Size Considerations
Ceramic teapots come in a variety of sizes from one single serving to six or seven servings. If you're constantly hosting tea parties, a larger pot may make sense for your needs. For most people though, a smaller teapot or tea set tends to be the best choice.
Small ceramic pots are best if you enjoy brewing Chinese teas or other varieties that require close attention to temperature. The small design of a tea for one teapot allows you to easily control the temperature and flavor infusion. Small teapots also enable you to make multiple infusions-a hallmark of Chinese tea making.
Some ceramic teapots also come with a built-in tea infuser that makes brewing tea easier and more efficient. With one of these infuser teapots, you can skip the extra tea ball or infuser basket since the unit has everything you need to brew loose leaf tea.
Construction
Ceramic teapots can be found everywhere from discount box stores such as Walmart to big-name tea brands such as Adagio. The highest quality teapots tend to come from artisan ceramic makers. While ceramic can seem very delicate upon first glance, high-quality pots are actually designed to be chip-resistant. Artisans fire clay at extremely high temperatures, which causes the material to become denser. When purchasing a pot, choose one that has been fired at a high temperature to ensure its durability.
To fully enjoy the art of tea making, look for ceramic teapots that are handmade. These pots will demonstrate closer attention to detail and can often have unique designs that make your pot one of a kind. If you're on a tighter budget or aren't ready to invest in expensive teaware, try out a mid-ranged teapot to fully enjoy the flavor of your tea and the beauty of ceramic.
Pouring and Comfort
Choose a ceramic pot that offers a comfortable grip. This is particularly important if you choose a large teapot. Once the large ceramic tea set is full of tea, it will weigh considerably more than it does when empty. Look for a solid grip and comfortable handhold when choosing a ceramic pot.
Pay attention to the spout design. A high-quality ceramic teapot should feature a spout that narrows slightly toward the tip. Ceramic teapots with wide openings won't pour as well.
Glazing
Many teapots feature an interior glaze that adds a pop of color as well as added functionality. Teapots that are unglazed can only be used to brew one type of tea. That's because the clay and stoneware absorb some of the tea infusion with each brew. This deepens the flavor of each additional tea brew, making every cup tastier than the last.
While unglazed pots are great if you enjoy one type of tea, glazed ceramic pots are a better choice if you want to brew multiple types of tea in one vessel. The glaze prevents the clay from absorbing the tea flavor.
Dishwasher-Safe
Many ceramic teapot sets are dishwasher safe, but it's important to check the guidelines on your specific ceramic pot. Protect the ceramic from drops and sudden temperature changes as this can cause the material to crack and break. If you put your ceramic teapot or teacups in the dishwasher, make sure they aren't touching any other items to protect them from chips.
Never wash an unglazed ceramic teapot in the dishwasher or using soap. The clay can absorb the soap and alter the flavor of your next batch of tea. Toc are for your ceramic teapot, simply wash with warm water after each use. If your teapot is small, you can use a delicate brush to clean out the inside and remove any straw tea leaves.