I am a big fan of chai masala (spiced tea) and have been looking for something that keeps tea warm all day without re-boiling and "stewing" it. Also, according to Ayurvedic medicine, certain doshas (body types) should drink hot water and use spices like ginger, cloves & cinnamon to stimulate the metabolism. So I boil all the spices used in chai masala (the above plus black pepper & cardamom) and drink that water with honey, or use it to make tea.I had looked for samovars and at coffee urns, air pots...so many cultures around the world drink hot tea all day...I didn't think it would be so hard to find something I liked! Several months ago I got a second-hand Zojirushi "hot pot" but it's designed for boiling ONLY water, not for brewing or keeping tea. So when I saw "mulled wine" I thought my quest might be over...and I think it is! Little pricey but now I can introduce all my friends who drink what they THINK is chai--that nasty powdered stuff--to the real thing!Taking the urn out of the package, I thought it was a little ridiculously large for household use and I'd feel silly having it around (plus it looks like a big silver robot helmet); but in 2 days I've gotten very attached to it. It keeps beverages at about 155 degrees (slightly lower on the "wine" setting), which is very nice. When I pour a cup, it's not a wussy lukewarm, but I can drink it almost right away...like Baby Bear's porridge, not too hot and not too cold. Another nice touch--the interior wall is glass! In my opinion, some urns/percolators impart a metallic flavor to the beverage, plus they absorb some of the beverage's flavor which gets into the next batch of whatever you make (do you fancy coffee-flavored hot water for your tea?). I imagine if you percolate coffee in this, it will have a smoother flavor. Plus the glass won't get stained. The bottom is not glass, it's metal; but the element is not exposed.Advantages over the Zojirushi--the lid comes off, doesn't just flip up. Construction seems simpler, so there doesn't seem to be much that can go wrong as long as heating element continues to work. Can dispense/empty while turned off. Has an on/off switch; the hot pot has to be unplugged. Although it doesn't have a magnetic cord (which I think is a great safety feature on the Zojirushi), the outside doesn't get as hot as a metal coffee urn. My only complaint is that there's no "re-boil" function, which would be handy if I just wanted to keep hot water in it so I could brew individual cups of tea--I have to switch from regular tea to decaf later in the day!A few features that aren't mentioned in the description:*The "wine" setting can be used for delicate teas.*The manual recommends using the urn to keep beverages warm for up to 2 hours.*There is a drip tray that can be pulled out & cleaned.*The top section comes off, making filling & cleaning easier.*The "clearance" isn't very high, so it won't accommodate tall mugs. About 5-1/2".Dimensions given must be for the box. Actual item is 18" tall and about 9" diameter.
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