Well designed objects fulfil our desire for art and beauty and are a natural source of pleasure every time we use them. A ubiquitous Teapot is an object that is not only practical in providing a way to serve Tea but can also be a source of memories, a promise of an interlude, a symbol of friendship, a chance to rest for a chat or heart to heart for solace and confidence sharing. Like a childhood toy, the Teapot is intimately familiar and certainly brings a sense of joy, comfort, and optimism.

In the 7th-century, making a cup of Tea was entirely different to today. The Tea was made into a solid piece like a brick, and one would break a bit off and boil in a large pot or cauldron to make the Tea. One would drink the Tea from wide bowls. As time went on, the Tea was then made into a powder, mixed with hot water into a paste in a deep, wide bowl, and then left to settle to be drunk out of the bowl.

Later in the 1300s, leaf tea began to be used, and teapots were made to allow the Tea to steep. Teapot shaped vessels with a spout and a handle had been in China for thousands of years but were used for water and wine. These teapots were based on the earlier drinking bowls used to brew the Tea. Dating back to the Yixing teapot in China a porous ceramic teapot that is unglazed and traditionally made of purple clay called zisha and used to make refined Pu’erh or Oolong tea. Over time these ceramic teapots have become popular and are still in use today in an array of shapes. With frequent use, a layer of tea forms on the inside of the Teapot, and experts suggest using this type of Teapot for only one type of Tea. Tea was drunk directly from the spout. Imagine that today?

The teapot designs of today where the bowl of the Teapot is rounded came about from the Europeans. In the early 1700s, when fine clay was found in the Uk and Europe fine porcelain was created to rival china from Asia.

The humble Teapot is charming and has universal appeal as a breakfast table necessity, a treasure for a collector, an essential element of a Chinese tea ceremony, an afternoon tea symbol of elegance and style, or a cherished family heirloom used for special occasions. Whatever you may think about teapots, there is no doubt that across the world, they are loved for their practicality and the infinite design potential they create, and of course the always welcome taste of a good, well-made cup of Tea.

“Home is where your teapots are“

Helen Oyeymi

 

I use a small glass teapot for green and jasmine tea, a silver teapot and fine bone china teapots for black Tea. My yellow Teapot will always remain the best for English breakfast tea as it is bright and cheerful for first thing in the morning; the go-to Teapot for days out in the garden is a small enamel teapot.

Teapots come in various styles and designs – ornate, vintage and antique, expensive, simple, practical, or part of a fine china collection. The only essential criterion for a good teapot is that it holds boiling water. To choose a good Teapot, consider; does the Teapot draws Tea well? Is the Teapot’s material safe, non-toxic, and does not alter the flavour of the Tea? Does it dribble when the Tea is poured or tip over because it is unbalanced? Or is it perfect?

The teapot designs of today where the bowl of the teapot is rounded came about from the Europeans. In the early 1700s when fine clay was found in the Uk and Europe fine porcelain was created to rival china from Asia.

The humble Teapot is charming and has universal appeal as a breakfast table necessity, a treasure for a collector, an essential element of a Chinese tea ceremony, an afternoon tea symbol of elegance and style, or a cherished family heirloom used for special occasions. Whatever you may think about teapots, there is no doubt that across the world, they are loved for their practicality and the infinite design potential they create, and of course the always welcome taste of a good, well-made cup of tea.

I use a small glass teapot for green and jasmine tea, a silver teapot and fine bone china teapots for black tea, and my yellow teapot will always remain the best one for English breakfast tea as it is bright and cheerful for first thing in the morning, The go-to teapot for days out in the garden is a small enamel teapot.

Teapots come in a profusion of styles and designs – ornate, vintage and antique, expensive, simple, practical, or part of a collection of fine china, the only essential criteria for a good teapot is that it holds boiling water. To choose a good Teapot, consider; does the teapot draws tea well? Is the teapot’s material safe, non-toxic, and does not alter the flavour of tea? Does it dribble when the tea is poured or tip over because it is unbalanced? Or is it perfect?

 “The teapot has not always been the undisputed lord of the tea service; historically the teacup comes first.”

James Norwood Pratt

Cast Iron Teapots will keep tea hotter for longer and are one of the oldest types of teapots. They are made using a mould so can be made in many different styles and shapes. Cast iron teapots generally are lined inside with enamel so are hardwearing and will retain a good tea for a long time. They also are designed so the heat is distributed evenly through the pot and hence the flavour of the tea is drawn out well. Cast iron teapots are often made based on ancient Chinese Teapots called Testubins which were used to boil water in ancient times. Never use dishwashing liquid or place them in a dishwasher.

Glass Teapots are great if you are making green tea, herbal infusions or attractive floral and light oolong teas as you can see inside the teapot it is fun to watch the leaves unfurl. They can be washed in a dishwasher and come with or without infusers and filters.

Ceramic Teapots are made in several types; Stoneware, Earthenware, Porcelain and Bone China The main difference in them is whether they are porous or non-porous.

“Come and share a pot of tea,

My home is warm and my friendship’s free”

Emilie Barnes  

Metal Teapots such as enamel, silver or stainless steel have good heat retention, so your tea will stay hot longer; they are durable, attractive, especially silver and will not crack from boiling water. There is an aspect of romance around silver teapots. From a simple Robur perfect teapot to a more elaborate Georgian or Victorian tea service set out on a tray, the timeless aesthetic of a silver teapot will always make afternoon tea look and feel special.

Although Teapots are based on shape and the composition of the material they are made from; ceramic, cast -iron, metal or glass. Another aspect to consider in choosing a teapot is size. Making tea for one, the smallest teapot will do, with friends 4 cups or 6 cups teapot and a medium size teapot for hot water is needed. It is nice to have a very large Teapot for special occasions when you have more people to tea. After that, there are many choices to make on colour, pattern and style.

“And in those varieties of pain of which we spoke anon, what a part of confidante has that poor teapot played ever since the kindly plant was introduced among us! What myriads of women have cried over it, to be sure! What sickbeds it has smoked by! What fevered lips have received refreshment from out of it! Nature meant very gently by women when she made that tea plant; and with a little thought what a series of pictures and groups the fancy may conjure up and assemble round the teapot and cup!“

William Makespeace Thackery

The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people. One cannot help but think of more serene and genteel times. From a whimsical child’s teapot to an English Teapot, to collectible teapots that adorn some homes,they are a subtle reminder of all that is good in this world.

Barbara Roberts

The handmade Brown Betty teapot, which dates back to the 17th century and is still today a national favourite in the UK, is made from English red clay, fired and glazed to create a unique finish. The brown Betty is popular for its renowned heat retention.

High tea or afternoon tea is not the same without a few vintage cups and saucers a touch of Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, Spode, Vera Wang or Rosenthal fine bone china. On the other hand, if you are not a lover of vintage Alessi, Georg Jensen, Ittalia, Baccarat and Le Creuset all make more contemporary glass and stainless steel teapots or perhaps you like a novelty teapot. 

The whimsical Teapot or novelty teapots have been around as a collector’s item for centuries. From cauliflowers and pineapples to ships, planes, cars, animals, birds, castles to just about anything you could think of, a teapot has been designed to replicate it. The novelty teapot collection below I photographed in Spain when travelling pre-Covid and are examples of teapot designers’ fanciful, quirky, inspiration. For more on novelty, teapots read here and here

“There were ceramic teapots in aubergine, mustard, and midnight blue (good for one, sweeter still when shared between two drinkers); and forty small, thin glasses with curved handles, set in gold- and silver-plated holders etched with arabesque swirls. Bahar gingerly lined the tea glasses up on the counter where the cappuccino machine had been stationed. She tucked the teapots into the counter’s glass-paneled belly, where they sat prettily next to twenty glass containers of loose-leaf teas, ranging from bergamot and hibiscus to oolong.”

Marsha Mehran

All content Di Baker 2021

Header and Title Image courtesy of Unsplash

All other images Di Baker or as cited