Glass Infusion Teapots or Your Garden Variety Whistling Teapot? Tea Drinking Afficianados Should be Able to have Both, Don't You Think?
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When I had my brick and mortar store, one of the the items I really, really wanted were infusers for tea. I got my wish at the Denver Merchandise mart where I was able to buy clear glass infusers, both teapots and cups, but they were not the kind of teapots that I could safely use on a stovetop.
Instead, these were coffee cups or tea cups that had an immersion infusion port in the center. They were, quite frankly, perfect for what I had in mind at the time. If there was anything I was concerned about, though, it was the fact that they were made of a thin glass and obviously a bit delicate.
Now here I am, 10 years later, looking for the same kind of things I used to sell and finding a much better quality. And far more sturdy. Made of a thicker borosilicate, these kind of tea pots are created to be used on the top of a stove or in the microwave after removing the metal hardware.
Brew Tea on the Stovetop or in the Microwave
Because many of these teapots can be disassembled, the tea lover can remove the metal parts and place the pot in the microwave to boil the water. Simply pop off the top and infuser, then add your own herbal brew to the hot water for a fabulous cup of tea. If you prefer a more traditional method or don't own a microwave, stovetop water heating in your pot works just as well.
Teapot Construction
Many of these teapots are constructed of lead free borosilicate glass. We all understand the lead free part. Lead free = good! But what is borosilicate anyway? It's glass made with silica and boron trioxide compounds. (Yes, I struggled with chemistry, too……) This creates a vessel that is lightweight while also being far more resistant to thermal shock. I'm sure you've poured a hot liquid into a cold glass before, or done just the opposite. Instead of a glass of cold water or a hot cup of tea, you got two pieces of pottery and a lot of liquid to clean up. Yet, what's really cool about this glass is that it is a lot tougher and sturdier than it seems. Which is why it can be heated on the stove or in the microwave. It's also probably why wineries make wine bottles out of it . And we all know the dangers of chemicals leaching into our foods with ceramic mugs fired with a lead based paint. Or a regular glass that seeps chemicals into our lemonade. Borosilicate actually resists chemicals and does not degrade over time as do many lower quality non-borosilicate pieces do.
Why Get This Teapot?
Actually, if I have to give up my secret, I have a teapot like this because I like to watch the bloom of the herbs I grow expand and colorfully flavor the water. Something about clear class speaks to me. It's why I always want one more window in my house. Light, light, light. But I also have my old traditional whistling standby on my stove, too. Okay, I am a sucker for gadgets and stuff. When I am an old lady in the nursing home they will make lots of money when they sell off all of my cool toys 🙂 But if you are a tea brewer and like to watch the process, why not? A major plus is that you can pop it in the dishwasher, you can see where you missed a dirty spot and wipe it, and it's glass so it doesn't rust.
At 40 oz, that's a lot of tea you can make in one setting!
If the idea of the teapot with the same kind of sturdy glass for coffee or tea appeals to you, take a look at the teapot set below.
Happy Tea brewing!
