Features of a glass teapot

A glass teapot adds special beauty and harmony to the tea party setting. The tea leaves open beautifully inside and give a deep color to the infusion, right before the eyes of those gathered at the table. But when choosing a glass flask, you must make sure that the teapot is really intended for brewing. Otherwise, the glass may crack and you can get burns.

Advantages and disadvantages of glass teapots

Glass is the most suitable and versatile material for making teapots for brewing. The following advantages speak in favor of this statement:

• environmentally friendly, glass does not enter into a chemical reaction with water or brewing mixtures, so the body of the device itself does not affect the taste of the drink;
• glass is easy to clean, you can even do it in the dishwasher and use hard abrasives;
• the glass cloth is not able to absorb other odors, so the taste of the drink always remains unchanged;
• Glass models always fit into the table setting and will not stand out even against the background of the service, as can be the case with porcelain or clay teapots.

The disadvantages include the following points:

• it is quite difficult to dry glass without leaving streaks and smudges;
• If you leave the teapot in the sun for a long time, the tea inside will darken and become cloudy;
• Even a heat-resistant form can burst if there is a sudden change in temperature;
• To fully brew red teas and herbal infusions, it is necessary to wrap the teapot tightly, otherwise the water temperature quickly drops and does not allow the drink to open up.

What criteria should you use to choose a glass teapot?

Before purchasing a teapot made of glass, it is best to consider other selection criteria:

1. Round teapots are best for brewing, this shape allows the temperature to be distributed evenly throughout the entire volume of water.
2. The handle of the teapot should be either on the side, or the flask itself should be in a metal case. Otherwise, the handle will be too hot and slippery from the steam.
3. The teapot should have a long and narrow spout that ends at the neck level. Otherwise, the water will constantly overflow and pouring the tea into cups will be inconvenient.

Types and properties of glass

When choosing a teapot, you should definitely pay attention to the glass it is made of. Special glass is produced for dishes that come into contact with hot liquids.

1. Heat-resistant. This is a borosilicate glass sheet, it is intended for direct contact with stoves and ovens.
2. Heat-resistant. This is the material teapots are made from, but they cannot be heated on the stove.
3. Fireproof. This material can be heated even on an open fire, but if you pour boiling water into a cold container, the glass may crack.
4. Quartz. A sheet made of silicon oxide. The strongest, but also the most expensive glass.

The shape and volume of a teapot for brewing tea

The usual and traditional shape for a teapot is round. But there are other models.

1. Cylinder shape. This model fits well into a table setting with cups of a suitable shape, it is easy to wash and the spout is easy to clean from tea deposits.
2. Square models are good only because they can echo the modern shape of the service.

The volume should be chosen based on the number of people present at the tea party. For a small company, a 0.5 - 1 liter teapot is quite suitable, if more people are expected, then you can buy a teapot with a volume of 1.5 liters or more. When buying a large device, you should consider the strength of the handle. The handle should be such that it can withstand both the teapot itself and the entire volume of water.

What are the handle and lid made of and their design

The best lid for a glass teapot is one made of the same material or metal. Such lids help to securely close the neck and prevent the steam from escaping quickly. Plastic lids can melt and in any case release toxins, which significantly changes the taste of the tea.

Types of glass teapots by design

When choosing a teapot, it is worth paying attention to its design. There are interesting models with a warming stand, they usually consist of two parts, the teapot itself and a heat-resistant stand where a special tea candle is installed.

Teapot for brewing in a water bottle

This model is effective and practical. Firstly, there is a second teapot in the glass flask of one teapot, and when brewing, it seems as if the tea leaves and tea leaves are hanging in the air. Secondly, the air layer between the flasks creates a thermos effect, and even red teas are brewed well.

Teapot with glass flask and filter

Some models have a filter built into the flask. A glass teapot with a filter is preferable for oolongs, white teas and sencha. Since the metal or glass filter securely holds the leaves together, they have time to soak in water, but at the same time retain all their properties for further brewing.

The teapot comes with different strainers

If you plan to buy a universal glass teapot with a strainer in which you can brew different types of tea, then you should look for a teapot that fits different strainers. For example, it is better to brew red tea or rooibos loose and use a remote strainer.

The nuances of a French press teapot

You should not buy a French press in which you will prepare both tea and coffee, because the more pronounced aroma of coffee will soon be present in all tea drinks. Also, the press plate itself should be made of metal, plastic ones wear out quickly and spoil the taste of the drink.

Gongfu teapot with pour button

An interesting solution may be to purchase a Gongfu teapot. Its design assumes that tea is brewed in a container that is placed inside the main flask. After the infusion is brewed, a button is pressed, and the entire solution is poured into the lower container, and the leaves remain on top. This is an effective and interesting technique.

How to use and care for your teapot

It is best to wash the kettle flask with plain warm water and, if necessary, a weak soda solution. Clean the strainers and flasks with a brush soaked in the same solution. Detergents are usually not washed out completely and greatly affect the taste of the drink.

The best models of glass teapots

GIPFEL produces interesting models. Despite the fact that the manufacturer usually maintains a round geometry, the teapots seem different because they have either a flattened or elongated top, and can also come with a stand.

BODUM produces good French presses, where the flask is made of glass, and the stand for the flask and press are made of metal.

KITFORT produces models that can be heated on the stove.

VIDEO: Glass teapot with a button.