Just as drinking beer requires the right glass and making cocktails requires the right accessories, the same goes for pouring and preparing tea; not all tea accessories are the same. In this article, we want to take a closer look at glass teapots. Stylish and trendy as they are, they come with many advantages, but could there also be drawbacks to using a glass teapot?
The Advantages of Glass Teapots:

Visual Artistry: Nothing is more beautiful than witnessing the art of tea unfold before your eyes. This is undoubtedly one of the biggest advantages of glass teapots: the opportunity to witness the entire and fascinating tea-making process with your own eyes. From the unfurling of tea leaves to the dark tea stain meandering through the water like a twisting cloud, you can see the water taking on flavor and aroma. Especially with herbal teas, it can be quite impressive to watch vibrant colors make their way through the water. It’s also fun because glass teapots allow you to gain experience and knowledge in tea preparation and recognizing tea varieties. By observing the sensual dance of tea, you learn to recognize the color of each tea and when your tea is approaching perfection based on its color.
Durability: While you might not think so at first, glass teapots are generally durable, especially if you choose teapots made of tempered glass. Through special chemical and thermal processes, this glass can withstand quite a bit of stress. It can handle the heat of the tea without breaking easily. Another option is to go for a glass teapot made of borosilicate glass. This heat-resistant glass is much stronger than other types of glass. It’s highly resistant to thermal changes and shrinks less upon cooling compared to regular glass. Finally, you’ll also find double-walled glass teapots emerging more often. There’s an insulating layer between the two glass walls, which keeps your tea hot for much longer. This is another sustainable glass option.
Easy to Pour: Many glass teapots are designed for seamless pouring. No tea is wasted, and there’s no tea residue left behind. You’ll notice that there are various types of spouts, ranging from short and straight to long, playfully curving spouts.
Compatible with Most Tea Infusers: Whether you’re using a modern steel tea infuser, a classic tea infuser, or even a bamboo model, each tea infuser fits perfectly into the glass teapot. As mentioned earlier, the glass allows you to watch the tea leaves infuse in the water.
Flexible and Efficient: Glass teapots are designed to preserve the aroma, heat, and flavor of your tea perfectly. A double-walled glass teapot has the added advantage of retaining heat inside while allowing you to handle the teapot without fear of burning yourself. A glass teapot can be used for both loose tea and tea bags.

The Disadvantages of Glass Teapots

Fragile: Despite being durable with careful handling, glass teapots are still somewhat more fragile than, for example, cast iron or stainless steel teapots. The likelihood of the teapot breaking after a fall is slightly higher than with other materials.
Tea Stains: Glass teapots are susceptible to tea stains that can soil the interior of the teapot. It’s often difficult to remove these stains. You can find various videos and tips online to help you remove the stains. Personally, we use baking soda in combination with white vinegar and a sponge to remove the stains. However, caution is a priority because you don’t want to scratch the interior of your teapot. It’s evident that green tea often leaves fewer tea stains than oolong or black tea, so you can consider this when using your glass teapot.
Heat: Heat can be an issue with glass teapots. We say ‘can’ because this problem doesn’t apply to double-walled glass teapots. Often, the handle on the glass teapot is insulated, so you can lift and move it without any issues.

Cleaning Glass Teapots
When buying a glass teapot, it’s often stated that you can put it in the dishwasher. Despite this advice, we still try to avoid it. We still advocate hand cleaning a teapot. It’s often difficult for a dishwasher to reach all the nooks and crannies of the teapot properly, and there can sometimes be lime and salt stains on the glass after a machine wash. Not to mention the significant temperature changes that occur during a dishwasher cycle. Glass and extreme temperature changes don’t go well together.
Choosing Glass Teapots
When choosing glass teapots, there are several things to keep in mind:

Material: As mentioned, there are different types of glass, each with its pros and cons. You can choose tempered glass for safety reasons, or you might prioritize the look of your teapot.
Capacity: Consider whether you’ll be using the teapot for a cozy tea session for two or if it needs to serve larger gatherings during parties and meetings. Choose a teapot with a capacity that suits your needs.

Ultimately, glass teapots offer a visually appealing and practical way to brew and enjoy tea, allowing you to savor the beauty and essence of the tea-making process. While they do come with some disadvantages, their benefits make them a popular choice for tea enthusiasts.