How to Choose a Teapot, and How to Keep Tea Hot for Longer

A good teapot is one of those things you use every day and rarely think about, right up until the second cup comes out lukewarm. Choosing the right one, and knowing a couple of small habits, makes the whole pot better. Here is what to look for, and how to keep your tea hot for longer.

Start with how you drink tea

Before thinking about colour or shape, think about how the teapot will be used. If it is usually just you, or tea for two, a smaller pot is plenty. If the pot goes round the table, or you like a second and third cup without getting up, a one litre teapot is the sensible size. One litre is roughly four good mugs of tea, which covers most households and most afternoons.

Loose leaf or tea bags?

Both work in a teapot, but loose leaf tea is where a teapot really earns its place. Loose leaves need room to open up as they brew, and a pot gives them that room. If you drink loose leaf, look for a teapot with a removable infuser. It holds the leaves while they brew, then lifts out so the tea does not keep stewing and turn bitter. It also makes emptying and rinsing the pot far easier.

If you mostly use tea bags, an infuser is still handy: pop the bags in it and lift them all out at once when the tea is ready.

Why ceramic is a good choice

Teapots come in glass, cast iron, stainless steel and ceramic. Glass looks lovely but lets heat escape quickly. Ceramic is the everyday favourite for good reason: it is sturdy, it looks at home in any kitchen, and a thick ceramic body helps keep the heat in, so the tea stays warmer for longer than it would in glass.

Ceramic also gives you colour. A teapot sits out on the side or the table most of the day, so it is worth choosing one you actually like looking at.

Details worth checking

• Capacity: check it is stated in litres or cups, and match it to how many people usually drink from it.
• Infuser: a stainless steel infuser is durable and easy to rinse.
• Cleaning: check whether the teapot is dishwasher safe if that matters to you.
• The lid: it should sit securely so it stays put when you pour.
• The handle: pick it up and imagine it full. A comfortable handle matters more than it looks.

How to keep tea hot for longer

Warm the pot first

This is the single most useful habit. Swirl a little freshly boiled water round the empty teapot, leave it for a minute, then pour it away before adding your tea. A cold pot takes heat straight out of the water, and a warm one does not. It is a small step, and it makes the biggest difference to the second cup.

Use freshly boiled water

Water that has been reboiled several times, or left to sit in the kettle, makes for a flatter cup. Fill the kettle fresh each time.

Take the leaves out when the tea is ready

Leaving leaves in the pot does not keep tea warmer, it just makes it stronger and more bitter. Once it has brewed to your liking, lift the infuser out, and the rest of the pot stays pleasant to drink.

Keep the lid on, and keep the pot out of draughts

It sounds obvious, but a teapot left by an open window or with the lid off loses heat quickly. A tea cosy or a folded tea towel over the top helps too, especially for a slow afternoon pot.

Warm the mugs as well

Tea poured into a cold mug cools straight away. A splash of hot water in each mug while the tea brews keeps that first sip as warm as it should be.

Our teapots

Our Oslo teapot in pink and Oslo teapot in cream are both one litre ceramic teapots with a stainless steel infuser, so they suit loose leaf tea and tea bags alike. Each measures 21cm long, 12cm wide and 15cm high, and both are dishwasher safe. Pair either with a set of our ceramic mugs for a pot that looks as good on the table as it tastes.

Looking for a spot to keep it all together? Our guide to tea corner ideas has plenty of inspiration.

Shop all teapots