Hello everyone, total loose tea newbie here. I've been a tea fan for a while now but ashamedly have never had loose tea. I'm looking to get into it, but I need a way to brew it and I'm a little overwhelmed by all the options.
So my criteria are- relatively small pot, 16-20 oz probably. I want something that is durable and can handle moving around a lot. I also don't wanna spend way too much on something (probably 50-70 bucks is my ceiling- and if I could get one with a trivet and cup for that, that would be superb). I'll be trying a lot of different types of tea, so I want something that works well for all of them. And of course, if I could get something that is attractive looking, that'd be nice too. I already have a hot water dispenser, so I just want something to steep in.
I really like the look and ceremonial feel of cast iron pots, and it'd be nice to not have to worry about chipping or cracking my teapot. But it seems like high quality ones are a little outside my price rance. www.enjoyingtea.com has a lot of good priced sets, but I believe they're Chinese made and it seems like some people don't trust any pots that aren't Japanese- anyone have personal experience with these?
Glass seems too fragile. I do like some classic ceramic ones too. And then there's the Ingenuitea, which is kind of clinical looking, but seems really convenient and durable.
So what do you guys think? What would make a good first teapot? Thanks in advance.
tl;dr: Looking for first teapot- 16-20 oz, durable, versatile, somewhat inexpensive. Suggestions?
Apr 6th, '09, 17:19
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Welcome to the forum. 
Japanese clay kyusu-s rule this roost, but your size requirement could be a bit large. Most newbies, myself included, go too large at first and in time realizing the error in their ways, end up having to buy smaller, leaving the large to collect dust.
Generally, tetsubins are not the greatest for brewing, especially for a newbie because the temp is hard to regulate and you end up using a smallish infuser basket.
The cheaper tetsubin are almost always Chinese and are generally not as precisely made as Japanese counterparts, also the designs can be more "vague." I have one Chinese tetsubin and it works adequately well but I am aware of its low grade each time I use it.
Japanese clay kyusu-s rule this roost, but your size requirement could be a bit large. Most newbies, myself included, go too large at first and in time realizing the error in their ways, end up having to buy smaller, leaving the large to collect dust.
Generally, tetsubins are not the greatest for brewing, especially for a newbie because the temp is hard to regulate and you end up using a smallish infuser basket.
The cheaper tetsubin are almost always Chinese and are generally not as precisely made as Japanese counterparts, also the designs can be more "vague." I have one Chinese tetsubin and it works adequately well but I am aware of its low grade each time I use it.
For something cheap and durable, I would go with Adagio's PersonaliTEA tea pot. For $9, it is pretty good, durable white porcelain, and you can brew anything in it.
Another option might be a Beehouse teapot like this one on Amazon.
A third option would be a Brown Betty style teapot.
Personally, I would go with one of the $19 kyusu from Den's. They are a little smaller than what you are looking for, but they are one of the sturdiest little pots that I have used. A good amount of people on TeaChat have one and can vouch for the pots as well. It comes in four styles: Kokoro, Yutori, Shincha, and Shudei. The Shudei is a special offer for $8.95 and the other three are $19. You can brew anything in them.
As for one with a matching cup and trivet, I am not quite sure where to find those, but the pots that I linked are inexpensive enough to allow funds based on your price ceiling to find a cup and trivet to go along with what ever pot you end up with.
Another option might be a Beehouse teapot like this one on Amazon.
A third option would be a Brown Betty style teapot.
Personally, I would go with one of the $19 kyusu from Den's. They are a little smaller than what you are looking for, but they are one of the sturdiest little pots that I have used. A good amount of people on TeaChat have one and can vouch for the pots as well. It comes in four styles: Kokoro, Yutori, Shincha, and Shudei. The Shudei is a special offer for $8.95 and the other three are $19. You can brew anything in them.
As for one with a matching cup and trivet, I am not quite sure where to find those, but the pots that I linked are inexpensive enough to allow funds based on your price ceiling to find a cup and trivet to go along with what ever pot you end up with.
Apr 6th, '09, 17:58
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scruffmcgruff
+1 to all the above comments. If you're interested, I just wrote a piece for my blog about starter teaware here. Sorry for the self-promotion, but it seems relevant enough, and hopefully it answers some of the other questions you are bound to have. 
Tea Nerd - www.teanerd.com
Hey, Chip, they can collect dust over here.Chip wrote:Welcome to the forum.
Japanese clay kyusu-s rule this roost, but your size requirement could be a bit large. Most newbies, myself included, go too large at first and in time realizing the error in their ways, end up having to buy smaller, leaving the large to collect dust.
Generally, tetsubins are not the greatest for brewing, especially for a newbie because the temp is hard to regulate and you end up using a smallish infuser basket.
The cheaper tetsubin are almost always Chinese and are generally not as precisely made as Japanese counterparts, also the designs can be more "vague." I have one Chinese tetsubin and it works adequately well but I am aware of its low grade each time I use it.
Thanks!
Thanks for all your help!
I think I've steered away from the tetsubin idea. I'm considering the Kokoro kyusu from Den's. I also stumbled upon the brand FORLIFE and I like their pots too. Samovar Lounge in San Fran appears to use their stuff, and they sell a nice little set with a handcrafted cup, tray, and what looks like a FORLIFE Serenity 2-cup. Then again, the ingenuiTea deal Adagio is doing right now with 8 tea samples is tempting too.
A few questions: Would the Den's kyusu be microwave/dishwasher safe? I mean, I have a water heater at home and I wouldn't mind washing by hand, but for convenience sake, I was just wondering. Also, are kyusu's unglazed on the inside, ie do they "soak up" or alter flavors? And does anyone have any experience with FORLIFE products? Their infusers look pretty big compared to other traditional pots I've seen, which I'm assuming is a good thing.
EDIT: Beat me to it! Well there's one favorable forlife opinion at least...
I think I've steered away from the tetsubin idea. I'm considering the Kokoro kyusu from Den's. I also stumbled upon the brand FORLIFE and I like their pots too. Samovar Lounge in San Fran appears to use their stuff, and they sell a nice little set with a handcrafted cup, tray, and what looks like a FORLIFE Serenity 2-cup. Then again, the ingenuiTea deal Adagio is doing right now with 8 tea samples is tempting too.
A few questions: Would the Den's kyusu be microwave/dishwasher safe? I mean, I have a water heater at home and I wouldn't mind washing by hand, but for convenience sake, I was just wondering. Also, are kyusu's unglazed on the inside, ie do they "soak up" or alter flavors? And does anyone have any experience with FORLIFE products? Their infusers look pretty big compared to other traditional pots I've seen, which I'm assuming is a good thing.
EDIT: Beat me to it! Well there's one favorable forlife opinion at least...
Apr 6th, '09, 20:20
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scruffmcgruff
I really wouldn't put any teapot in a microwave. First, microwaved water tastes a little strange. Second, you want to heat your water in another container (like a kettle) so you can pour it onto the tea leaves in the teapot. Trust me, this is a much better method-- I don't know anyone serious about tea who microwaves a teapot full of water. I'm not saying you *can't* do it, just that there are good reasons why you probably shouldn't.
Same for the dishwasher. All you have to do is rinse it out with water (soap is unnecessary and may affect the flavor of your tea if any is left behind), so it doesn't take much time at all to wash by hand.
Most traditional kyuusu are not glazed on the interior, but the teapots sold at Den's are, so you shouldn't have to worry about residual flavors. Strong flavors may stick a bit, but that goes for any teapot.
Same for the dishwasher. All you have to do is rinse it out with water (soap is unnecessary and may affect the flavor of your tea if any is left behind), so it doesn't take much time at all to wash by hand.
Most traditional kyuusu are not glazed on the interior, but the teapots sold at Den's are, so you shouldn't have to worry about residual flavors. Strong flavors may stick a bit, but that goes for any teapot.
I agree with scruff. I would never microwave or put it in the dishwasher.
As for FORLIFE products, I have no experience there. But I have used several basket type infusers and you are right the bigger the better.
As for FORLIFE products, I have no experience there. But I have used several basket type infusers and you are right the bigger the better.
- Victoria -
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
As I stated before, I like and own a forlife pot.
But I also agree with what some of the others have said. I would start with an IngenuiTEA or another product like it. It doesn't commit you to using too many leaves. Unless you regularly have three people to share with. I am the only tea drinker in my house, so I usually only need one cup.
I also bought this from Den's recently
http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_p ... th=377_378
and it is a good price and holds a perfect volume for a cup or two.
But I also agree with what some of the others have said. I would start with an IngenuiTEA or another product like it. It doesn't commit you to using too many leaves. Unless you regularly have three people to share with. I am the only tea drinker in my house, so I usually only need one cup.
I also bought this from Den's recently
http://www.denstea.com/index.php?main_p ... th=377_378
and it is a good price and holds a perfect volume for a cup or two.
Apr 6th, '09, 20:40
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Dreamer
Oh, shopping is so much fun!
When I got started with loose leaf tea, I started with Japanese greens...so I got a tokonome teapot first. I have the red tokoname from o-cha (the $26 one) for japanese greens (and the Den's Shudei recently purchased as a backup/vacation pot).
More recently I came "back to black" and I bought the personaliTea from Adagio, this pot is great for making a nice pot of black tea to share. It makes 4 6-oz cups or a couple of big mugs. I also have a smaller "brown betty" style pot that I got really cheap somewhere long ago that makes a couple of cups to share.
I also have Den's Yutori that can be used for just about anything else. This pot is glazed and has a screen all the way around the inside (so I don't think it is compatible with a microwave). It is a sweet little pot.
You could go pretty far with the Yutori and the personaliTea and you'll have money left over for tea!!!
Have fun shopping,
Dreamer
When I got started with loose leaf tea, I started with Japanese greens...so I got a tokonome teapot first. I have the red tokoname from o-cha (the $26 one) for japanese greens (and the Den's Shudei recently purchased as a backup/vacation pot).
More recently I came "back to black" and I bought the personaliTea from Adagio, this pot is great for making a nice pot of black tea to share. It makes 4 6-oz cups or a couple of big mugs. I also have a smaller "brown betty" style pot that I got really cheap somewhere long ago that makes a couple of cups to share.
I also have Den's Yutori that can be used for just about anything else. This pot is glazed and has a screen all the way around the inside (so I don't think it is compatible with a microwave). It is a sweet little pot.
You could go pretty far with the Yutori and the personaliTea and you'll have money left over for tea!!!
Have fun shopping,
Dreamer
OK, I'm digging the one/two inexpensive pots and use the rest for tea idea. I guess my only other question is: do I need two pots? And why? I mean, I guess what I don't get is how a pot's properties make that much of a difference for a certain type of tea's flavor, but I really don't know much about teapots, hence why I am here. Will a kyusu work well for everything? Or do I really need to get a couple different pots?
I started off with an IngenuiTEA from Adagio. It's a great, low-cost starter device for someone new to loose leaf... especially if you aren't certain yet what type of tea you'll be drinking. No point putting a lot of money into a kyusu if you mostly drink black tea, or into yixing if you like greens. I have other teaware now too but still prefer my IngenuiTEA for brewing iced tea.