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To say that anything is typically American, even teapot styles, is to discount about 99% of the country. (I should clarify that I am using “American” here in the widespread meaning of referring to us “Yanks,” that is, citizens of the United States. Sorry, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America!) We come from such a broad spectrum of cultures, and each has brought pieces of that culture here, blending those pieces with what was already here, that to say anything is typical brings a chuckle to my lips.
Case in point was when a friend from Germany visited years ago. He and some other economy students at his university were on a trip to visit a business park here in the U.S. He asked me to recommend a typically American restaurant. My brain screeched to a halt, and then it began cranking so fast, trying to think of something that could be described as typically American, that you could hear my brain gears creaking. I finally opted for one of those high-class pizza places. Truth be told, however, it was not what I would consider typical. The same applies to teapots. We each have in mind an idea of what we consider typical.
The teapots chosen to show below are but a miniscule sampling of the variety that teapot makers here have available.
Some Teapots I Consider Typically American
They are all quite different yet all useful (just like a good teapot should be). And they all evoke the spirit of this country: “be free to be yourself.”
- Pewter Teapot — Sure, Paul Revere is a better known metalsmith, making useful items from silver and pewter, due to that Longfellow poem, but other metalsmiths were busy, too, crafting teapots and other wares out of silver and pewter both before and after our colonial days. One such craftsman was George Richardson who created this gorgeous pewter teapot. This is an inverted “double ender” teapot (the body was molded in a top and bottom half that was welded together seamlessly).
AMERICAN TEAPOT BY GEORGE RICHARDSON
- Stoneware Teapot — Think rustic log cabin or sod house. Think of a lifestyle that squeezed every bit of use possible out of an item, not just throwing it away when it got chipped, ripped, dented, or out of style. Think of patching something until there is nothing left to patch just because there is no store nearby or online shopping to purchase a replacement. But think also of taking raw materials out of the ground and building items of use and beauty. Here is a fine example from an American pottery firm called Louisville Stoneware that I wrote about previously.
Brooke Teapot & Cover Set
Here is our version being greeted by another American teapot (the infamous Little Yellow Teapot who considers all teapots to be his cousins):
Here is our version being greeted by another American teapot (the infamous Little Yellow Teapot who considers all teapots to be his cousins)
- Athena Teapot — Often when people think of modern, they think of sleek and sophisticated. This porcelain teapot has both visual elements conveyed by the simple lines, a more squat shape, a high gloss finish, and an unusual handle design. Best of all, it holds a generous 44 ounces of tasty tea — plenty for sharing with a friend or two. And it’s safe to put in the dishwasher and microwave. Very modern!
Athena Teapot Black
- Industrial Teapot 2 by Rebecca Sabo — The U.S. spans the continent of North America from ocean to ocean. In-between there are big cities, towns ranging in size from ones that are comfortable yet has amenities to ones that if you sneeze while driving through them, you miss seeing them entirely. Teapots are in them all. Here, potter Rebecca Sabo captures the industrial character of some parts of this country. This teapot was part of an exhibition in American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California, in 2012.
Industrial Teapot 2 by Rebecca Sabo, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
You will, no doubt, have teapots that you consider typically American. We’d love to see them!
See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
The popularity of tea through the ages has spurred the development of new materials, plus new techniques for working with them, to create perfect steeping and pouring teapots. Bone china is one such material — a result of experimentation and lots of sweat and ingenuity.
Wild Roses Bone China Teapot (Photo source: The English Tea Store)
First, let me answer that oft asked question: Yes, there is really bone ash in bone china. Thus the name. Usually cattle bones are used.
History of Bone China (Ultra-condensed Version)
Actually, there is some disagreement about who first came up with the magic mix of ingredients (6 parts bone ash, 4 parts china stone and 3.5 parts china clay) for making bone china. One source credits Josiah Spode as being the first around 1793, but another says it was Thomas Frye at his Bow porcelain factory near Bow in East London in 1748 and that Spode simply perfected Frye’s formula. The bone ash, which strengthened the items that it was used in, came from a cattle market nearby and sometimes included other parts besides the bones. Spode used only the bones, producing a finer quality of bone china and enjoying a commercial success that Frye never achieved. By 1776, as a handful of colonies in the New World were declaring independence from King George III in the UK, Spode had gained full ownership of the pottery factory that would from then on bear his name.
Storing and Caring for Your Fine Bone China Teapots
The surest way to avoid chipping, cracking, or breaking a fine bone china teapot is not to have any. Ha! But since they are so beautiful and irresistible, we need some better options here. First, use the teapot with care and a steady hand. When possible, hold the teapot by its handle in one hand and with the other hand support it underneath. When removing and replacing the teapot lid, try not to bump it against the sides of the teapot opening. Don’t use pieces that have been mended. Store in closed cabinets that are in out-of-the-way areas.
Gilded teapots should have extra care taken on the gilt parts, especially if the piece is an antique, and possibly even avoid washing that part of them altogether. Both gilded and non- gilded teapots should be hand-cleaned with gentle soap if needed, but not immersed in water, and thoroughly dried before storing to prevent any mold growth. Don’t attempt to clean mended pieces with any liquid.
If you break a valuable piece, take it to a professional restorer (your local museum or fine china shop may be able to refer you to one). Don’t try to use glue of any kind. If you want to test the teapot for that bone china “ring,” hold it up and tap carefully with a finger.
Some Great Bone China Teapots from Modern Makers
Nothing epitomizes a British-style Afternoon Tea like a fine bone china teapot. Either as part of an entire set or as the star of the tea table, their designs will add just the right touch of elegance while remaining very practical, since they help keep your tea warm longer. Both of these modern versions have a fairly classic teapot design, that is, a wide bottom and a low-mounted and gently-curved spout.
English Cottage Fine Bone China (Photo source: The English Tea Store)
- Wild Roses Bone China Teapot — Part of the Wild Roses Bone China Tea Set that includes 6 teacups and saucers and a sugar/creamer set. The unique pattern features clusters of mauve, yellow and pale pink roses and buds with green foliage. Each piece is enhanced with an elegant speckled gold trim. A gorgeous ensemble for afternoon tea!
- English Cottage Fine Bone China — Decorated in stunning detail, this 6-cup teapot features a scene of an old English cottage, among a lovely field of flowers. Matching pieces are available: Open Sugar Bowl & Creamer Set, Set of 4 Teacups & Saucers, Full Tea Set.
Some Great Bone China Teapots Antiques
Other potteries started making bone china as well. Here are some of the competitors in what had become quite a burgeoning segment of the fine teapot market:
English – antique Aynsley England bone china teapot (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Antique Aynsley England Bone China Teapot — Founded in 1775, a year before Josiah Spode took over and renamed the pottery factory in Stoke on Trent, Master Potter John Aynsley founded his pottery in Staffordshire. While the founder considered this endeavor as more of a hobby, his grandson, John Aynsley II, took the business very seriously. They began making bone china in 1861 in a specially built factory. As of September 2012, they are one of the few potteries in that area still operating. Their most famous patterns include Pembroke, Cottage Garden, Little Sweetheart, Wild Tudor, and Orchard Gold.
- Rare C.J. Mason Bone China Teapot, Cobalt, Red & Gilt, Chinoiserie, c.1835 — A gorgeous bone china pedestal teapot decorated in a willow variant with gilding, cobalt blue, and Chinese red. It is about 11-1/4″ long. The finial of the lid is missing, and would have been a strawberry or an acorn.
C.J. Mason Bone China Teapot, Aladdin style (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Minton Teapot, Bone China, Antique c.1825, Handpainted, English — A rare example of Minton’s return to bone china production in 1824 (they had stopped for about eight years). It has a flattened melon shape, a molded spout, a fruit finial on the lid, a complex handle, a gadrooned collar, body and base, and a 15-hole triangular strainer. About 10” from spout to handle. The pattern number 677 is hand-painted in puce on the base and agrees with Minton’s wares of this period. The teapot and lid both ring when tapped.
Minton Teapot, Bone China, Antique c.1825, Handpainted, English (Photo source: screen capture from site)
See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Teapot styles tend to parallel the styles of other objects, from buildings, to art works, to furniture and clothing. Since the era of Queen Victoria ushered in the Afternoon Tea (credited to Anna, the Duchess of Bedford, one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting), how appropriate to take a look at teapot styles from that period. Time to go exploring.
The Queen Victoria era is said to have lasted her entire reign (1837-1901 — longer than any other British monarch before or after her). Her domain spanned the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Ireland, and those countries saw progress in industry, politics, science, and the military. She also had a tremendous influence on fashions, behavior in general, and especially in the elevation of tea to the status it has enjoyed ever since: not just a beverage but a true necessity for civilized living. The emergence of a merchant class helped, also, to propel tea time into a daily event. That meant that teapot makers had to kick into high gear, competing with each other for the most elegant and slightly ornate designs (though not as overdone as Baroque and Rococo).
A Couple Samples of Victorian Style Teapots
The elegance of the Victorian era has such appeal that it has lasted through the ages, with teapot makers even today producing teapots that are made in that style. These are a couple of examples:
- Violets Fine Bone China Victorian Style Teapot — Decorated in a lovely violets pattern, this Victorian Style teapot features more detail on the teapot handle and body. Violets are the “flower of modesty,” which was one of the womanly virtues promoted during the Victorian era.
Violets Fine Bone China Victorian Style Teapot (Photo source: The English Tea Store)
- Sadler Queen Victoria teapot — Pays homage to the grand lady who inspired artists, statesmen, and tea imbibers of all classes. Made by the renowned Sadler company. Holds about 2 cups (about 20 oz), 6″ tall x 7″ wide. Not recommended for dishwasher or microwave use.
Sadler Queen Victoria teapot (Photo source: The English Tea Store)
A Few Samples of Actual Victorian Era Teapots
Compare the above Victorian-style teapots with these actual ones:
- Antique Victorian English Sterling Silver Teapot — Images from nature abound on this excellent example made by renowned London Silversmiths John Hunt and Robert Roskell. From the rose/leaf décor on the rounded body to the stork feeding its nest of chicks and the various leaves decorating the handle, lid finial, and spout, this is a true centerpiece for a convivial tea time.
Antique Victorian English Sterling Silver Teapot (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Majolica Teapot with fish decoration — Dates from the Victorian era c. 1880 – 1900. Water and fish themes were quite popular as décor on pottery. This teapot shows a fish swimming over coral (or seaweed), has a coral design handle and spout, and sports colors of cobalt blue, aquamarine green and brown. The knob on the lid is a shell with the lid itself having a seaweed pattern.
Majolica Teapot with fish decoration (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Samuel Alcock Victorian period teapot — Standing on four feet and with gilt patterning. Ornate handle and spout. Who wouldn’t feel regal pouring tea from a teapot like this one?
Samuel Alcock Victorian teapot (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Antique Victorian Royal Blue Ceramic Teapot-Pewter Top — Made in England during the Victorian era. Somehow, the “Aladdin’s Lamp” shape seems to keep popping up in teapot designs, including this one. The blue is quite eye-catching and would have really stood out in a Victorian era salon.
Antique Victorian Royal Blue Ceramic Teapot-Pewter Top (Photo source: screen capture from site)
Stick with a basic black tea (Assam, Darjeeling, Keemun, Yunnan, Ceylon) for a more authentic tea time, or go more modern with a nice Chinese or Japanese green tea. You could also enjoy some Earl Grey.
Lots of choices!
A few Victorian era tea time tips:
- During the Victorian era, the phrase “to take tea” was used by the lower classes and considered by the upper classes to be a vulgar expression. They preferred “to drink tea.”
- Milk, sugar, and lemon slices were always on hand for use in teas according to individual taste.
- In the late 1880′s, certain hotels like The Ritz in Boston, The Plaza in New York, and others in the UK were noted for their tea services where Victorian ladies and their gentlemen would meet in the late afternoon for tea and conversation.
- Foods served at tea time were things like bread and butter, crumpets, wafer thin crust-less sandwiches, shrimp and fish pates, and small cakes. The idea was to stave off hunger pangs until dinner time, which was fashionably late (around 8 or 9 pm).
Break out those whalebone corsets, bustles, and high-collared dresses for the women, and striped pants and tailcoats for the men, and have a good old-fashioned Victorian tea time pouring from that special teapot!
See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Teapot styles tend to parallel the styles of other objects, from buildings, to art works, to furniture and clothing. Baroque and Rococo are very similar styles, and sometimes Rococo is referred to as “Late Baroque.” Both are known for their frills and embellishments, with Rococo being rather extreme. Some used the term “Baroque” initially to underline the excesses — redundant and noisy details. Time to go exploring.
The Baroque period started around 1600, while the Rococo period in the arts is closely associated with France and two of their monarchs: Louis XV (ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death on 10 May 1774) and Louis XVI (King of France and Navarre from 1774 until 1791, then King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before his deposition and execution during the French Revolution). However, the two styles prevailed in Britain, Germany, and other countries.
During the Baroque period, the influence of this style was everywhere. In Italy, Caravaggio was perfecting his chiaroscuro painting style. In Bavaria, Czech lands, Poland, and The Ukraine, pear domes appeared on churches and survive today as a quaint and very recognizable feature. Rubens, a Flemish painter, was a proponent of an extravagant Baroque style that emphasized movement, color, and sensuality. Teapot makers picked up this style trend in their wares.
Rococo took these details even further, some say in a way that was meant to emphasize absurdity in Baroque, but others (yours truly included) think this was just human nature pushing the envelope, as the saying goes. Rococo art and architecture were ornate and are characterized by creamy, pastel-like colors, asymmetrical designs, curves, gold, and more playful and often witty artistic themes. Teapots made in this style are no exception.
A Few Samples
I searched online for actual teapots from these eras and found a lot of reproductions, “in the style of,” and “vintage” or “antique” but few actually from this period. No worries. These will still show the range of styles:
- Baroque-style silver teapot with some detail — This teapot demonstrates the beginnings of embellishments that did nothing for functionality but everything for adding visual appeal to teatime.
Baroque Wallace Antique Teapot (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Baroque-style Newark Museum display teapot with replaced spout — Porcelain, silver, 1675-1700 (late Baroque). You can see the ornate Asian influence here, a common practice as trade routes with China, India, and other countries brought exotic treasures to the attention of European potters and ceramic artists. They competed by imitating.
Teapot with replaced spout. (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- A Rococo Porcelain Veilleuse-Théière — The Porcelain Veilleuse-Théières style of teapots date from 1750 to 1860 (late Rococo to Victorian). Rectangular stand, oval pot, rococo, highly decorated with panels of roses and gilding, other panels rose pompadour. Vieux Paris. Acquired in Paris for the collection. Cream colors and gilding are typical.
Rococo Teapot 334 from the Trenton Tennessee museum (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Another Porcelain Veilleuse-Théière — Figurine, man seated on rococo base behind square pot, animalistic spout, boy and girl on stand gaily dressed in flowered clothes in front of shield, white background, much gilding. Acquired in Paris for the collection.
Rococo Teapot 397 from the Trenton Tennessee museum (Photo source: screen capture from site)
- Silver teapot bursting with details — It almost looks like it’s going to walk away on those ornate legs.
Vintage Silver Teapot (Photo source: screen capture from site)
Of course, you are going to want to serve Baroque or Rococo style teas in these. They are going to be teas that are artful and tasty. I would go for Lapsang Souchong which dates back to the 17th century during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). You may even want to try a nice black Ceylon tea (tea growing started in Ceylon as early as the 1700s). A nice Chinese green tea is another choice that will take you back in time. Lots of choices!
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Like many a tea devotee, I am attached to my teawares. I have a fairly impressive collection (perhaps larger than necessary?) with certain pots for certain teas, and different cups, mugs, or infusers for different occasions. But while I enjoy my tea equipment, I know that it is entirely possible to get along without it and still end up with a delicious cup of tea. In fact, sometimes it can actually be fun to be without your teawares. At least, providing you are in the company of someone who also enjoys a good cup of tea. Whether staying with friends for a few weeks, or just visiting for an hour or two, it can be a lot of fun to explore the teawares of others.
My borrowed teawares: a Bee House teapot and colourful little mug (photo is mine).
A recent experience confirmed this for me. During my latest travels, and already accustomed to travelling with tea, I stayed with some good friends. They also happen to be good tea drinkers (this is true in both senses of the phrase: they drink quality tea, and they drink it well). I was delighted to spend time with them, but was perhaps equally delighted to get to use their teawares every morning. One of the teawares in question was a Bee House teapot. While I have several teapots, I have never owned a Bee House, and the novelty of getting to use a new pot lasted through the week. I never realized quite how fun it is to have a lid that flips open!
Of course, there may be some disadvantages to the experience of borrowed teawares: if you misjudge the size of the teapot, or forget to increase/decrease the amount of tea leaves accordingly, you could end up with a cup of tea that is too strong or too weak. Or, if you are particularly picky, you might find that a smaller infuser basket doesn’t allow certain full-leafed teas to steep as thoroughly, or that unfamiliar teawares just don’t do your tea justice.
However, I think that the downsides of borrowed teawares (missing your favourite teapot or having your tea come out a little differently than you are used to) are outweighed by their novelty. It can be fun to switch up your tea routine and it is a great way to try out different methods of tea preparation—who knows, you might discover a new favourite way to make tea!
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Let’s make this short: No, you can never have enough teapots. Okay, on to the next topic.
Just kidding.
Seriously, there are some of us out there who seem to have an insatiable desire for collecting. It could be anything: baseball cards, coins, stamps, wind-up toys, nutcracker dolls, old parts to a 1964 Chevy Corvette Stingray, albums by Justin Bieber, Christmas ornaments, antique screwdrivers, and whatever else you can think of. Teapots are no exception. One difference, though, is that the teapot collectors often use those teapots, not just let them sit around.
A peach-design Yixing teapot with brocade covered storage box
I wouldn’t say that I’ve become a teapot collector, and Janis Badarau certainly has more on display in the special tea room in her house than I own, but the fever has definitely caught hold. So much so that when offered a fourth Yixing teapot, I jumped at the chance to add it to my “Tea Gang” (a group of teapots dedicated to the leaf). The design on this teapot incorporates peaches, so I called it “Peachy” (only my most special teapots get names — naming teapots is a sign of something, possibly dementia?). The design is tied in with Chinese legends, especially the one about the Empress who had a treasured peach tree and the Monkey King who ate the best peaches, making the Empress angry; he created blooming tea balls to look like peaches and thus appeased her. As is the case with all fine Yixing, the chop marks were clear under the lid and on the bottom of the teapot.
Speaking of blooming teas, no teapot collection is complete without a glass teapot so you can steep the tea and enjoy the show as it unfolds. This brings to mind the general motivation behind buying more teapots: having the right teapot to steep each particular tea. (This is certainly true of Yixing teapots that are unsealed and absorb the flavor and aroma of the teas steeped in them, and thus should be used for only one type of tea per pot.) Brown Betty style teapots are great for a hearty black tea like English Breakfast Blend No. 1, but that delicate Sencha is better off being steeped in a nice little porcelain pot or a Japanese style teapot called a kyusu.
When it comes to tea, one size does not fit all! What a great reason to unleash the shopaholic in you and add a teapot or two or fifty to your bevy!
Chop mark close-ups:
Chop mark one the under side of the lid
and:
Chop mark on the bottom of the teapot
Chop marks are a sign of authenticity!
See also:
Diving Into the World of Yixing Teapots Pt 1
Diving Into the World of Yixing Teapots Pt 2
Diving Into the World of Yixing Teapots Pt 3
My Yixing Teapots
Teapots, Teapots and More Teapots
Bevy of Teapots
Trying New Teawares — Glass Teapots
Collectible Sadler Teapots
Metal vs. Porcelain and Bone China Teapots
Those Wonderful Amsterdam Teapots
Hemisphere Teapots — Out of This World
The Pros and Cons of Bodum Teapots
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Porcelain Teapot - Victorian Rose
Like any great quest, the seeking of perfection is all pervasive and can even invade our dreams and the quiet repose of our tea time. The perfect teapot — is it Cordoba’s mythical Fountain of Youth?
Plato, a philosopher from long, long ago (as in before even I was born), had the idea that everything around us is an imperfect version of a “perfect” version that exists in the ether somewhere. There is a perfect tree out there from which are spawned all the imperfect trees around us. The same goes for everything from aardvarks to zithers. If Plato is right, then there’s a perfect teapot somewhere out there in the ether. Now, where’s this ether? Drat, there’s always a catch.
As a tea devotee, I regard the very concept of a perfect teapot just as I do the concept of a perfect cuppa tea: it is an individual quest and achievement. Only you can decide which is your perfect teapot, just as only you can know when you have achieved that perfect steep.
Even so, there are teapots and then there are teapots. Some seem to suit the steeping of one tea versus another for various reasons. Here’s a bit of a rundown based on the material(s) from which the teapot is made:
- Bone China/Porcelain — Tends to cool a bit quicker, so you may want to use with teas that need steep times between 2 and 4 minutes. However, you can extend the time the teapot stays warm with a nice tea cozy or a tea warmer stand. Very stylish and used as much for their appearance as their tea steeping ability.
- Ceramic/Stoneware — Made of a thicker, coarser clay, and holds heat fairly well, but still needs a cozy or warmer to keep the tea warm for the length of your tea time. Black teas with strong flavors are great contenders here. The Brown Betty is a classic stoneware teapot. The U.S. company Louisville Stonewaremakes some fine ones, too.
Glass Teapot - Zen Style
- Yixing clay — Unglazed and therefore porous, meaning that they absorb the flavor and aroma of the teas steeped in them. Each teapot needs to be confined to one particular type of tea; for example, one for green teas, one for oolongs, etc. They are small, lending themselves to teas needing short steep times and that can be infused multiple times. My collection is small but an important part of my tea arsenal.
- Silver — Holds heat well so works best with teas that can withstand higher temperatures and longer steeping times. Generally, that means black teas, especially Darjeelings according to some tea experts.
- Glass — Good for a wide variety of teas, but the clear glass kind are especially appropriate for “show teas” (ones that are a delight to watch while steeping). A good example is blooming/flowering tea, but you can also get quite a good show from teas like Tie Guan Yin (Ti Kuan Yin, Iron Goddess) where the leaves unfurl from their cocoon-like shape.
- Cast iron— Unique in that you can place them on an open flame or on your woodburning stove to heat the water and then steep tea directly in them. The finest ones are said to come from Japan. They are great for green teas, but could be used for other teas as well, such as dark teas from Darjeeling, India. The metal really holds the heat, so watch your steeping time, or your tea leaves will get cooked.
Stainless Steel Teapot - Algonquin
- Stainless steel — Holds heat fairly well. Great for most teas. Popular in restaurants since they can take a bit of banging about and even dropping without too much damage.
Again, I emphasize that perfection is whatever suits your tea needs, no matter what that Plato fellow said all those centuries ago. He didn’t even drink tea but was more of a mead man. So, this quest for perfection is up to you. Happy hunting!
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
In my last post, I talked about revisiting the UK. One of the things I decided to do was get my tourist hat on, take trips down memory lane in London, and in one of my trips, I came across this:
Tea Building Tea Sign
The typeface of the letters against the backdrop of a blue sky made me smile when I walked past. The Tea Building, according to their website, is a centre for the media and creative industry based in East London. I also loved their bill board:
Shoreditch High Street Tea Bill Board
I think we can all agree that we need tea 
So, from tea and art in the street, I made a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum to discover tea and art indoors. There are collections of art from Korea, Japan, and India, and naturally, as a tea enthusiast, I was drawn to the tea ware. When I went to the China room, I was amazed at the vibrancy of the colours. Two pieces really captured my heart.
Victoria & Albert Gaiwan
This gorgeous Gaiwan shown above was made in the 1800’s in the Qing Dynasty. The detail on this porcelain beauty is absolutely divine! I especially liked the hole in the leaf which reminded me of the work of a Jacid ‘leaf hopper’ which bites on an oolong leaf to promote oxidation, but maybe that’s my imagination running wild, I don’t know.
The beau-tea-ful teapot shown below was made in the 1600s. The bamboo detail, especially on the spout and the handle, was stunning.
Victoria & Albert Bamboo Teapot
On we go, from the history of Chinese tea ware to a 20th century movement. Postmoderism according to Wikipedia is a reaction to the modernism movement. It was a movement that was rebellious, a critique, and controversial. The exhibition featured architecture, art, fashion, design and music from 1970-1990 and as a movement; the teapots were wacky, silly, colourful and brought a smile to my face.
Postmodern Teapots
The picture at right shows two of my favourite teapots. Aren’t the colours so vibrant and the design just zany?
Modernism is about design which should derive directly from its purpose, and this last teapot shown below captures the true essence of postmodernism, which argues that form doesn’t have to follow function; it can just be fun. Do you have a teapot in your collection that is both functional and fun?
A Disney inspired design shown below:
Fun and possibly functional Postmodern Teapot
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Lainie's Yixing beauty named "Koi"
I love my Yixing teapots.
Mind you, I only have a few (seven at last count). These teapots don’t come cheap, and I live on a modest budget. Yet for many types of tea, there is simply nothing better than Yixing brewing. The hot, seasoned clay can produces a rich flavor that I’ve not been able to duplicate with other brewing vessels.
These teapots are made from unglazed clay. The lack of glazing allows both the inside and the outside of the teapot to absorb the tea. The outside eventually takes on a lovely patina while the inside becomes seasoned with the tea. This is why Yixing teapots should only be used with one type of tea: The seasoning of the teapot contributes to the flavor of the tea brewed within.
Mind you, not all types of tea are suitable for Yixing brewing. According to the proprietor of my favorite Chinese teashop, green and white teas shouldn’t be brewed in Yixing because these teas require cooler water, and the thick clay of Yixing holds in heat all too well. Most black teas, on the other hand, brew up superbly in Yixing, as does pu’erh. I’ve also been known to brew up a beautiful Ti Kuan Yin (Iron Goddess of Mercy) in Bizzy, my teapot dedicated to that wonderful oolong.
Lainie's teatime mascot
In case you are wondering: No, I don’t name all of my teaware, just my Yixing pots. Because I need to remember which tea goes into which pot, most of my teapot names are mnemonic. For example, Bizzy is short for Bismuth, a heavy metal that is also relatively non-toxic. I picked the name because my friends often commented that “Iron Goddess of Mercy” sounded like a heavy metal band.
(Bismuth=Heavy Metal get it?)
Not all of the teapot names are associated with their corresponding teas, however. My most costly teapot, for example, is shaped like a pig. I naturally named him bacon, though his primary job is to brew Yunnan golds, and I prefer to drink Yunnan teas with chorizo.
(Bacon goes better with Keemun.)
I hope to build my collection of Yixing teapots over time so that I can enjoy even more of my favorite teas in these marvelous little vessels. Do you own any Yixing teaware? I’d love to hear about it!
Don’t miss Lainie’s tea tastings on her blog Lainie Sips!
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Affordable electric kettles
Loose leaf tea is a different world from teabags. It’s also a lot of fun, as loose teas can be much more tasty and interesting than bagged teas. To make the most of your tea adventure, stock up on a few basic supplies that can help you consistently brew up delicious cups of tea:
- Teapot: Teapots come in all shapes and sizes. For convenience sake, you might like a teapot with a infuser built in, though it isn’t necessary.
- Electric Kettle: Stovetop kettles are fine, but they typically take eons to heat up. Electric kettles heat your water quickly and some of the better models allow you to set the temperature of your water, which is very important if you are a green or white tea lover.
- Kitchen Thermometer: If your electric kettle does not offer temperature control, get a kitchen thermometer so you can better control
- Strainer and Holder: Unless your teapot has a built-in infuser, you’ll want a tea strainer to keep tea leaves from floating into your cup.
- Measuring Spoons, Measuring Cups and Gram Scale: Preparing good tea requires properly measuring both tea leaf and water. If your electric kettle doesn’t have a measurement guide on its side, use a measuring cup to monitor the amount of water you use to prepare each pot of tea. Measuring spoons work well for gauging the amount of most types of tea leaf, though large leaf teas can be tricky to measure with spoons. A gram scale is the most precise measuring tool for tea, and many tea people of my acquaintance own one.
- Tea Storage: Tea gets stale quickly and absorbs outside odors and flavors like a sponge. Buy some opaque, air tight containers for storing your tea.
- Cups and Mugs: Your choice of mug or cup is largely a matter of personal preference. If observing the color of your infused tea is important to you, choose a cup or mug with a white interior or one made from clear glass. Thin porcelain teacups, particularly those that are fairly shallow will cause your tea to cool rapidly. While this can be a bonus for both health and flavor reasons, if you want to keep your tea hot, the better choice is a thick, tall ceramic mug with straight sides.
- Timer: It’s easy to ruin a pot or mug of tea by letting it steep too long. Get a noisy timer to let you know when it’s time to decant. If you get one with a clip on it, you can attach it to a belt loop so you don’t have to worry about not hearing its alarm.
See also:
Those Wonderful Amsterdam Teapots
Electric Kettles
Tea Travel & Infuser Mugs
Time to Time Your Tea
Ins and Outs of Tea Storage Containers
Tea Storage Thoughts
Getting the Temperature Right with Tea Thermometers
Are Loose Teas Straining Your Love for Tea?
© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
