Choosing a Teapot or Kettle to Enjoy a Good Cup of Tea

"If you think you can leave the water heating here and go see what you kill time with, you haven't learned anything from England," a friend used to tease me. He was absolutely right (about the water... regarding England, the truth is it taught me many things): if you're going to make tea you should enjoy every moment, from when you put the water on to heat until you sit down to enjoy it. Do you know anyone who drinks tea in a hurry?

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

I'll start with kettles. Although they are often called "teapots", since that is their most common purpose, they do not include a filter to put tea leaves or herbs into: they have been designed basically to heat water quickly. Once hot, they can be used to prepare tea, but also to make coffee if you take instant or drip coffee (like the Chemex or the American-style ones) or very often for cooking (to add hot water to a dish or rehydrate foods).

I'd also like to highlight here the KitchenAid electric kettle. It's a high-priced utensil but much appreciated by tea lovers, since it manages to heat water quickly and we can also set the desired temperature depending on the tea or infusion we want to prepare.

KitchenAid kettle, with temperature indicator and controller

Thus, kettles help you get boiling water in record time, saving energy and avoiding the use of other electric appliances. They are useful at home but also at work. But... which one to choose? I would first recommend thinking about what use you will give it: if you want it both for tea and for heating water for cooking, I would recommend a large-sized 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 enchants, and they incorporate a spout cover that produces a whistle when the water is boiling — can a teapot be more authentic?

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

As for design, I think we will agree that the models Tea Time, Demi and Tradition call back to classic teapots, while the Zen model has a more modern, urban line. Despite that, the first ones are available in different colors, for the more daring and for the more conservative.

If you want a teapot to boil water to prepare tea for two or three people, then a stoneware teapot can be a good option. It is ideal for preparing and serving tea since it includes the infuser, but we must heat the water in another container or put the teapot in the microwave as it cannot go on the stove. Its advantages are its pretty design, compact size and that we can store it in the fridge if we want to make iced tea.

Although, if what you are looking for is a teapot to prepare tea in the most traditional and pure way, I would undoubtedly recommend an iron teapot: iron heats the water very quickly while keeping its temperature for a long time; all the Tokyo Design iron teapots can be used on all heat sources, and include a metal filter inside to put tea leaves and other infusions; and they all have an interior enamel coating that ensures the flavor remains intact. Also, their design features 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 will understand the needs a good teapot must meet better than Japanese culture? These come from there, with exceptional design and quality at reasonable prices, both in single pieces and in 3- and 6-piece sets, which I find are beautiful sets if you are a tea lover or thinking of giving a gift.

For some, making 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 that? While that is a clear and guided summary, making it delicious will depend on the tea you use, the amount and temperature of the water, the time it steeps and also the vessel or method you use to make that infusion. I talked about it in the post from a few days ago -"Tips for enjoying a good tea". I hope that with what I discussed there, along with the ideal teapot, you can enjoy many great moments.