The Best Teapots

Brew Finder

Teapots aren’t just porcelain anymore—they’re platinum, steel, and glass, too. Which one pours a proper cuppa?

By Aja Mangum
Published May 21, 2005

Estate Silver Teapot, $9,000
More for collectors than sippers, this high-maintenance antique sterling silver from 1814 requires frequent polishing. For $9,000, you get a creamer and a sugar bowl too. (At Michael C. Fina, 545 Fifth Ave., at 45th St.; 212-557-2500.)

Christofle, $510
Sensible luxe. The wooden handle on this silver-plated model protects fingers from the heat, and an interior strainer takes care of the tea leaves. (At Pavillon Christofle, 680 Madison Ave., at 62nd St.; 212-308-9390.)

Takashimaya New York, $375
This porcelain Limoges number coated with gold leaf has no strainer, so get your own if your taste runs to freshly harvested Darjeeling. (693 Fifth Ave., nr. 54th St.; 212-350-0100.)

Scully & Scully, $305
Delicate hand-painted porcelain is best used for entertaining (it holds six cups). But after you’ve filled a hot, heavy pot, the mini-handle is tricky to hold on to. (504 Park Ave., nr. 59th St.; 212-755-2590.)

Missoni Home, $179.50
Scores enough retro style points to find a home at Tea & Sympathy, though functionality is questionable: Tea easily leaks from the top when pouring. (At Michael C. Fina.)

Marc Blackwell New York, $135
Hand-trimmed platinum is aesthetically pleasing and compensates for the porcelain body’s fragility. But don’t use lemon dishwashing liquid—it discolors the metal. (At 157 W. 26th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-696-2827.)

Joyce Chen, $99.99
Made of cast iron, this tetsubin-style pot is the most practical of all: It keeps heat in longer, and the enamel interior protects against rust. (At Gracious Home; 800-338-7809.)

Jener Glass, $38
For the modernist tea drinker, it’s dishwasher-and-microwave safe. However, the tiny strainer holes make for slow brewing. (At Global Table, 107 Sullivan St., nr. Prince St.; 212-431-5839.)

Old Caledonia Mills, $18.99
Handmade in England, the “Brown Betty” is the classic teapot. Theoretically, the design lets the tea swirl when pouring, enhancing flavor—but tests showed no difference. (At Gracious Home.)