The Right Teapot

How Do I Choose the Right Teapot?

I came across this blog posting written by Margaret Studer from the Examiner.com on July 26 2009. I have had many people inquire about how to find the right teapot. I love how Margaret touches on every detail. To read more of Margaret's blog entries click on her name above.

What do you want in a teapot? The first thing you probably think of is how it looks. Teapots can be beautiful. Each is a work of art whether it’s a simple clay pot or something sculpted to look like a functional figurine. Teapots the shape of sitting hens, houses, even belly dancers have been known to grace many a tea table.

But is that work of art functional for brewing tea? Often the most beautiful and intriguing teapot creations do not work well for steeping or pouring tea. Here are some things to look at when buying a teapot that’s for drinking tea rather than looking lovely on your self.

The spout: The end of the spout should be level with the rim of the teapot. If it is lower, you will dribble tea down the outside of the spout before it reaches the correct angle for pouring into the cup. If the tip is above the rim, you may find that you have to tip the teapot so far forward to pour out the tea that the tea spills over the rim. The opening in the tip should be a sharp oval to create the best pouring stream.

The handle: The most important thing about the handle is being able to get a good grip on it. Some handles are angled in an artistic arch that looks attractive, but doesn’t provide an adequate length for the person pouring to have firm grasp on it. It should also be distant enough from the body of the pot that you can hold it with a closed hand without the back of your hand touching the pot.

There are three positions that a teapot handle can be in. The handle can opposite the pour spout, on the side, or on the top.

The most conventional handle, at least in western society, is the one where the handle is on the opposite side of the teapot from the pouring spout. If you choose this type, check it with some sort of straight edge before buying so that you can be sure that the pouring spout and the handle are in an absolutely straight line and the straight edge is the exact diameter of the pot. Also be sure that when you lift and tilt the pot, you can place it at the right angle to pour tea without straining you wrist.

Many people prefer side handles on their teapots. They provide for easy pouring, particularly when the pot is small and you are using loose tea. Some, however, are too short and thick to pour comfortable. If you choose this kind of handle, see how it feels in your hand first. Other people feel that this type of handle gives them the best pouring control. The handle should be attached to the teapot at a slightly less than 90 degree angle.

The top handle seems most popular in Asian style teapots. The handle is fastened to the kettle near the rim above the pour spout and to the back of the teapot directly across from it. The fasteners are usually metal. The handle itself can be bamboo or metal covered with bamboo, sometimes with a plastic coating on the straight part. This style is great for carrying the teapot, but can make pouring a bit awkward.

The lid: The lid should have a hole in the top to allow air to get in as the tea is poured out. This allows for smoother pouring and helps prevent dripping. The lid should fit tightly enough that when you cover the hole in the lid, you can’t pour the tea because no air can get it. It’s best if the lid has one or two little wings that catch under the rim of the teapot while you pour.

The shape of the body: For teabags and smaller leafed tea, it doesn’t matter as much, but for loose leaf black tea it the teapot should be round like ball that is flat on the bottom. This is because the tea leaves need room to unfurl and spread out to achieve full flavor. It they don’t have enough room, they won’t steep fully and you will have less flavor. There should be room inside for a large tea strainer or infuser so that the tea can be removed from the teapot after the ideal brewing time. Over steeping is probably tea’s worst enemy.

The material the teapot is made from: This topic is worthy of an article all to itself. Teapots can be made from many types of materials and many variations of those materials. Each has its own reason to be preferred.
Cast iron, for instance, is the best for distributing the heat evenly, but be sure it is fully lined right to the rim.
Glass teapots are ideal if you love to look at the color of the tea or love to watch blooming tea open and grow. It’s also good for making sure the pot doesn’t absorb the flavor of the tea and let it seep out again when another flavor of tea is brewed.
Clay teapots, however, are prized because the absorb the flavor of the tea. When used over and over again with only one type of tea, the flavors they retain make the tea richer and fuller in taste.
Bone china teapots are beautiful and lend themselves to many exquisite designs, but they tend to be fragile. Porcelain is sturdier, though still breakable, and provided a smooth surface that allows for intricately painted designs.

The size of the teapot: This depends on how much tea you want to brew and how long it will take you to drink it. If you only want a cup or two of tea, you don’t want to fill a large teapot half way. You also don’t want the tea leaves to sit in the pot once it’s brewed. If you have an infuser or some other way to remove the tea leaves from the pot, you can make a large pot and just chill what you don’t drink. If you can’t do that, it’s better to make a small pot of tea. Many individual-sized teapots are available.

The appearance of the teapot: When all else has been considered, aesthetics still matter. Many people like to have several different teapots for different types of occasions and table settings. If you’re having an afternoon tea, you may want to have a lovely floral tea pot with gilt trim. For a backyard tea party, you might want something solid and rustic. Or you might want a teapot to match your table settings for a party. You can have a teapot in a solid color that picks up one color in your china pattern. Just think of what looks nice to you.

The most important part of choosing a teapot is picking the one that makes you happy, and that is something that is up to you alone.