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What Should I Consider When Buying a Teapot?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

There are a number of things to consider when buying a teapot, whether for yourself or as a gift for someone else. By thinking about your needs before you seek out a teapot, you can make the purchasing process much more efficient, and you can ensure that you get exactly what you want. Once you have settled upon the style of teapot you want, there are a number of resources for buying a teapot, ranging from kitchen supply stores to specialty retailers such as shops which specialize in equipment for the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

The first thing to think about is how you will be using your teapot. If you plan on making pots of tea for yourself, for example, you might want a small, relatively plain teapot. If the teapot is going to be used to serve casual groups, it might be larger and more decorative, while formal teapots are available for events like hosted teas and luncheons. If you will be using your teapot for something like a tea ceremony, you may want to talk to your tea ceremony instructor about picking out the best teapot.

A pewter teapot.
A pewter teapot.

Materials are an important consideration when buying a teapot. Ceramic, porcelain, and earthenware are all common materials, but teapots can also be made from metal, glass, stone, and wood. Metal teapots are convenient because they can be heated or kept warm on the stove, as can some earthenware teapots. Porcelain and glass tend to be more fragile, while novelty teapots made from materials like wood should be carefully inspected before purchase.

Teapots may be made of porcelain.
Teapots may be made of porcelain.

Different teapots also have different features. The best way to brew teas and tisanes is in looseleaf form, in which case you may want to think about buying a teapot with a strainer in the spout which allows you to pour tea directly into cups. Some companies also make teapots with large central chambers lined with mesh, allowing you to brew looseleaf tea without having to contend with floating leaves in teacups. You may also want to think about the materials used for the handle and lid; metal lids and handles might seem elegant, but they can also sear your hand when the rest of the teapot gets hot.

Glass teapots are popular because the glass does not absorb the flavor of the tea.
Glass teapots are popular because the glass does not absorb the flavor of the tea.

Teapots are also prone to dribbling. A teapot is actually quite difficult to make; some ceramics and metalworking programs actually use teapots as final projects since they represent a high level of technical skill and accomplishment. If possible, you may want to test drive a teapot with fresh clean water before buying it, to determine whether the spout leaks and dribbles, as this can be extremely irritating.

Most black teas are at their best when brewed in a stoneware teapot.
Most black teas are at their best when brewed in a stoneware teapot.

Finally, if you are a tea purist, you might want to think about multiple teapots. Some brewers prefer to designate specific teapots for aromatic teas, black teas, tisanes, and other infusions, to ensure that flavors are not transferred. You do not want to taste previous pots in every cup of tea, so if clear flavor is important to you, consider buying a teapot assortment to prevent unwanted mixing.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon315214

The most important thing for me in buying a teapot is size -- almost nobody makes one actually large enough to serve a group of friends more than one cup of tea, and that's barely 15 minutes worth of talk-time. A real teapot should serve four people three cups each, at least. But I haven't seen one of those in twenty-five years.

anon139485

I am fond of a few teapots made by the company Denby. particularly I like their classic 1922 design which is a non dripping design that has stood the test of time while having a handsome traditional design. They also had or have a design which is a pullman style that does not drip.

A two or three cup sized is good for one to three people and is not too unwieldy. As for heating water, get an electric kettle. They heat water faster than the microwave and in so doing don't use near the power of a stove top kettle. Some like to steep their tea right in the the pot, but I use an infuser to good effect. I'd not thank you for a cup of tea from a tea bag, but that's me. Good luck.

anon27268

Name: Edward

> Re buying a teapot. In Britain very few people buy teapots in this day and age! Mostly we use teabags, so the image of old English ladies

with teapots and lace curtains are far gone. Credit crunch or not, the British

people are well and truly in the 21st *century*. Sales of sat-navs, computers etc

are at an all time high, believe it or not we are quite intelligent. Off my

chest....

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    • A pewter teapot.
      A pewter teapot.
    • Teapots may be made of porcelain.
      By: vnlit
      Teapots may be made of porcelain.
    • Glass teapots are popular because the glass does not absorb the flavor of the tea.
      By: volff
      Glass teapots are popular because the glass does not absorb the flavor of the tea.
    • Most black teas are at their best when brewed in a stoneware teapot.
      By: Fisher Photostudio
      Most black teas are at their best when brewed in a stoneware teapot.