Teapots may come in a variety of styles, but appearance isn't the only thing that matters when choosing a vessel for your favorite steeps. When looking for the right match for your tea drinking style, you’ll need to consider size, material, steeping options, and overall style. Read on for a primer on selecting the best teapot for you.
SIZE
If you only need to prepare one or two cups of tea at a time (as most people do), a small pot is for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy sharing tea with your family or friends on a regular basis, you'll want something much larger that can hold enough tea for a crowd. Larger teapots are also preferable if you prefer to drink tea throughout the day, since you may wish to keep a pot ready and pour a cup whenever you want it.
Our Solstice Teapot is available in sets of six, a great choice for
entertaining multiple guests.
MATERIAL
What a teapot is made of influences a variety of considerations like heat distribution, flavor, and longevity. Ceramic teapots are popular for their affordability and diversity of design, including our PUGG and Solstice teapots. This kind of teaware combines form with function and is a good choice for casual tea drinkers.
Glass teapots allow you to watch the tea as it steeps and the leaves unfurl, making them ideal for steeping loose and blooming teas. These pots don't hold heat as well as others, however, and are prone to breakage and staining.
After use, hand-wash and thoroughly dry your cast iron teapot to
keep from rusting
Cast iron teapots are rugged and attractive, providing the most consistent and long-lasting heat of any teapot material, and therefore delivering tea with perfectly balanced flavor every time. It’s important to choose a cast iron teapot with an enamel coating inside; otherwise, tea brewed inside one may be tinged with a metallic taste.
STEEPING OPTIONS
Many pots come with a built-in infuser that allows tea leaves room to expand inside the pot. Check to see if your teapot of choice has one of these, or if you’ll need to purchase one separately. Special tea brewing systems such as a French tea press, which features a plunger that pushes the leaves down instead, are another elegant option known for producing a full-bodied brew.
STYLE & DESIGN
A solid teapot should have a handle that allows a good grip without fear of burning your hand on the teapot’s body. The spout must be at least level with the rim of the main opening to avoid dribbling while pouring. Check for a tight-fitting lid, and make sure there’s a pinhole to let air out and prevent spills.
Aside from these functional considerations, the style of teapot you choose is entirely up to you.