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Tea Pots
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There are 3 different kinds of tea pots available on the market today, ceramic, glass and metal. Below we outline the benefits and disadvantages of each.

Ceramic and Glass Tea Pots

Ceramic tea pots are used traditionally in Asia where tea was first invented. Quite often these tea pots are intricately decorated with hand painted motifs, landscapes and designs. Older original Asian tea pots are quite often collectable. Most ceramic tea pots retain heat well with their retention increasing with the thinkness of the ceramic. However, ceramic tea pots are prone to craks, chips and breakages. If you do have an old ceramic tea pot it is worth taking care of.

Glass tea pots are quite similar to their ceramic counterparts in terms of their thermal properties. Glass, like ceramic, is naturally good at retaining heat. Unlike ceramic tea pots, many modern glass tea pots are devoid of any decoration and are styled in a minimalist fashion.

Metal Tea Pots

In Ireland today the average tea drinker will use a metal tea pot, they are cheaper and much more resistant to damage. Again, most of them do not have any designs. The major drawback of metal tea pots is the fact that they are poor heat retainers, radiating heat away from the infusing process. Another disadvantage is that some tea pots, especially over-used ones, can influence the taste of the tea.

To Heat, Or Not To Heat?

One of the main topics of debate surrounding tea pots is whether or not they should be pre-heated. In our opinion it is not absolutely necessary, although it does help by maintaining the heat during the infusion. Tea connoisseurs argue that a pre-heated tea pot helps to preserve some of the finer subtleties of the tea, making a more enjoyable brew. It is also worth considering that black teas such as Barry's Irish Tea often benefit from warmer water.

Irish Tea Pots

Belleek China produce the finest Irish tea pots, hand crafted in County Fermanagh using local clays. We recommend the Belleek China Shamrock Tea Pot and Belleek China Shamrock Tea Cup & Saucer from Belleek-China.com. You could also take a look at the Donegal Rose Tea Pot and Donegal Rose Tea Cup from Boyds of Ireland.

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