Glass Teapots and Loose-Leaf Tea: A Practical Guide
Kenya grows some of the best tea in the world and most of it leaves the country. If you are drinking loose leaf at home, the equipment question is simple: you need something that holds the leaves in the water long enough to brew, then gets them out before it turns bitter. That is all an infuser teapot does — but the details decide whether you enjoy it.
Glass, cast iron or ceramic?
| Borosilicate glass | Cast iron | Ceramic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps heat | Moderate | Excellent | Good |
| See the brew | Yes — the main advantage | No | No |
| Direct flame | Only if flame-safe rated | Yes | No |
| Best for | Green, white, flowering teas | A full pot kept hot at the table | Everyday black tea |
Glass wins for anything where over-brewing ruins the cup, because you can see the colour and pull the infuser at the right moment — the 1300ml Borosilicate Teapot with Built-In Infuser is the everyday size. For a pot that stays hot through a long conversation, the 1.5L Cast Iron Teapot with Strainer holds heat far longer.
Brewing times that actually matter
- Kenyan black tea: water just off the boil, 3–4 minutes. Longer and the tannins take over.
- Green tea: water around 80°C — let the kettle stand two minutes after boiling — and 2–3 minutes only.
- Herbal and hibiscus: full boil, 5–7 minutes. These are hard to over-brew.
- Second steeping: good loose leaf takes a second pot. Add a minute to the time.
Why the infuser size matters more than the pot
Tea leaves need room to unfurl. A narrow mesh tube keeps them packed and you get weak tea from good leaves. Look for a wide basket infuser that sits in the body of the pot — the 1.8L Borosilicate Teapot with Stainless Steel Infuser has the room, and the larger pot suits a household where everyone drinks at once.
Serving chai and tea to guests
Kenyan chai is boiled with milk rather than steeped, so it belongs in a sufuria and then a flask or a serving pot. Loose-leaf black tea served the English way — pot, cups, milk on the side — is a different ritual and it is worth having the pieces for it. A matched Glass Tea Set with 1400ml Teapot, 6 Cups and Bamboo Tray covers both the brewing and the carrying.
Care: the two things that ruin a teapot
Tannin stains and thermal shock. Rinse the pot after every use rather than leaving leaves sitting in it, and clear brown staining with bicarbonate of soda and warm water, never a scourer. Never pour boiling water into a cold glass pot straight from the fridge shelf, and never put a hot pot down on a wet stone counter.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a glass teapot on the gas?
Only if it is specifically rated flame-safe, and then over a low flame with liquid inside. Otherwise heat the water separately and pour it in.
How much loose tea per pot?
About one teaspoon per cup, plus one for the pot. Adjust after the first brew rather than guessing twice.
How do I get tea stains out of glass?
Warm water and bicarbonate of soda, left to sit for ten minutes. Scourers scratch glass and the scratches stain faster next time.
Is cast iron better than glass?
For keeping a pot hot at the table, yes. For seeing when green tea is ready, no. Many households end up with one of each.
See the range
Browse the new drinkware arrivals and mugs. Tell us how many people you usually serve on WhatsApp and we will suggest a pot size.