27 Best Teapots for Viewing and Brewing

Jan 08, 2024

By Elissa Suh

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The only thing that can make a good cup of tea better is having one of the best teapots to pour it from. Since teaware is some of the ultimate functional decor, why not choose one that fits your taste and style? With so many different types of teapots and materials to choose from, we’ve sourced 27 of the best to enhance your tea-drinking experience while also adding some flair to your kitchen or dining room. We’ve got luxe picks, minimalist designs, and traditional pots to suit any and every taste—just have the kettle ready to go.

"If you’re using a teabag, a cup or pot doesn't make a huge difference," says Lisa Li, founder of organic whole flower tea brand The Qi. "But a teapot allows loose leaf or herbal teas to expand and release different flavors," resulting in a more aromatic experience.

Technically speaking, teapot spouts are also designed to pour more precisely and usually have better heat retention than your average mug or cup, since they typically have a lid or cover.

If you’re brewing tea for one or two people, a smaller teapot may be sufficient. Lisa suggests a 12- to 15-ounce teapot for a single-drinker. If you’re brewing for larger groups or tea parties, you can still use the same size teapot, you’ll just need to refill more frequently, so be prepared to have a tea kettle handy. Otherwise, you can go for something bigger.

Pay attention to your teacups too. The more classical Eastern way of drinking tea is out of smaller vessels that generally only hold two to three ounces. "Tea is meant to be savored with small sips," Lisa says, adding that you’d get more "cups" this way as opposed to a standard mug.

As far as how many cups of tea you can expect to get from a teapot—that depends on the type of tea. Higher-quality loose leaf or herbal teas can handle a second or third steeping, sometimes even more. Lisa cites the hearty pu-erh tea as one such example, which can withstand a sixth or even a seventh brew.

Teapots come in a wide variety of different materials, and the benefits and drawbacks pertain to how easy it is to clean and care for, how well it retains heat, and how it affects the taste of the tea.

As with other homewares, stainless steel is your workhorse. A stainless steel teapot is durable, keeps your drink at high temperatures, and it's easy to clean: Just throw it in the dishwasher. Design choices with stainless steel can be more limited, though, compared to teapots made of glass or stoneware.

Ceramic teapots are the most versatile and wide-ranging in terms of design and durability. This category covers everything from sturdy earthenwares and glazed stoneware to porcelain and bone china, which is more delicate and fragile.

One special material when it comes to teapots are unglazed stoneware and clays, which can take on the flavors of the tea over time. "It's almost like a wok—that kind of philosophy where you season it" Lisa says. "Over time, your teapot is incredible." Historically, Yinxing teapots are among the most expensive and rare—named after the particular region of China where they’re made, from a mixture of local clay minerals. Lisa explains that "Artisans had to have trained in order to reserve or have the ability to purchase a very limited quantity of this clay to make this teapot."

Hot water and glass might seem like two things that don't go together, but they can actually work like a charm. Glass teapots are made of heat-resistant borosilicate, which is less fragile and more resistant to thermal shock than other types of glass.

"Glass is really lovely for herbal or tisane," Lisa says, as they allow you to see what's happening inside and get the full effect of changing colors and blooming leaves or flowers (though one drawback is that glass teapots won't retain heat as well as other materials).

Traditional Japanese teapots and tetsubin are made of cast iron, which has great heat-retention. However, cast iron teapots, like pots and pans, are heavy and require extra maintenance. If you’re looking for cast iron, one with enameling can help make cleaning and caring for it a little easier.

This format teapot designed by Norm Architects can hold 50 ounces of hot water. Use it at your next tea party or whenever dehydration strikes.

Take advantage of the French American designer's signature undulating designs in this elegant teapot created especially for The Qi. The feet and lid are colored, but the body is clear—and without a filter, it's perfectly suited for whole flowers and other blooming teas (Lisa recommends handwashing it to avoid damage).

For larger loose-leaf teas and tea bags, here's another glass beauty available in two-toned orange and pink or green.

Brew some black tea in this glass teapot to complement the smokey-hued infuser. The spherical lid is designed to spin around itself, not fall off the table so you’re equipped with a little party trick while you serve tea. This glass number is also dishwasher safe.

For this teapot, borosilicate glass has been intricately shaped into a duck, with its beak acting as the spout. It would fit right at home in Case Study House, or the bookshelf in your studio apartment.

Made of 18/8 steel, the Frieling teapot's functionality and sleekness makes it great for everyday use. It has a long, micro-etched stainless steel filter that keeps out the sediment, making sure your tea is smooth, without any unwanted metallic notes.

Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa's teapot for an Italian homegoods company takes a traditional teapot silhouette and casts it in stainless steel and thermoplastic resin. It comes with a removable infuser basket and doubles as a tea kettle if you have an induction stovetop.

Swedish design agency Bernadotte & Kylberg was commissioned with creating coffee and teaware for Danish silverware company George Jensen. Taking inspiration from the brand's jewelry archives, the resulting teapot is a striking sculptural vessel. It also has a double-walled interior to help keep that cup of tea toasty for a little while longer.

Design-heads, look no further than this teapot from the creator of the Egg Chair. We admire its squat shape and elephantine spout, which is lined with a filter to prevent any leaves from dribbling into your teacup. With 1.25 liter capacity, it's also perfect for serving guests.

The C-shaped side-table design reinvents itself in this teapot, and we love it. This one boasts a drip-proof spout in case you’re prone to spills. Firebelly is the brainchild of David Segal, who originally founded DavidsTea, so rest assured he knows a thing or two about tea-making.

Firebelly also makes a smaller version in the same colorways that resembles a modern Japanese kyusu with its perpendicular branch-like handle.

This apple-shaped vessel by Kate Spade is kitschy in all the right ways and would make a nice tea-time centerpiece.

The rectangular profile of this eccentric, detergent-shaped teapot makes it an unobtrusive yet charming addition to the corner of your kitchen when it's not in use.

This portable cup and brewer set has us wanting to take a quick trip ASAP. The brewer has a filtered spout and comes with its own little carrying case.

For coffee and tea lovers, this hand-glazed pot can also be turned into a pour-over maker.

With its bamboo handles and its matte stoneware, this minimalist teapot combines Japanese and Nordic design. It holds about five cups of water, and you can round out your collection with matching tea accessories, like a sugar bowl.

Everyone's favorite Japanese ceramics brand makes a teapot with a very large removable infuser basket, ensuring you get the most out of your tea leaves.

We don't know what we like more about this teapot: the bulbous shape, which reminds us of a roosting robin, or the seafoam colors that add an extra shot of calm. The vitrified porcelain is dishwasher- and microwave-safe, and while there is no filter, Mud does sell removable brass and silver strainers to complete your tea-making set.

If you’re looking for something that’ll get better with age, check out this pleasingly round, unglazed teapot from Taiwan. Like a cast-iron skillet, the red clay will season over time, adding depths of flavor to your tea, so make sure to stick with one kind like oolong.

Going camping? Tea drinkers rejoice—this one's grill and stovetop-safe, so don't forget to pack the green tea in your hiking bag.

This is a seductive teapot with an inconspicuous spout and form-fitting lid. It's suitable for all stovetops, which makes it the rare teapot that doubles as a kettle.

A classic Japanese tetsubin-style teapot with a removable infuser, perfect for loose and powdered teas so you can fire up that afternoon matcha.

Check out the elongated handle on this tangerine stunner, designed to protect your fingers from high temperatures and steam.

Genie in a bottle, anyone? This curvy teapot is made of high-quality Venetian glass and holds a rose to match any blooming teas you might brew in it.

This modern yet vintage moon-shaped teapot wouldn't look out of place in an art museum. That's because the studio behind it, Seikado Metalware, has been perfecting the craft of pewter arts in Kyoto since 1838.

This is not your grandma's teapot. The Italian porcelain house has been manufacturing porcelain for centuries, and underwent a makeover under the creative direction of Gucci's Alessandro Michele. Get the entire tea set with matching cups and saucers and your future grandchildren will argue about who gets it for years to come.

This one might actually be on your grandma's shelf and with good reason. With its iconic hand-painted decorations, this porcelain teacup feels timeless and elegant without feeling too royal.

A handsome tea kettle with clean lines that's nice enough to keep on your stovetop.

An electric kettle for boiling water, fast.