Cheap teapot

well, after consideration lately, I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a rather inexpensive teapot to me. I'm looking for one about the size of a quart, possibly with a built in infuser basket, of a traditional shape, and without excessive decoration. I'm looking on google, but I'd rather hear recommendations from first hand users. Thanks for your advice,

-Dave

Reply to
TeaDave
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Maybe a bit more info and we could help better. Are you looking for a ceramic teapot, glass, Yixing, japanese cast iron, etc?

I have a pretty large Japanese cast iron teapot with a stainless infuser that I bought at a Marshall's store for about $10-15.

I have also seen some really nice glass teapots from companies like Bodum at Borders/Barne's and Nobles at 40-50% off for under $20.

If I had my choice of the two, I'd go with the glass teapot actually. You can watch the tea brew and see the color whereas the black cast iron makes in hard to see the color of the infusion so it is all temp and timing.

My 2 pence.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

thanks for the input, I'd really prefer a ceramic or porcelain pot, but a glass pot might work as well. Thanks, I'll have to do more looking at the bodum pots.

-Dave

Reply to
TeaDave

If you want cheap try the Ceramic "Amsterdam" pots at the English tea store dot com (no spaces) for about 8 dollars a piece but the lid does drop into your cup if you don't hold on to it. If you want something very traditional try the Brown betty, the lid will stay put if you place it right. If you want a brown betty but don't want a dark interior try googling for them. there is a store online selling brown bettys in colors including almond.

Reply to
Kitty

i had two different versions of the Bodum glass teapot and I found that they stained too easily. The first had a plastic infuser which got ugly rather quickly. The second had a metal infuser, but even still the glass yellowed no matter how much I cleaned it. Glass teapots are pretty, and it's very cool to watch the tea brew, but a ceramic or porcelain teapot is better presentation in the long run.

Avoid yixing unless you know how to take care of it. Avoid tetsubin (japanese enameled cast iron) if you plan on cleaning your teapot with soap. Avoid earthenware, as it tends to eventually crack and discolor. Porcelain, I think, is the best bet for a beautiful, long-lasting teapot.

Reply to
Jason F in Los Angeles

Dominic snipped-for-privacy@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com4/20/06

22: snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com

For nearly nothing you can pick one up in Chinatown, if you've got a conveniently located Chinatown.

Reply to
Michael Plant

I always buy my regular teapots in Chinatowns since only there you buy ones that do not spill the tea all around the teacup... Last week I saw a nice-looking white porcelain teapot in Rayley's supermarket and bought it. Surprise, surprise... the tea was not only all over the table, but also all over the teapot. I looked at the label - it was made in China but for a California design company. Apparently the designers never took a physics course and had no idea that liquids level. Also they never heard of surficial tension. The spout was nicely rounded and thick at the end which made the water just flow along its curves without going into the cup! One way or another it was the worst ever. I took it back. The manager returned my money without a word but asked me if I was sure that this is not just a decoration. "People do not brew tea in these things anymore, you know.." - said he.

I knew.

Sasha.

Reply to
Alex Chaihorsky

I have not had any problem with my glass teapots yellowing at all, I wonder if there is something different that we do? I have two that are over 4 years old and still are as clear and normal looking as when I bought them, including the infuser. Strange. I even have another teapot that is entirely clear plastic (I know, it's strange but from Korea and well made) and it has not discolored even and I use it purely for brewing strong iced teas.

I agree that a porcelain teapot can be had cheaply, but they are the ones I find discolor easy and are never well made or very functional for the most part. I also agree with your appraisal of Yixing/tetsubin... and I have cleaned a tetsubin with a baking soda and water solution before with no adverse results.

Again, it all comes down to personal preference. Just that in my personal opinion my glass teapots are the easiest of all for all around use and cleanup.

- Dominic

Reply to
Dominic T.

A quart is absolutely HUGE. I think that Chatsford makes a 6 cup teapot in the "Series E" earthenware stuff, though they don't have a vitrified hotelware anywhere near that size. Upton's has it for something like thirty bucks.

I do like the "steelite" vitrified hotelware ones a lot more because they are FAR more difficult to break. But Chatsford's biggest one is a 4-cup.

The Chatsford pots don't drip, they hold heat well, and they don't cost a fortune.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

A quart is huge? Well, I tend to drink 2-4 quarts of tea throughout the course of a day, so I figure a quart sized pot might not be a bad idea.

Reply to
TeaDave

One liter glass,SS pots are dime-a-dozen. Chinese clay and British porcelain is harder to find but not impossible and still cheap enough.

Jim

TeaDave wrote:

Reply to
Space Cowboy

A simple solution of baking soda and water is best because it cleans easily and effectively, & rinses out thoroughly without leaving behind anything that's taste-altering.

For me, glass is the easiest to clean.

Reply to
Bluesea

Jason F wrote: "I had two different versions of the Bodum glass teapot and I found that they stained too easily. The first had a plastic infuser which got ugly rather quickly. The second had a metal infuser, but even still the glass yellowed no matter how much I cleaned it."

Glass is one of the hardest things to actually stain. It is Very easy to clean with a paste of salt or Baking Soda. I think vinegar will release tea stains as well. On plastic you might get some real staining, but even there a vinegar and salt solution might release that, or oxygen bleach, since that doesn't leave the flavor changes that Clorine bleach would.

Just my 2CW

Reply to
Kitty

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