What’s that you say, are you considering choosing a glass teapot? First things first, lets talk about tea. Tea is one of the oldest beverages around. It originated in China where, according to legend, no less than an emperor of a great dynasty first discovered how to utilize the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant to make this wonderful, healthy drink.
Today, there are many kinds of tea, including “true” tea (those made from the tea plant) and herbal tea (those made from other plants valued for their herbal properties). If we are going to be pedantic the latter should really be known as infusions, but I digress. The methods of drinking tea has also undergone several changes through the years. From the traditional method of letting loose tea leaves steep in hot water, we now have teabags available to make tea in the quickest, most convenient way possible.
Milk or Not
The other debate is whether to add milk to your tea or not. In the UK it is traditional to add milk and always the milk goes in first before the tea! No debate.
In the rest of Europe I have found that milk is usually not served. Lemon is a popular alternative. In Turkey they serve very small glasses of very sweet tea. This is usually offered in most shops when you enter. I love the custom but find the tea too sweet for my taste. Luckily they are small glasses so you don’t have to refuse the kind hospitality.
But no matter the kind of tea you drink or your preferred method, the aromas and tastes of tea that fill your senses are made possible with the right equipment. Whether you choose small glass vessels or china tea cups in the traditional British way, tea can be enjoyed at any time of day.
Unless you are going to just throw a teacup in a mug and pour boiling water on top, the other essential piece of equipment of course is a teapot.
As there are many types of tea, there are also many varieties of teapot available. Often, they are broadly categorized according to the material they are made of. Hence, you have stainless steel, brass, copper, and of course, glass tea teapots.
USA vs UK
We must at this point take a moment to clear up some confusion. Not for the first time we find differences between American English and British English. In Britain we boil water in a kettle and then make the tea in a teapot. This used to be a sort of ritual and tea was always taken around 4pm. These days we drink tea at any time day or night but it is especially popular at breakfast. I understand that in the US some people don’t even recognise what a kettle is.
The Perfect Cuppa
So how to make a perfect cup of tea using loose leaf tea:
- Water must be freshly boiled
- Warm the teapot before use (easiest way is to fill with some of the water just before it gets to the boil, then empty it)
- Add tea to the pot; traditionally the measurement was in teaspoons, 1 for each person and 1 for the pot
- Leave to brew for 4-5 minutes
- Add milk to the teacups
- Pour the freshly brewed tea on top of the milk
- Add sugar to taste
- Enjoy
Advantages Of Choosing A Glass Teapot?
Out of all teapot materials, glass is the most lightweight. It also the easiest to clean since glass has a smooth surface and is not prone to sticking. If used properly, glass tea kettles can also be very durable, lasting for a number of years.
Glass teapots tend to be very stylish. Teapots made of glass available in the market often have modern designs, featuring funky styles or something that is closer to the traditional style of a standard teapot. Either way, they are a great addition to the kitchen table or even as a centerpiece in your receiving room. Definitely one your visitors will admire… more tea vicar?
Some manufacturers may also feature minimalist designs in their glass teapot. Perhaps the best thing about glass teapots is their mutable character. The material goes with almost all shapes and styles, depending on your preference.
Things To Consider Before Choosing A Glass Teapot
Glass teapots have their obvious concerns. First is its durability. While they can last for a number of years, the very fact they are made of glass make them prone to breakage. Not a sensible choice if you tend to be clumsy. To prevent losing your glass teapot too soon, certain delicate handling procedures have to be followed.
Glass teapots are made from a glass that can withstand boiling water. However they should not be put on a direct heat source like a flame. If you were going to do this you would need to place a piece of metal between your stove and the bottom or base of the pot. In other words, sandwich the metal between the stove and the kettle in order to avoid direct contact with the heat source as direct heat contact may lead to cracking of the glass. I wouldn’t recommend trying to keep tea hot in this manner anyway as it will become “stewed” and not taste good.
Also, when using your glass teapot, it’s best not to allow the bottom to dry up. This will cause staining at the base that is difficult to remove. Staining is one of the downsides of tea. The tannin can stain most things and this is more noticeable on glass. So it’s best to rinse out the pot as soon as you have finished the tea.
Whether you end up choosing a glass teapot or not I do hope you take these tips to make yourself a nice “cuppa”.
