we also have some steel kettles still made locally but those are a pain to clean.
Now I’m looking for a non-Chinese electric kettle for the office. Just wanted to share with you that some Philips models are made in Poland, and it looks like some Mia kettles are still made in Germany. Ritter also boasts that they still manufacture their products in Germany. Maybe I’ll manage to find some more, but I’m already quite happy that at least there is something to choose from 🙂
Thank you, Anna, for sharing your research! ~Irina
Hello Anna & Irina,
We’re either of you able to find a safe electric glass tea kettle?
I have been searching for one with variable temperature setting to ensure the healthiest tea possible for my family.
I found one that from breville advertised something about being made with SCHOTT German glass. I’m not familiar with this & now hearing the glass could possible be unsafe for our health. https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/breville-reg-the-crystal-clear-trade-1-7-liter-electric-water-boiler/1044110550?keyword=variable-temperature-glass-tea-kettle-electric
This was the other one I was considering, it mentioned it was made with borosilicate glass.
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/oxo-on-cordless-1-75-liter-adjustable-temperature-electric-kettle/1060765611?keyword=variable-temperature-glass-tea-kettle-electric
Do you have any information or thoughts before I make a choice?
I’ve been using the Simax glass tea kettle I mentioned above for a couple of months now. While I can’t say I am in love with a glass kettle, it does work pretty well. I do use it on high heat, and it works just fine. The two things you have to be careful about is not letting it boil dry and pouring cold water into a hot kettle.
I just learned about these tea kettles made in Germany. They seem to be high quality. I just ordered the Staub one but am wondering if I should switch to these as they are much more affordable. Ive never had a glass one. A disadvantage I could forsee is the water not staying hot for very long in the kettle compared to the Staub.
http://www.natural-lifestyle.com/Natural_Kitchen/Glass_Drinking_Bottles/Glass_Water_Kettles/Opus_Glass_Teapot/Miko_Glass_Teapot/Glass_Coffee_Press/Muffin_Pans/NatureMill/Cellophane_Bags/Stainless_Rice_Cooker/Aeternum_Gasket/Perfect_Plus_Pressure_Cookers/Kettle_Hold/German_Glass_Products/german_glass_products.html
Hi Amy, these kettles look pretty good! And yes, they are affordable. I wonder if you have to use low heat with them. While it borosilicate glass, it is glass after all. I would love to hear from people who use glass kettles. Thank you for sharing, Amy! ~Irina
I have a borosilicate glass kettle. Since it is glass and I don’t want it to break I start mine off on low heat and slowly turn it up to medium and then high. I haven’t tried turning it straight onto medium or high just to be on the safe side…I’ve seen videos where kettles turned straight to high have exploded. Also if you have an electric or glass top stove you will want to get a heat diffuser.
Does this article say which tea kettles are toxic free and not made in china? I skimmed through and saw nothing???? The extrema or whatever is made in China so that would make the title false if that’s a recommended product as I saw in comments. Might be good to place your recommendations in the article, in a way where readers can clearly see them and then check them out. So far I got no recommendation on which toxic free, non china made tea kettle to buy from this article. I’ll re-read skim one more time.
Hi, Kimberly! Thank you for your honest feedback! We appreciate it a lot! This post is waiting for its turn to be updated. For now, we are in the process of updating our free cookware blog posts, such as GreenPan, 360 Cookware, and soon-coming Always Pan Review. If you haven’t yet, you can sign up for our Newsletter to be in the know about the latest developments on our website and in the area of non-toxic living and to get discount codes for many useful products.
You are welcome. I received my teapot yesterday, and it is all glass. So far it works very well. This particular model comes with a infuser (also all glass), which is handy if you want to brew tea right in the pot 🙂
Thank you, Elena! Do you have electric or gas stove? Does it work for both? ~Irina
Yes, I checked the manufacturer’s web site before ordering. It is borosilicate glass. This company also manufactures glass used in chemistry labs, where glass has to be especially non-reactive. On their web site they also state specifically that their glass is lead and cadmium free. Here is a description of their production process:
http://www.simax.com/en/section/13-production.html
Sounds good. I just emailed them, too. Thank you so much for this great find! ~Irina
Just found another kettle not made in China – Simax glass stovetop kettle. These kettles are all glass (no plastic) and made in Czech Republic. I just purchased the Marta kettle from Amazon for $20.
http://www.simax.com/en/teapots-and-cups__with-glass-filter_____kitchenware-simax.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QKKME6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
Thank you, Elena! Good find! Were you able to confirm that the tea pots are 100% glass and ask what type of glass that is. I normally do not trust Amazon product descriptions and try always to double check with the manufacturer directly. Thanks! ~Irina
I bought the Staub kettle after reading this post. The kettle is beautiful and very well made. Unfortunately, it won’t work for my stove and I have to return it. The bottom of the kettle is very small. Its diameter is way smaller than the diameter of the smallest burner on my ceramic top stove. That’s something to consider for those who have electric stoves. I do wish I could keep the kettle though 🙁
I have been looking at this kettle for months. Searching for one without plastic or made in China limits your choices. What color did you choose?
Hi Melissa: by the time I found I already had two kettles. We decided to keep using them. What color are you thinking about? I am jealous. 🙂
I have the medelco kettle & like it a lot. I too didn’t like the plastic lid since it would heat up while in use. I just use the kettle without the plastic lid and it works great (of course without the lid it doesn’t whistle though).
Thank you!! I’m so excited as I just ordered this kettle last week through Bed Bath and Beyond with my 20% coupon. I found this kettle after I reached out to you regarding tea kettles and based upon all of your wonderful information I am a far more educated shopper! I’m thrilled that my find is your chosen preference! Thank you!!! I so appreciate all of your work.
Irina, have you researched on any stainless steel tea kettles made in Japan? Amazon offers a few of them. Japan is famous for its quality controls, hopefully their tea kettles are high standard also. Thank you for your post!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Sori-Yanagi-Stainless-Steel-Kettle/dp/B0000DIJ6U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1425304540&sr=8-3&keywords=Stainless+steel+tea+kettle+made+in+Japan
Thank you, Elena! It looks like a great find for people who are not allergic to nickel.
“comes with a surgical stainless steel basket that enables you to brew your own tea. It’s made from stainless steel 18/10 grade (the best) which is used in surgical instruments.”– 18/10 is higher in nickel(heard best to limit even if not allergic), especially when using w/acidic foodstuff. 18/8 has less nickel
These are now made in China and they are crap.
I was reading Naomi Klein’s “This Changes Everything” and realized that the fact that China has lax environmental laws and deadly levels of pollution (which drift across the ocean to California) is in good part because of the pressure we put, from the consumer side, here in the US which is the destination of much of their manufacturing, on inexpensive products. So our best bet, for their air which is ours, and their and our health (magically one and the same on this little planet of ours) is to think long and hard on acquiring a few safe, forever items. Thank you for this review!
I bought the Xtrema teapot based on a previous blog where you had endorsed it – I was surprised when it arrived that it was made in China. I didn’t send it back, but today’s blog is giving me pause. You said you used the Xtrema so I’m assuming it passed the test for you even given where it is made. Thanks
Yes, it passed my test. I still use it but I am not loving its design and the fact that it takes a long time to heat water. I am not saying that all products made in China are toxic by default. Many companies have all the necessary controls in check. By the way, Dr.Mercola endorses and sells Xtrema under his brand.