I have been drinking loose leaf tea for the past five years, but lately I have been getting more interested in tea after watching a few documentaries about tea.
I primarily drink black tea in the morning to wake me up and occasionally red and white tea and night. I spend a lot of time in my office and I like to drink black tea there. For the past few years, I have been using teapots from World Market or Ross, but I would really like a nicer teapot. I would like to spend about $50 to begin with for a teapot that I plan to use 5 times a week. I have been doing some research online and reading a lot of the forums here. I was originally interested in a cast iron teapot, but I realize that they are somewhat impractical for daily use. I am thinking about a yixing pot and/or yixing cups, but I feel a little out of my league here.
Much like beer, I feel like tea is something that I could really get into, so I would really appreciate any feedback. Thanks!
Re: Newbie Teapot Question
By the way, I have used a lot of tips for brewing tea that I have found on here and it has changed my life. I used to just put the tea in a teaball, boil water on it, let it sit for 5 minutes and drink it, but I've tried using filtered water, getting the right temp, using the right amount and steeping for the correct time per tea and viola! It is like I am tasting tea for the first time.
Re: Newbie Teaware Question
The problem with Yixing pots is that you can't really (yes you can but it's not very wise doing so) brew different tea types in one pot; hence you need several pots for each of the tea varieties. In your case it would be two pots (one for black, which is guess is puerh, and another for red/black tea). White tea is best brewed in either a porcelain or a glass vessel.
$50 is a very tight budget in today's Yixing world (even inside China), since prices have increased in the last year due to the country's inflation.
$50 is a very tight budget in today's Yixing world (even inside China), since prices have increased in the last year due to the country's inflation.
Re: Newbie Teaware Question
Like Bagua said a yixing is really only good for one kind of tea, and $50 won´t go very far for buying a yixing teapot either.
You´re probably best off getting a nice porcelain pot, you can brew almost anything in one and your budget will go a lot further with porcelain than yixing.
You´re probably best off getting a nice porcelain pot, you can brew almost anything in one and your budget will go a lot further with porcelain than yixing.
Jan 5th, '12, 19:36
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Re: Newbie Teaware Question
+1 and to bagua's as well. if you are still in the early stages of your tea discoveries then something more neutral like a glazed or porelain pot /gaiwan is the way to go for now.entropyembrace wrote:Like Bagua said a yixing is really only good for one kind of tea, and $50 won´t go very far for buying a yixing teapot either.
You´re probably best off getting a nice porcelain pot, you can brew almost anything in one and your budget will go a lot further with porcelain than yixing.
Jan 5th, '12, 20:04
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Re: Newbie Teaware Question
Welcome to the forum! I'm sure your tea is happy to be freed from its teaball prison! 
Like others have said, glass/glazed/porcelain is your best bet if you're brewing lots of teas in one vessel. Perhaps you might specify your motive in looking for a "nicer" teapot. Are you just trying to brew the best cup of tea possible, or are there other specifications such a durability, size, aesthetics, etc that you're looking for?
Like others have said, glass/glazed/porcelain is your best bet if you're brewing lots of teas in one vessel. Perhaps you might specify your motive in looking for a "nicer" teapot. Are you just trying to brew the best cup of tea possible, or are there other specifications such a durability, size, aesthetics, etc that you're looking for?
Re: Newbie Teaware Question
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I really want a yixing pot, but I will wait a while, I guess.
Amaikokonut, in response to your question, I really want the best cup of tea possible (for the price). I am getting very interested in learning and trying different types of teapots. I have four ceramic ones, but a gawain seems pretty interesting. Does any one have any suggestions for gawains and cups (currently, I only have coffee mugs).
Amaikokonut, in response to your question, I really want the best cup of tea possible (for the price). I am getting very interested in learning and trying different types of teapots. I have four ceramic ones, but a gawain seems pretty interesting. Does any one have any suggestions for gawains and cups (currently, I only have coffee mugs).
Jan 5th, '12, 22:27
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Joined: Dec 30th, '08, 21:16
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Re: Newbie Teaware Question
ahh cups! so many to choose from. Really it comes down to 2 things for me with cups/yunomi/guinomi's. what size is it and is it pleasing to my senses. I tend towards having cups with lighter interior glazes like white so I can really see the color of my tea. various sizes are needed if you brew different types of teas. I have very small ones for Gyokuro for instance. somewhat larger ones for sencha..etc.etc..either way I buy all my cups with the two points I mentioned earlier in mind.
Jan 5th, '12, 22:34
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Re: Newbie Teaware Question
... get a Hagi!caulfield wrote:Does any one have any suggestions for ... cups ...
Jan 5th, '12, 23:35
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Re: Newbie Teaware Question
yixing is great but as they say can be tricky
If you are not really drawn towards using a gaiwan....
Perhaps a ceramic teapot from 180ml-300ml will suit your needs (depending on your kettle setup it may be more practical to just get a larger size vs small if you need to constantly reboil while doing multiple infusions).
A ceramic pot that is not too thin, not overly thick, and is glazed would be a good alternative to gaiwan. Japanese teapots designed for houjicha and red tea come to mind. As well as taiwanese ceramic pots from lins (though pricey).
If you are not really drawn towards using a gaiwan....
Perhaps a ceramic teapot from 180ml-300ml will suit your needs (depending on your kettle setup it may be more practical to just get a larger size vs small if you need to constantly reboil while doing multiple infusions).
A ceramic pot that is not too thin, not overly thick, and is glazed would be a good alternative to gaiwan. Japanese teapots designed for houjicha and red tea come to mind. As well as taiwanese ceramic pots from lins (though pricey).