Choose a teapot or kettle to enjoy a good tea

"If you think you can just leave the water here heating up and go and see what else to do to kill time, you haven't learned anything from England," a friend of mine used to tease me. He was absolutely right (about the water... as for England, it really taught me a lot): if you're going to make tea you should enjoy every moment, from the moment you put the water on to heat up until you sit down to enjoy it. Do you know anyone who drinks tea in a hurry?

Therefore, because drinking tea is a great moment (It's your moment!), it is important to do it with utensils that also help you feel good and enjoy it. We will usually use a kettle or a teapot, and since doubts often arise about them, I would like to share the advantages of each one.

I'll start with kettles. Although they are often called "teapots" since that is their most common purpose, they do not include a filter for tea leaves or herbs: they are basically designed to heat water quickly. Once hot, it can be used to make tea, but also to make coffee if you drink instant coffee or coffee from a filter coffee maker (such as a Chemex or an American coffee maker) or very often for cooking (to add hot water to a cooking or to hydrate food).

I would also like to highlight the KitchenAid electric kettle here. It is a high-priced appliance but highly appreciated by tea lovers, as it heats water quickly and we can also set the desired temperature depending on the tea or infusion we want to prepare.

KitchenAid Kettle , with indicator and temperature controller

Thus, kettles help you to get boiling water in record time, saving energy and avoiding the use of other electrical appliances. They are useful at home but also at work. But... which one to choose? I would recommend first of all to think about what you are going to use it for: if you want it for both tea and to heat water for cooking, I would recommend a large teapot like those from Le Creuset . In addition, there are different formats available, all suitable for all heat sources including induction, with a traditional design that you will fall in love with, and they incorporate a lid on the spout that produces a whistle when the water is boiling - Can a teapot be more authentic?

Le Creuset 1.1L, 1.5L Demi and Zen teapots and 2.10L Tradition teapot, all with whistle

As for the design, I think we can all agree that the Tea Time , Demi and Tradition models are reminiscent of classic teapots, while the Zen model has a more modern and urban line. Despite this, the former are available in different colours, for the most daring and for the most conservative.

If you want a teapot to boil water to make tea for two or three people, then the stoneware teapot may be a good option. It is ideal for preparing and serving tea as it includes the diffuser, but we must heat the water in another container or put the teapot in the microwave as it cannot be used on the stove. In its favour, it has a nice design, its compact size and the fact that we can keep it in the fridge if we want to make cold tea.

However, if you are looking for a teapot to prepare tea in the most traditional and pure way, I would definitely recommend an iron teapot: iron heats water very quickly, while maintaining its temperature for a long time; all Tokyo Design iron teapots can be used on all heat sources, and include a metal filter inside to introduce tea herbs and other infusions; and all have an enamelled interior that ensures that the flavour is kept intact. In addition, their design includes a handcrafted finish that further enhances the tea drinking experience.

Tokyo Design iron teapots, with filter included

Tokyo Design teapots are still little known here, but who would understand more about the needs that a good teapot should meet than Japanese culture? That's where these come from, with exceptional design and quality at reasonable prices, both in individual teapots and in sets of 3 and 6 pieces, which I find to be beautiful sets if you are a tea lover or are thinking of giving a gift.

For some, preparing tea is as simple as boiling water, making the tea and serving it, as the great tea master Sen no Rikyu always paraphrased. Can anyone argue with them? While that is a clear and measured summary, making it delicious will depend on the tea you use , the amount and temperature of the water, the time it is infused and also the container or way in which you make said infusion. I talked about it in the post from a few days ago - " Tips to enjoy a good tea ". I hope that with what I said there, together with the ideal teapot, you can enjoy many great moments.