A glass infuser teapot makes loose leaf tea about as easy as a teabag. The leaves go in a removable infuser basket, you pour on hot water, and because the pot is clear you can watch the colour deepen and lift the infuser out the moment the tea is right. The two things that make the biggest difference to the cup are the water temperature and the steeping time, and both depend on the tea.
The short answer
Warm the pot with a splash of hot water, then add about one teaspoon of loose leaf tea (2 to 3g) for every 250ml cup. Pour on water at the right temperature for the tea, steep for the right time, then lift the infuser out so it does not stew. Black tea likes freshly boiled water for 3 to 5 minutes; green tea prefers water around 70 to 80°C for 2 to 3 minutes. Hand wash the pot and rinse the infuser straight after use.
Step by step
- Warm the pot. Swirl a little hot water around the glass and tip it out. This keeps the tea hot for longer and avoids pouring very hot water into very cold glass.
- Measure the leaves. Allow about a level teaspoon (2 to 3g) per 250ml cup. Large, open leaves such as whole leaf green tea, white tea and many herbal blends are bulky for their weight, so use a heaped teaspoon of those.
- Do not overfill the infuser. Leaves unfurl and expand as they steep and need room to move. Keep the infuser no more than about a third full of dry leaf.
- Pour on the water. Use fresh water and let it cool to the right temperature for the tea (see below). Fill to just above the leaves in the infuser.
- Time it. Set a timer rather than guessing. The clear glass helps, but colour alone is not a reliable guide to strength.
- Lift out the infuser. When the time is up, take out the infuser and stand it on a saucer. The tea stays at the strength you chose instead of turning bitter.
- Check the lid before you pour. Make sure it is seated firmly, then pour steadily.
Water temperature and steeping times
- Black tea (breakfast blends, Assam, Darjeeling, Earl Grey): freshly boiled water, 3 to 5 minutes.
- Green tea: around 70 to 80°C, 2 to 3 minutes. Boiled water makes many green teas taste harsh. If you have no thermometer, let the kettle stand for about five minutes after it boils.
- White tea: around 75 to 85°C, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Oolong: around 85 to 95°C, 3 to 5 minutes. Good oolong can be steeped two or three times, so keep the leaves in the infuser for the next pot.
- Herbal and fruit infusions (peppermint, chamomile, rooibos, berry blends): freshly boiled water, 5 to 7 minutes. They are not true tea and rarely turn bitter, so a longer steep simply gives more flavour.
Treat these as starting points. If a tea is too strong, shorten the time rather than using fewer leaves; if it is weak, add leaves rather than steeping for longer.
Which size of pot?
- 350ml: one large mug or two small cups. Ideal for one person or for a fragile green tea you want to drink at its best.
- 400ml: two teacups.
- 550ml: two generous mugs.
- 780ml: three cups, for a small family pot.
- 950ml: three to four mugs, for weekend breakfasts and afternoon tea with friends.
Blooming tea
Blooming or flowering tea is a hand-tied bundle of tea leaves that opens into a flower shape as it steeps. A glass pot is the best way to see it. Take the infuser out, drop the bundle into the empty pot, pour on water at about 80 to 85°C and watch it open over two or three minutes.
Looking after a glass teapot
- Hand wash it. Use warm soapy water and a soft sponge or bottle brush. Avoid scourers, which can scratch glass.
- Empty the infuser straight away. Tap the leaves into your food waste or compost and rinse the mesh under the tap before the leaves dry onto it. A small, soft brush clears the fine holes.
- Shift tea stains. Brown tannin rings come off with a paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water. Rub gently, then rinse well.
- Avoid sudden temperature changes. Do not pour boiling water into a pot that is still cold from a chilly room, and do not stand a hot pot on a cold, wet surface or plunge it into cold water.
- Use it for brewing only. It is made for pouring hot water into, not for heating on a hob or in a microwave.
Common questions
Can I use teabags in a glass infuser teapot?
Yes. Take the infuser out and drop the teabags straight into the pot, then lift them out with a spoon when the tea is ready.
Why does my tea taste bitter?
Usually because it has steeped for too long or the water was too hot, especially with green tea. Lift the infuser out on time and let the kettle cool a little for green and white teas.
Will fine tea dust get through the infuser?
A few fine particles can, especially with broken leaf blends such as breakfast teas. They settle in the bottom of the pot and do no harm; pour gently and leave the last drop in the pot.
Our glass infuser teapots
Every pot in our glass teapots collection has a removable infuser. For one, the Flask Shape 350ml (£12.95) and Tower Shape 350ml (£13.95) are neat and simple, and the Round Pearl 400ml (£12.95) suits two cups. For a family pot, there is the Tower Shape 780ml (£20.95) and the Charcoal Ribbed Pearl 950ml (£30.95).
Three come gift boxed, ready for Christmas: the gift-boxed Tower Shape 350ml (£15.95), the gift-boxed Round Pearl 400ml (£13.95) and the gift-boxed Contemporary 550ml (£18.95). For more ideas, see our Christmas host gifts and Christmas gifts for nan. Delivery is free in the UK on orders over £40.
