All tea kettles with an open spout are whistling tea kettles though some tea kettles intentionally place some additional spout covering or contraption which emits a different whistling sound. The whistling sound of a tea kettle depends on the size of the opening of the spout and its neck length. In the process of heating water in a kettle, as the water heats, some of it turns into vapor and this vapor must somehow exit or escape from the pot. As the vapor makes its way to the spout, it produces a hissing sound as it moves from one temperature to another. This hissing sound may vary depending on the structure of the spout. Some spouts have covers which can alter the sound of the vapor. Once the vapor exits the spout, it is transformed into steam. Thus you see a bit of that steam and a lot of that hiss in the kettle. That is how the whistling tea kettle got its name.

Some hisses were actually made accidentally as some spouts were misshaped by accident perhaps during travel. Some spouts were actually bent into having a smaller aperture. This was very common during the 1800′s in North America especially during the Great Land Drive when homesteaders were given land in what used to be Native American territory. Nowadays, there are many types of whistling tea kettles to choose from and they come with a variety of price ranges. Here are just some of the whistling tea kettles you can find in the market. Many are also found online which makes shopping for them a lot more convenient:

- Old Dutch SS Windsor Whistling Kettle 3 quarts which retails for 50 to 60 dollars

- Williams- Sonoma Windsor Whistling kettle Copper with a flat base which retails for 115 dollars

- Williams Sonoma Windsor Whistling kettle which retails for 130 dollars

- Corelle Whistle Tea Kettle from Vermont County Store which retails for 40 dollars

- Corelle Reston Lloyd 66240 Bamboo Leaf Whistling Tea Kettle which retails from 23 to 30 dollars

- Faberware Classic Series Sonoma 205 Quart Whistling Kettle which retails from 20 to 30 dollars

- Gettington 4 quart whistling kettle which retails for 15 dollars

- Old Dutch 3 quart copper whistling kettle which retails from 64 to 80 dollars

- Medelco Rondell stovetop whistling kettle which retails for around 25 dollars

These are only few of the whistling tea kettles available in the physical stores or online. Depending on the design that you want, the longer the neck of the kettle, the louder its whistle.

In the early 16th century, tea kettles came in a variety of colors: copper and non copper. Copper tea kettles were very popular during that day. As a great conductor of heat, copper was in such demand that a copper tea kettle industry was situated in the largest exporter of copper then, Wales. Because copper was mined in the Bridgend and Cardiff area, many tradesmen migrated to the city and began producing works based on copper because the material was inexpensive there.

You had Dutch and Turkish immigrants making copper kettles of high quality and value. It is widely believed that the drinking of tea started in this area by such immigrants and gained popularity with the colonization of Ceylon by the British and the discovery of its best selling product: Ceylon Tea Leaves.

Though stainless steel has replaced copper in most of the kettles these days, copper is slowly making a comeback and purchasing a copper based kettle has a premium on it. Stainless steel is tough though especially with the almost impenetrable 18/10 stainless steel. The designs of tea kettles by famous craftsmen can fetch prices of around 300 dollars. Improvement in paint technology enable enamel based paints to resist such heat. Of the colors that are popular, yellow tea kettles have this dainty feel. Perhaps because it resembles sunshine, yellow tea kettles are popular especially for tea enthusiasts having an afternoon cup. Such kettles come in different designs and price ranges. They can be found in the market or online. Here are but some of the various yellow tea kettles that may be a great gift for this Christmas season:

- Chantal Livestrong Loop kettle which benefits Lance Armstrong’s organization for fighting cancer and retails for 47 dollars

- Rachel Ray 2 quart ball style yellow tea kettle which retails for 40 dollars

- Newti Tovolo 2 quart Porcelain Enamel kettle which retails for 45 dollars

- Calypso Basic 2 Quart Enamel on Steel kettle yellow which retails for 22 dollars

- Oxo Good Hrips Uplift Yellow Teakettle which retails for 60 dollars

- Chantal Bridge Enamel on Steel Yellow Teakettle which retails for 40 dollars

- Copco 2 Quart Camden Yellow kettle which retails for 16 dollars

- Le Creuset Whistling Yellow Tea Kettle which retails for 70 dollars

- Le Creuset Demi Yellow Kettle which retails for 50 dollars

If you want an exciting kettle, go for those with colors. Most modern homes are either themed house or painted with vibrant colors. A yellow tea kettle is perfect to match for a vibrant house.