Metal Tea Ball
Posted on Friday, January 7th, 2011 at 9:33 am
4 Key Things to Look For When Buying a Teapot
Buying a teapot is not as straightforward as what you would initially think. To help you make the right purchase to suit your needs we’ve listed the top 4 elements of a teapot that you need to consider.
Size
The size and style of the teapot is important. If it is just for your usage and won’t be coming out at morning tea’s and luncheons a smaller, plain teapot is fine for everyday use. If you plan on entertaining and using the teapot for several people at once you might want to consider a larger, more decorative teapot.
Material
Teapots can be made from many different materials such as clay, cast iron, porcelain, glass, silver and metal. Each have their own distinct advantages.
Glass teapots are great because they don’t absorb the flavour of tea so you can use it for different flavoured teas and you don’t have to worry about the effect on the taste.
On the other hand, if you will be using the same type of tea in the one teapot clay is the prefered material as it absorbs the flavour of tea and over time this creates a richer taste.
For even heat distribution the cast iron teapot is optimal. However they do need to be fully lined up to the rim.
Porcelain teapots are lovely for decoration and are suitable for making most tea.
Shape
To ensure you achieve the best results when making a hot teapot full of leaf tea a round ball-shaped pot with a flat base is best. This is because the leaves need room to unfurl and without the right amount of room they won’t be able to steep completely.
Having enough room inside for you to be able to use a tea strainer or infuser is important so you don’t end up over steeping your tea.
Design
Apart from good looks, the design of your teapot should have complete functionality.
The lid should have a hole at the top to allow for air to enter the pot while pouring. Ideally, it will also have two wings to fit under the rim so that it stays in place.
The handle on a teapot should be on the opposite side of the spout and allow you to have a good grip of the pot without your hand touching the body of the vessel. Being able to grip the teapot is important especially when it is heated up with hot tea inside.
The spout needs to be level with the rim of the teapot. If it is lower you will end up having tea dribbling down the spout before you reach the cup. If the tip of the spout is too high, you’ll find that the teapot will need to be tipped to such an angle when pouring that tea might spill over the rim.
There are plenty of designer teapots perfect for adding that extra something to your home. Silver tea sets and intricately painted porcelain teapots look lovely on display as well as being completely functional.
I hope by reading our buying tips and what to look for we’ve made your quest for your ideal tea pot a little easier.
About the Author
Teapot Shop has a huge range of higher end, designer teapots with discounted prices. For more information or to view the range of products, visit Teapot
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