The Best Teapots

Buying Guide

Is there anything more comforting than a steaming hot cup of tea? Whether you like a cuppa in the morning before you head out for the day or after coming home from work to put your feet up, tea is more than just a beverage. It’s a cup of soothing relaxation, steeped with ritual, that makes many people feel calm and collected. The best way to enjoy a cup of tea is with a teapot.

While many people confuse a teapot with a kettle, they are not the same. A kettle is used for boiling water — which can be for tea or other beverages and food. A teapot, which isn’t meant for use with an internal or external heat source, is specifically for brewing tea and infusing flavor into boiled water. You can brew tea in individual cups or mugs, but it doesn’t quite have the same effect as using a teapot.

One advantage of using a teapot is that you can avoid over-brewing. Different types of teas have varying brewing times and temperatures. If you place tea leaves into a cup, the tea continues to brew as you drink it. However, with a teapot, you pour the tea out while the leaves remain in the pot.

Teapots come in many materials, shapes and sizes today, from glass and clay to porcelain and iron. These differences are often informed by cultural traditions, country of origin and era of make, but some do have different uses. For example, stainless steel versions retain heat well, while glass and ceramic versions are the least likely to influence the flavor of tea. Some ceramic teapots may be best used for just one type of tea, since the residue from a stronger tea might affect the flavors of other teas inside these more porous vessels.

Some teapots are simple and others have more sophisticated features. At a basic level, though, most have some kind of handle, so you can pick it up without burning your hand, and a spout to pour from. Many offer filtration of tea leaves through stainless steel mesh strainers, tiny holes or long, thin spouts.

In general, the right teapot is the one most suited to your use, whether you are drawn more by its easy-care qualities, beauty, cultural origins or more modern complexity.

• Depending on what kinds of teas you like to drink, getting a teapot with a built-in infuser might be a good idea. These are particularly good for splintery tea leaves or if you like to also add herbs to your tea leaf mixture.
• One of the first things to consider when getting a teapot is the capacity: how many cups of tea it can hold. For example, if you typically drink tea alone, then a teapot with a small capacity of 8-16 ounces is best. If you enjoy a cup with friends and family, you may want a large teapot with a capacity of 40 ounces or more.
• Did you know that some types of teas are better for certain teapot materials? For example, if you like herbal teas, they will taste best when brewed in a glass teapot. If you are a fan of green tea or black tea, then a porcelain teapot is the winning choice. Dark teas work best in a clay teapot.
• Carefully examine the design of the teapot’s spout, as it has an important functional purpose. If the spout is short, the stream of tea will be harder to control, splashing or spilling out of the cup — but the spout will be less breakable and more convenient. A long spout tends to result in a smooth flow, and also cools the tea down to a drinkable temperature. It may also draw tea from the bottom of the pot, where it’s warmer and has more flavor. Also, some spouts dribble as a result of air pressure, so you may want to consider no-drip teapot.
• Consider how your teapot will look with your existing teaware. Does it match with your cups or mugs? While they don’t need to be an exact match, you may want some aesthetic coordination — so choose similar colors, designs or patterns.