5 Best Teapots for Tea Connoisseurs

If you’re looking to buy a new teapot, there are multiple factors to consider. To learn about some of the best teapots available on the market, read on.

Although tea bags are convenient, they don’t deliver the same quality tea that you get when brewing tea in a teapot. This is because bags are typically filled with the leftover dust and fannings of broken tea leaves, which lack most of the essential oils and aromas present in larger leaves.

Some tea bags also contain chemicals that leech into your tea. For these reasons, tea lovers often prefer to brew their tea from broken or whole leaves.

Apart from enjoying quality tea, brewing tea in a teapot lends a bit of flair and a ceremonial feel to the tea-drinking process. If you’re currently looking for a new teapot, the vast array of options on the market may leave you feeling a bit overwhelmed and undecided.

To help you decide, I’ve jotted down a few things to think about before you go shopping. I’ve also listed a few of the best teapots I have come across to give you a clearer idea of the options you have.

What To Look For In Teapots

Teapots come in all shapes and sizes. Apart from looking for a teapot that’s aesthetically appealing to you, there are many other factors to consider when you’re teapot shopping.

Firstly, you obviously need to consider your budget. If you’re on a tight budget and will be using your teapot often, you may need to prioritize durability and functionality and focus less on design.

Secondly, you’ll want to think about how you’d prefer to prepare your tea. If you like to brew with leaves, as opposed to just adding tea bags to hot water, a teapot that contains a built-in infuser may be the most practical option.

Also, be aware of the fact that many teapots can’t be heated on a stove or open flame but rather require that you pour heated water into them. Determining the method of brewing you prefer beforehand will make it easier to sift through all the available options when you’re shopping.

You might also be interested in our round-up of the best tea kettles for a gas stove.

How To Pick the Best Teapot

To help you determine what type of teapot you’re looking for, I’ve created a shortlist of some of the main factors to consider before you go shopping:

Size

An obvious consideration when you’re out shopping for a new teapot is how many people you’d typically want to serve tea to. A standard teapot usually makes two cups of tea, after which the size typically moves up in increments of two.

You can opt for a four-cup, six-cup, eight-cup, and even a 10-cup-sized teapot. If you live alone, it would be overkill to buy a large teapot. However, if you like to entertain and often have tea-drinking friends over, you may want to invest in a teapot with a larger capacity for such occasions.

Durability

The durability of a teapot may also be a factor worthwhile considering. Where and how often do you plan to use your teapot? A teapot that you will only take out of the cupboard on certain occasions when you have friends over can be daintier and more fragile than a teapot that you want to take with you when you go camping.

If you’re looking for a durable pot, check whether it’s rust and heat-resistant and whether it will easily chip.

Functionality

When you’re choosing a teapot, you need to consider how practical and functional it is. Even if a teapot is beautiful to look at, you still don’t want the handle to burn you when you pick it up.

Other practical concerns include whether the spout allows you to pour without spilling tea all over the place. Elongated spouts are often the best for clean pouring.

When it comes to stovetop use, many teapots are not suitable. If you want to use your teapot on a stove, you will need to check whether the pot is stove-top safe before you invest.

You may also prefer a teapot that retains heat well. Iron pots, for instance, will keep your tea warm for a longer period of time. Lastly, if you’re somebody who doesn’t like handwashing your kitchen equipment, look for a teapot that’s dishwasher safe.

Material

Teapots are made from different materials, such as porcelain, glass, stainless steel, and coated metal. Apart from influencing the aesthetic appeal, the material of a teapot also determines the durability of a pot, as well as factors such as heat distribution and retention.

Glass

Glass teapots allow you to see how the tea leaves unfurl. These pots are especially handy when you’re steeping blooming teas. However, they don’t retain heat well. They are also fragile and tend to stain easily.

Porcelain

Porcelain teapots are usually beautiful to look at and often feature gorgeous patterns in their designs. However, porcelain pots are more delicate and may crack when you pour boiling water directly into them. These teapots often come without a tea strainer, so they’re usually used for serving tea.

You can, however, put your leaves in a mesh basket.

Ceramic

Ceramic teapots are also aesthetically pleasing, plus they are more durable than their porcelain cousins. These types of pots are generally affordable, easy to maintain, and have a high heat capacity.

They often come with a built-in strainer, but since there’s such a variety of ceramic pots on the market, there are pots that come without them. Though these pots are easy to maintain, they can still chip and break.

Stoneware

Stoneware is a high-fired ceramic that’s durable and strong. These pots won’t crack at high temperatures, and unlike earthenware pots, won’t retain aromas and flavors from tea leaves, which means that you can brew different teas in them. Stoneware teapots typically retain heat well and are dishwasher-safe.

Stainless Steel

If you’re a practical person who’s all about functionality and not so much about aesthetics, a stainless-steel teapot is a good option. Apart from the fact that these pots are probably the most durable, they also keep a brew warm for longer than most other pots. Plus, these pots can be used on stovetops.

Cast Iron

The teapots provide a ruggedly attractive look, plus they also offer the most consistent and long-lasting heat of all the tea-pot materials.

Opt for a cast-iron pot with an enamel coating inside to prevent a metallic taste in your brews. These pots are unsuitable for high-temperature heating and typically require water that’s been heated in a separate kettle.

You might also be interested in our explainer on do electric kettles use a lot of electricity.

Best Teapots for Tea Connoisseurs

1. Best Green Teapot: Kiyoshi Luxury’s Japanese Teapot

Tea connoisseurs know that different teas are prepared in different types of teapots. If you’re a green tea drinker, you’ll want to invest in a pot that’s traditionally used for the preparation of this brew, such as a cast-iron pot called tetsubin.

Kiyoshi Luxury’s tetsubin cast-iron teapots feature a unique shape and a gorgeous design. You can choose from four different colors, which have all been hand-painted.

This teapot comes with a stainless-steel infuser, and it features rust-proof enamel inside. You can use it on a stovetop. However, the manufacturer suggests that you heat the water first before pouring it into the teapot. 

2. Best Ceramics Teapot: Sweejar Royal Teapot

With its pumpkin shape and border decorations, the Sweejar Royal Teapot features a British royal-style design. Apart from its dashing good looks, this teapot also offers functionality. It comes with a stainless-steel infuser and a spout that won’t spill a drop of tea.

The pot is made from durable porcelain, which means it is dishwasher safe. However, you cannot place it on a stovetop. It’s a small teapot with which you can serve two to three cups.

3. Best Budget Teapot: Primula Half-Moon Teapot

If you’re on a tight budget and are looking for the best teapot that offers excellent value for money, consider the Primula Half Moon Tea Pot. This durable teapot is made from borosilicate glass, which is accented with a modern half-moon design. This means that you can enjoy a clear view of your tea while it’s brewing.

Since the pot comes with a stainless-steel diffuser, you can use it for loose-tea brewing. However, blooming teas are also ideal for this pot since you get to see how the flowers open up.

Apart from a drip-free pour spout, the teapot features a large and comfortable handle. You can serve up to five cups of tea with this teapot.

4. Best Stainless Steel Teapot: La Cafetierre Paris Teapot

This chic teapot from La Cafetierre boasts a modern and sleek design. It’s made from polished stainless steel and is available in two-cup, four-cup, and six-cup versions. Like the other teapots on this list, this teapot comes with an infuser, so it’s perfect for loose-leaf teas.

The polished finish of this pot makes for easy cleaning, plus it is dishwasher safe. However, the teapot is not suitable for stovetops.

As is the case with many other teapots on the market, the water should be heated separately. The stylish handle of the teapot remains cool to the touch, so you don’t need to worry about burning your hands.

5. Caraway Tea Kettle

This modern-looking tea kettle is made from non-toxic, ceramic-coated stainless steel that allows for quick boiling and effective insulation. Caraway Tea Kettle comes in different eye-catching colors, and the spout design enables a hushed whistle that won’t wake everyone in the house. It is surprisingly light and can hold up to two quarts despite its sleek design.

Testing Criteria

As you’ve probably noticed, there are quite a lot of factors to consider when you’re shopping for a teapot. Since there’s such a huge selection of teapots on the market, I tried to select pots with different qualities and characteristics.

In general, I considered the functionality of a teapot, such as whether it pours well. I also looked at value for money and availability. Lastly, I only included pots that deliver good-quality tea.

Why You Can Trust Me

For me, tea drinking is a special ritual and a bit of a ceremony. Tea ceremonies in countries such as Japan are based upon principles such as revering beauty in the daily routine of life.

Tea drinking, for me, is about more than quenching my thirst. It’s about taking time out from the hustle and bustle of daily life to become mindful. Plus, it’s about brewing quality tea full of flavor.

The Final Word on the Best Teapots

Since there’s such a wide selection of teapot options on the market, it’s advisable to consider a few things before you go shopping.

It may even be a good idea to write down a list of your priorities so that you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for and don’t become sidetracked when you’re surrounded by an array of different teapots.

FAQs About The Best Teapots