Okay, so I finally got around to sorting out my tea situation. My old teapot warmer, bless its cotton socks, was just useless. Flickered out more often than not, tea went cold fast. Got really annoying, especially when I was trying to settle in for a long evening of tinkering with that old radio project I mentioned before.
Finding the ‘Le Bolide’
I’d seen this ‘le bolide’ thing mentioned somewhere. Sounded fancy, maybe a bit much, but the pictures looked solid. Not like those flimsy wire things. This one looked like it meant business, kinda sleek, heavy-ish base. Decided to give it a shot. Found one online, didn’t break the bank, so I ordered it.
When it arrived, first impression was good. Felt sturdy. Metal, brushed finish maybe? Simple design. Just a base to hold a tealight candle and a top part for the teapot to sit on. No weird bits, no assembly needed, which is always a plus in my book.
Putting it to the Test
So, the real test. Got my favorite teapot, brewed up some strong black tea. Popped a standard tealight into the base of the warmer. Easy enough. Lit the candle. It sat nice and snug in there, flame was protected from drafts by the sides of the base.
Then I placed the teapot on top. Fit perfectly. The gap between the flame and the pot looked about right – not so close it would scorch, not so far it would do nothing. Here’s what I noticed:
- Heat distribution: Seemed pretty even. The base of the pot got warm quickly.
- Keeping it hot: This was the main thing. And yeah, it worked. Kept the tea properly hot, not lukewarm, for a good hour or so. Way better than the old one. I could actually finish the whole pot while it was still enjoyable.
- Stability: Felt solid on the table. Didn’t worry about knocking it over easily.
Final Thoughts, For Now
Honestly, pretty pleased with this little thing. Does the job it’s supposed to do without any fuss. It’s just a simple tool, but getting it right makes a difference. Now those long evenings working on the radio, or just reading, are a bit more civilized. No more rushing to drink the tea before it gets cold. It’s funny how small things like a decent teapot warmer can sort of improve your flow, you know? Just removes one little point of friction from the day. So yeah, the ‘le bolide’ warmer? Thumbs up from me so far. Simple, solid, works.
