If you are a fan of tea, you've probably brewed tea using many techniques. Brewing tea in a coffee maker, a kettle or even in microwave sound pretty familiar to you? But, how about today we talk about brewing tea in a Teapot? Undoubtedly, it's the most classic way of brewing tea. Not only brewing tea in a teapot is easy, but it gives tea a great taste as well. In this blog, we'll talk about the best teapot materials and steps for brewing tea in a teapot. Enjoy.

Teapot Materials

Before we start going over steps for brewing tea, let's first talk about teapots. There are many choices when it comes to teapot materials. Of course, using different teapots impacts on the taste of the tea. So, if you are wondering which one to choose, here is a bit more about a few different kinds of teapots.

Glass

Borosilicate glass is the purest, safest material for both tea kettles and teapots. Borosilicate glass does not release any metals or toxins into your beverage. The best thing about borosilicate glass teapots is that they can withstand very high heat and considered overall safe on gas ranges and electric stovetops. Borosilicate glass is a highly hygienic, non-porous material that does not retain odors, stains and potential pathogens (making it very easy to clean). Plus, they look really attractive and allow you to enjoy the beautiful colors of teas. Furthermore, glass teapots don't ever change the flavor of tea. This is the reason why most of our teaware is made with borosilicate glass.

Porcelain

Porcelain teapots are classic. However, ceramic glazes may contain lead, cadmium and other dangerous chemicals. They are most adequate for brewing green and white teas. Most of the time, their walls are quite thinner than those made of ceramic. As a result, they they have low heat transference when compared to some other materials. Furthermore, porcelain teapots can maintain the temperature for quite a long time. If presentation is more important than health, this could be an option for you.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel can release heavy metals into boiling water. Some metal kettles and teapots may look attractive, but it also comes with some very concerning issues. A 2013 study by the NIH showed that cooking with stainless steel leaches nickel and chromium into the liquid. Metals can also alter the flavor of the teas. Not recommended.

Brewing Tea in a Teapot - Step 1

Okay, let's see how it's done. First, you need to fill the kettle with fresh, cold water. Although it may sound a bit strange to add cold instead of warm water, this is how it should be done to get the best taste. We do it this way because hot water looses many of its gasses and leaves the tea tasting flat. So, pour cold water into a kettle and set it to boil.

Pre-heat the Teapot - Step 2

Next, you should pre-heat the teapot with hot water. This is a very important step because pre-heating the teapot will maintain the temperature much longer and make the brewing process better. Afterwards, when the water approaches the right brewing temperature, you should empty the teapot. Add tea leaves (or tea bags) to your teapot depending on the size. A teaspoonful of tea per one cup of tea is the recommended measure. Plus, you should add one more teaspoonful for the teapot.

Serving tea - Final Step

Finally, add hot water to the teapot and allow the tea to infuse for a short period of time. The recommended time is between 3-5 minutes depending on the type of tea you are brewing. Right after the tea has brewed, you'll get the best taste if you pour all the tea immediately. The trick here is that you don't let it steep any further as that will result in bitter taste. Now you have a perfectly brewed cup of tea that you can enjoy. Brewing tea in a teapot is easy, fun and does not take long. If you want to read more about tea brewing, great recipes and tips, visit Teabloom.