I love this tea kettle. I've had one for over 8 years now. I destroyed the original one I owned by leaving it on the heat after the water had boiled off - this is a no-no with this kettle. If you are willing to overlook the lack of a whistle and make sure it is always full of water, this little baby will become a beloved treasure. First of all, it looks really cool on your stove, because it is made of ceramic and wicker, so it gives a beautiful organic feel instead of the cold hard metal that most kettles are made of. Secondly, ceramic is a completely non-reactive material and safe, and you don't have to worry about it altering the taste of your water. Asians have used ceramic cooking vessels for thousands of years, this is by far the safest type of cookware.