Buying a good teapot is not hard. Sure, there are a variety of teapots out there and one can be overwhelmed with all the choices, but you can quickly cut-through the information overload with a few tips. First, with almost anything you buy online or in a traditional store, you need to figure out if the teapot works well. In this article I will tell you what to look for when buying.
The Basic Design-
A teapot should be designed where the spout and the rim are level with each other/on the same plane. If the rim is taller than the spout you will not be able to fill the teapot to the top; the water will pour out of the spout! If the rim is lower than the spout, when you pour the tea it may pour from the rim first if the teapot is full and you may have a mess. If your teapot is like this do not fill the teapot to the brim and you will be okay.
Speaking of the rim, it should be level--ensuring a level platform for the lid to seat. The lid that rests upon it should be fairly tight-fitting, but not too tight or you might break the lid trying to pry it off. The lid should be perforated with a small hole in the top to allow air into the pot when pouring. This allows for a steady pour. (Think about when you pour milk out of a carton quickly; it gargles and pours in spurts. If your teapot pours this way there is not enough air flow.) Most china teapot lids will have one or two protruding notches. These notches keep the lid from falling off while pouring and help create a proper seat on the rim.
The handle is important, also. It needs to be large enough for you to get and maintain a good grip.
The Material Used to Make the Teapot-
Teapots are made with various materials: clay pottery, ceramic and porcelain (china), cast iron and glass.
Clay or Pottery Teapots- Clay and pottery teapots have excellent heat retention properties. If you "charge" the teapot ahead of time your tea will remain hotter longer. (Charging is a simple process whereby you pour hot water into the teapot and allow it to warm the teapot thoroughly. When you are ready to steep your tea, pour out the hot water, add your brewing water and steep the tea.) Teapots made of pottery tend to be thicker walled and heavier than those made of china.
China Teapots- Teapots made of fine china are the quintessential teapots people think of when they think of teapots. They may also be charged to keep your brew hotter for a longer period of time. They are generally thinner-walled and release heat faster. China teapots have been used for centuries and are always a safe bet as long as the basic design is sound. Being thinner walled you can touch the outside of a china teapot and feel how hot the brew is.
Cast Iron Teapots- Cast Iron teapots are practical teapots and are best at retaining heat, especially when charged. If you drink your tea slowly, cast iron teapots are for you. Cast iron teapots were created in ancient China and offer pretty designs. Most are not safe for your stove top, but there are always exceptions. Cast iron teapots also have a healthy side effect, supplying trace amounts of iron in each sip. The downside is they require a little more care. After each brew, the teapot must be cleaned and completely dried to prevent the development rust.
Glass Teapots- Glass teapots are neat because you can actually see the brewing process. I like glass teapots for this reason. I can see what is going on. Their downside is that glass is poor at retaining heat. Their upside is that you can wash them in the dishwasher on the top rack. If you have hard water I recommend that you hand wash to prevent a hard water film from forming.
Now that you know what to look for in a functional teapot I suggest you start browsing. There are a number of styles and varieties of teapots on our teapots, teasets and tea accessories page!
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