Characteristics of English
Tea Pots

English tea pots bring to mind my trip to London and the tea and cookies or biscuits as they are called in England.

These tea pots can be made out of the following:

1. Porcelain

2. Bone China

3. Pewter

4. Iron

5. Silver or Stoneware

They can be round and fat as in the Brown Betty tea pot. Or tall and elegant like the Royal Patrician tea pots.

What To Buy

Knowing which type of tea pot to use for which kinds of teas is essential to making a good cup of English tea.

• Black tea is best fermented in stoneware tea pots
• Strong teas such as Assam and Ceylon teas are said to be best when brewed in a metal tea pot of pewter, iron, or silver.
• Light teas such as green teas are best brewed in porcelain or bone china.

How To Clean

These tea pots regardless of what they are made of usually are not washed in a dishwasher or soapy water.

They are simply washed in warm water and turned upside to dry (I have been washing my tea pots with soap and water all this time). After a period of time the tannins from the tea will build up in the tea pot.

Some people say they like to leave the tannins in their unglazed pot because it gives the tea more flavor.

In order to clean the tannins from an unglazed pot, fill it with boiling water.

Put in two tablespoons of baking soda and allow it to sit overnight. Then rinse and wipe.

Choosing As A Gift

If you are planning on purchasing an English tea pot as a gift for a friend you need to discover what their favorite flavor of tea is. Then you can buy the proper pot for brewing that tea.

Having the right pot for the right tea will make the difference between a good cup and a great cup of tea.

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