Tea enthusiasts should understand that choosing the right teapot for the right occasion is just as important as the choice of tea.
However, most tea enthusiasts also know how difficult it could be to choose one teapot amount hundreds of choices.
This article aims to provide answers to our readers about the best choice of teapot, the types of available teapots, and the considerations to make when choosing a teapot.
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Types of Teapots
When looking to buy a teapot, all the available choices can be confusing. Nevertheless, the most convenient way to narrow down those choices is to choose based on the type of teapot available.
So, how exactly does one know one type from another? There are indeed many categories when it comes to the type of teapot based on the material used, the region of production, and even the era when it was produced.
Based on Material
Glass Teapots
Glass teapots are an excellent choice because they serve both a functional and an aesthetic purpose. Glass teapots are great because they don’t affect the taste or aroma of the tea while brewing. However, glass teapots have poor heat retention and are brittle.
Ceramic Teapots
There are different types of ceramic teapots, ranging from porous to non-porous including porcelain, glazed ceramics, and stoneware. Unlike glass, ceramic teapots tend to affect the taste and aroma of the tea. Essentially, they may get a coating of the type of tea brewed in them.
Therefore, it is always advisable to brew one type of tea in a single ceramic teapot. A disadvantage is that they can be quite brittle, although not as brittle as glass teapots. Non-porous ceramic teapots are unlikely to affect the taste.
Cast Iron Teapots
Cast iron teapots are often confused with cast iron kettles. The difference is that cast iron teapots have an enamel coating while cast iron kettles don’t. As you should expect, cast iron teapots are only good for brewing tea. If you wish to boil water, then you should use a cast iron kettle. More importantly cast iron teapots can alter the flavor of the tea.
Stainless Steel Teapots
Stainless steel teapots are best known for their superb heat retention in addition to their durability. Unfortunately, stainless steel teapots are also highly likely to affect the flavor of the tea.
By Region of Production
There are many countries that are known for their teapot production. Essentially, when choosing a type of teapot based on where it was produced, then you should focus on what they are best known for. For instance, China is best known for their production of ceramic teapots, while Japan is known for their production of cast iron teapots.
By Era of Production
Most people who choose a teapot based on its era of production do it because of its value. You can’t expect to buy a ceramic teapot from the Victorian era and expect it to brew tea just as well as your modern-day stainless steel teapot.
Essentially, the older the teapot, the higher its value as a collector’s item. However, you can also buy a modern-day recreation of a teapot based on its era of production. For instance, you could buy a Victorian era teapot made using modern-day standards.
Considerations to Make When Buying a Teapot
Budget
A well-defined budget is one of the most definitive factors when it comes to shopping. That includes when looking to buy a teapot. The value of the teapot is determined based on the manufacturer, the materials used and other factors such as its aesthetic value. Before shopping for a teapot, you should determine your budget range. How much are you willing to part with to buy a quality teapot?
Materials
The materials used in the production of a teapot determine the budget and just how well you can enjoy your tea. Here, you should consider what you need from your teapot. Would you like extended heat retention? Are you hoping to use a teapot without affecting the flavor of the tea brewed in it?
Infuser
Infusers are loved for how easy they make brewing tea. Thanks to their convenience, they have become a mainstay in most modern teapots. When buying a teapot, you should consider whether you want one with a built-in infuser or not.
Even better, you should buy a teapot with a removable infuser. The challenge with an infuser is that it makes cleaning the teapot much harder. However, a removable infuser solves that problem easily.
Size
The size of a teapot is also an important factor to consider. The size of a teapot determines how many cups you can serve. Basically, you should determine the size of your teapot based on your drinking habits. If you want to serve more than one cup, or even for multiple people, then you should consider a larger teapot and vice versa.
Heat retention
Temperature control is an important part of brewing tea. However, keeping it at a specific temperature after brewing is the real challenge.
If you want to take your tea hot, then you should choose a teapot that offers high heat retention, such as stainless steel teapots. Similarly, if you like it cold, then you could buy a glass teapot, which has poorer heat retention.
Durability
A buyer almost always expects the product they purchase to be durable. However, durability is not measured equally by the different manufacturers. Some products are always more durable than others. For instance, dishwasher safe pots and pans have higher durability than hand wash ones.
When it comes to teapots, you have the choice of material to guarantee durability. Stainless steel lasts the longest while glass is the most fragile.
Nevertheless, even glass teapots offer different levels of durability depending on the manufacturer so pay attention to that. More importantly, you should check to see whether the product has any special needs. For instance, most cast iron teapots have an inner coating that is more fragile and needs careful handling.
Cleaning
Cleaning is something that is often overlooked when buying a teapot. However, without paying attention to the ease of cleaning, you may end up with a teapot that would be a nightmare to maintain. Most issues with cleaning stem from the infuser.
When buying the teapot, you should consider buying one with a removable infuser since it is easier to clean. Additionally, you should pay attention to whether the manufacturer recommends hand washing or allows for machine washing. For instance, don’t assume knowing how best to clean stainless steel coffee pots means you know best how cleaning stainless steel teapots works.
Even if machine washing is allowed, you should pay special attention to the instructions to avoid damaging the teapot. Additionally, there are teapots that present a significant cleaning challenge due to inner or outer coating. For those with inner coating, the manufacturer often provides instructions on how they should be cleaned.
Best Teapot Brands
Glass Teapots
1. Hiware Stovetop Glass Teapot
The Hiware stovetop glass teapot is a perfect blend of elegance and functionality. The teapot is designed with clear, heat resistant glass, which allows you to view the tea clearly as it steeps. The handle is ergonomic, for better grip when pouring tea.
The teapot is also designed with a non-drip opening. The teapot is small in size allowing you to brew up to 1 liter of tea at full capacity. The teapot comes with a removable infuser, designed with a fine mesh. The mesh allows you to steep fine loose tea leaves without leaving particles behind.
2. Cusinium Teapot
The Cusinium teapot is yet another representation of style and function. It is much bigger; serving 3 – 4 medium size cups. The Cusinium teapot is also designed in a way to allow greater heat retention than most other glass teapots. The teapot comes equipped with an fine infuser for the brewing of loose leaf tea without leaving particles behind.
3. Willow & Everett Teapot
This teapot brand is designed with convenience in mind. It is designed from sturdy and heat resistant glass allowing for use in a microwave. Furthermore, it can be washed in a machine. However, the teapot is a little too brittle for use on a stovetop. It has a large enough capacity to serve 3 – 4 cups of tea.
It also comes with a removable stainless steel strainer, allowing you to brew both loose leaf tea and using tea bags. The handle comes with an ergonomic design for better grip and the teapot is designed to be non-drip. The lid is made of stainless steel, but that doesn’t take away from its design or affect any of its features.
Ceramic Teapots
1. Royal Doulton Old Country Roses Teapot
This teapot represents class and elegance. It is a beautifully crafted ceramic teapot, and it greatest highlight is the Old Country Roses used in its decoration. The teapot does not allow for use in a microwave and it is recommended to hand wash it instead of using a machine.
The teapot comes as a 3-piece set, complete with a jug and creamer. While it is true that it is one of the most expensive teapots on this list, it is also one that provides a perfect show of class and affluence.
While it may look brittle, the teapot is designed with durability in mind. You don’t just name something Royal, if you cannot allow its use by real Royalty, and this teapot definitely fits the category.
2. Le Creuset Stoneware Teapot
The Le Creuset stoneware teapot is your answer when looking for a stoneware teapot. It is non-porous, allowing for significantly longer heat retention. Even better, the teapot does not affect the flavor of the tea and can be used for brewing multiple types of tea.
The design is sturdy and compact. However, that means that it is small; serving 2 medium-size teacups. Unfortunately, the teapot doesn’t favor use in a microwave or machine washing.
3. Sweese Teapot
The Sweese teapot is sturdy, classic porcelain teapot. The teapot is small but sturdy, with a glossy shine and a perfect blend of ergonomics and smart design. The teapot is on the smaller side; serving 2 teacups.
The ease of cleaning this teapot is what makes it a must-buy item. The porcelain is designed to allow cleaning in a dishwasher. Taking it a step further, you can even use it in a microwave.
Stainless Steel Teapots
1. Venoly Stainless Steel Teapot
This teapot is designed with high quality, durable stainless steel and could last a lifetime. In fact, if well taken care of, it could outlast most of your appliances. The teapot comes with a satin finish for extra durability and heat resistance.
It can maintain your hot tea for a very long time without having to reheat it. The teapot has a large capacity. The teapot comes with a removable infuser for ease of cleaning. Unfortunately, as with most stainless steel teapots, the teapot leaves a metallic aftertaste in you tea that could affect its overall flavor.
2. Frieling Stainless Steel Teapot
The teapot is designed with mirror-finished stainless steel, which is its most intuitive feature. The mirror-finish allows the stainless steel teapot to maintain its neutrality when steeping tea. This means that unlike most other teapots, this one doesn’t affect the taste of the tea.
It comes with a removable infuser that guarantees easy cleaning and can be washed in a machine. The design is not the most elegant but it gets the job done better than most other teapots in the market. It also has a relatively large capacity.
3. Cuisinox Satin Metal Teapot
The Cuisinox satin metal teapot puts both style and function into perspective. It comes with a smooth finish, designed to protect against scrapes. More importantly, it prevents the steel from affecting the taste of the tea. The teapot has a rather large capacity and comes with a stainless steel infuser.
Cast Iron Teapots
1. TopTier Japanese Cast Iron Teapot
The teapot is one of the best because of the way it marries style and function. It has a classic cast iron teapot design with wavy lines on its surface. On the inside, it has an enamel coating that keeps your tea fresh without affecting its flavor.
The teapot comes with a removable infuser that makes cleaning easier. While it is designed to look small, it can actually surprise you with how big it is; serving 2 – 3 cups of tea. Cleaning can be an issue due to the inner enamel coating but the chipping can be avoided if you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Old Dutch Cast Iron Teapot
The Old Dutch teapot is a Japanese inspired cast iron teapot. It is a small teapot; serving 2 cups of tea. The teapot has a porcelain enamel coating that makes it easier to clean and prevents the cast iron from affecting the flavor of the tea.
The teapot has a beautiful design, making it an ideal choice for a gift or even just for the presentation at home. Cleaning may be a challenge due to the risk of chipping its inner coating but that is an avoidable risk.
3. TOWA Cast Iron Teapot
The Towa cast iron teapot is the perfect example of traditional Japanese tetsubin. The craftsmanship is impeccable, with an intuitive design and significant attention to detail.
It comes with an enamel coated interior to preserve the purity of the tea. The teapot comes with a removable stainless steel infuser. It has a small capacity, comparatively speaking, at 900 ml. If you’re looking for something that looks traditional but functions just as good as the best modern-day appliance, this is your best bet.
Difference Between a Teapot and a Kettle
One of the most considerable distinctions that you have to observe when buying a teapot is its difference from a tea kettle. While most companies use the names interchangeably, the truth is that they are both fundamentally different.
A tea kettle is designed primarily for brewing, while a teapot is designed with serving tea in mind. Most teapots are designed with fragile materials and if used as a tea kettle, the material would break. Although there are stovetop teapot models that allow you to heat the teapot, the basic function doesn’t change.
Before making a purchase, you should confirm the functionality of your teapot. Stainless steel and cast iron teapot models have the greatest interchangeability and some stainless steel teapots even double as tea kettles. However, it is good practice to use a teapot for its intended purpose.
The Takeaway
Choosing the best appliance is a challenge that requires a significant amount of research and patience. You have to know what you want and measure that against what you need. The same holds true when it comes to buying a teapot.
You have to take into account the necessary considerations and weight them against what the market has to offer. To choose the perfect teapot you have to balance your needs for visual effect, durability, and convenience. More importantly, you should take your tea drinking habits into consideration.
For instance, if you often like to try different types of tea, then a ceramic teapot would be your worst choice. It is recommended to use one type of tea with each ceramic pot, which could be limiting for you.
