Tease, Part Two

So, a week or two ago, I showed you our tea-tasting, all part of my efforts to clean out the tea cupboard.

Well, today, I want to show you our teapot collection.

(And, yes, I HAVE noticed a tea-theme lately.)

First, my favorite full-size teapot, my Brown Betty. I've had this sturdy little teapot for years. Since college, I think. It's a nice, traditional size and shape, which makes it my "go-to" pot. If I'm making tea for more than one person, this is the pot I use. Almost always.

Then, there are the little, individual pots. A small, white Beehouse tea pot, and a little blue one from Harrods in England. Both are the perfect size for one person.

We have two other "full-size" teapots. This colorful blue/yellow/purple one that may actually be "meant" for coffee and which, honestly, hasn't been used probably in years, and this purple and green one.

The purple and green belongs to Mom. She painted it at one of those paint-your-own-pottery places. (It was on Martha's Vineyard, called Splatter, which is why she went for "vineyard" colors.)

The tea-for-one behind it is one that I painted. (Polka dots are about the limit of my painting ability.) One of the things I love about personal-size teapots is that you can brew a pot for each person and prepare it to that person's taste--no need to bring milk and sugar to the table. Or, also, you can make a couple pots of different tea so everyone can have tastes of different teas.

This, though, is my favorite tea-for-one. I bought this at one of the Newport Mansion gift shops three years ago, when I went with my niece. It's my favorite because, one, the design is unique. The cup sits on top of the pot until you're ready to pour, unlike most (like the polka-dot one above), where the teapot rests inside the cup. And then, two, the cup is a finer china. I really don't like drinking tea or coffee out of something with too thick a lip. I'm really picky about mugs that way--if it's too wide at the top, I don't enjoy using it. This cup is a dainty thing, and a pleasure to drink from. (And yes, I know, I showed it to you yesterday, but I can't leave it OUT now, can I?)

Then there's Mom's purse teapot. I gave her this as a gift several years ago. (Don't ask me why, though, that the coordinating perfume bottle and lipstick are salt and pepper shakers rather than, say, something you'd use for TEA.) This one doesn't get used very often--it's too small, really, for two people, but too big for one. Also, handkerchief-spout or not, it drips. But it's adorable, isn't it?

Oh, and there MIGHT be a new one in the collection . . . but then, I told you how I liked it, and I DID need cheering up....

Gee, it's almost a shame I don't have more tea CUPS to show....

Now, while I'm talking about teas, I thought this would be a handy place to list some of the tea sites I've found and/or had recommended lately. No real opinions on any of these--many of which I haven't tried at all--just that I HEAR they're good. And since I haven't tried the teas from each, I'm not going to say, "Try ____ because they're the best!" when there might be one I like better . . . or that YOU might like better. You understand.

But hey, if you have a favorite tea source that's NOT on the list, please leave me a comment . . . that way I'll know exactly where to find it when I wonder, "What WAS that tea that so and so recommended?" later on.

Anyway, the list:

• Adagio
• Argo Tea
• Choice Organic Tea
• Harney & Sons Tea  
• Mighty Leaf
• Peet's
• Republic of Tea
• Revolution Tea
• SpecialTeas
• Stash
• Tea Dog
• Tea Forte
• Tea Source
• The Tea Table
• Teaism
• Tealuxe
• Teagschwendner
• Teavana
• Twinings
• Upton Tea
• Yorkshire Tea

Comments

[jen]

holy crapola! i drink butt-loads of tea and don't own a single teapot. I guess i never thought about it before.
But i did get that wonderful sugar dish and spoon from nat's mom.

your tea pots are beautiful!

[Paula]

Thanks, I enjoy the tea-themed posts. I am surrounded by coffee drinkers who are not interested in tea.

[Sue]

Pelindaba Lavender Farm has some extremely yummy lavender/tea blends. I like all their blends except the Chamomile, but I don't like chamomile in anything. The link to their tea page is http://www.tiny.cc/gmGRW. Homepage is www.pelindaba.com.

[Anne]

Simpson & Vail in Brookfield, CT has an amazing array! www.svtea.com

[Kristi aka Fiber Fool]

Wow, what a great resource for tea stuff! We order almost exclusively from The Tea Table because they are here in a town and we can pick up at a couple differently local places rather than paying for shipping, but we'll have to check out those other places sometime!

[Madame Purl]

That is quite a collection. Very nice. The English Tea store has quite a nice selection of teas as well. I've had there brand and it's pretty nice.
Taylors of Harrogate is awesome tea and of course I must go to their tea shop - Betty's teashop - one day. A person I sometimes do work for went over the holidays and brought me back a menu - of course he was born in York, of which I repeatedly tell him is not fair.

http://www.bettysandtaylors.co.uk/
http://www.bettys.co.uk/
http://www.englishteastore.com/

[Julie]

Great tea post! I love all your tea pots and I can't wait to go through all those tea links you posted!

[Lorette]

I love your links! Here are two more for you:

http://www.britishtea.com/index.asp

http://www.enjoyingtea.com/index.html

I have a bunch of teapots, but the one that I use almost exclusively is a cast iron pot I got from that second link. I love your teapots.

[Laura]

You might try one of my favorite places to get tea... Freed Teller & Freed. They're in San Francisco. Have been in business for more than 100 years:
http://www.freedscoffeetea.com

[Christina]

If anyone is in London or visiting, try Fortnum and Mason (http://www.fortnumandmason.com/) for Afternoon Tea!

[Monica]

I am not a huge tea fan but at my wedding cocktail hour we used various teapots to hold the floral arrangements at the tables. It was such a hit!

[minnie]

well, i do have a favorite for tisanes (which i know you don't care for) although i do know they carry teas like earl grey. i have just never tried those. it's ed foods. i think the site is www.edfoods.com.

i also buy my fancy chocolates for exchanges from them (and christmas, lol)

[Carol]

I think it's time to join a tea-a-holics near you! Perhaps with a 12 step program? 1. buy only GOOD tea 2. don't be rushed when you drink it etc....

[Jessica]

That is quite the collection! I have a very small collection of tea pots myself. I love the purse one, too cute!

[Susan]

I've never purchased directly, but I've been sent quite a bit of tea from Australia that is just fabulous -- I particularly recommend Melbourne Breakfast from T2:

http://www.T2tea.com

[kate]

Honestly, I grew up drinking one tea and one tea only: Irish breakfast. My nana thought it was the "only" tea (her being Irish, and all). So, I am a HUGE fan of the Atlantic Spice Company's Irish Breakfast in bulk. I buy it by the pound and make my own "tea bags" with the disposable ones. I hate a tea ball... so messy. Also, locally in Boston, there is a place called TeaLuxe... very good tea. And we like Teavana (like Nirvana)--- but they go towards "fruity"--- I am not a fan! Give me a good cup of Irish B or peppermint (for my sensitive belly).

:) Kate

[Lizzy B]

My, you do have quite a teapot collection! I particularly love the one your mom painted as that is one of my favorite color combos. I'm so glad those cheery cups have a friend to spend time with now. :)

[Beth S.]

I think I need a personal-sized teapot now. I always just make mine in a mug, with an infuser or a single tea bag. Not very classy!

I hadn't heard of half the tea companies on your list. Wow! Though I used to hit Tealuxe once a week or so, way back when... but it's impossible to get a table there these days.

[JessaLu]

I have a Beehouse too - but mine is Fiestaware-ish orange. I love making tea in a teapot, I should do it more often.

Love your collection - and thanks for the links!

[Rebekah]

Wow, that's a lot of tea. My mom's favorite tea pot is her brown betty as well.

[Sheila]

Wow, you hit a very popular subject here! I love the teapot collection. My daughter painted a teapot for one and loves it.
My favorite internet tea shop is http://specialteas.com/. They have great loose teas at very good prices. My favorite tea varietal is Assam. Any of the Assam varietals is good but Assam 264 is especially fine. For everyday drinking, I drink the Irish Breakfast tea from SpecialTeas. I like their blend. If you don't like the loose tea, Special teas sells filter papers for brewing your tea. Their teas are just very fresh. I am a very satisified customer.

[Debby]

I wanted to link to the Sydney Tea Centre, where a friend of mine has purchased some amazing teas for me. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like they ship to the U.S., but if you could find a swap partner in Australia, I'd highly recommend them!

Thank you for all the great links to try!

[Laurie]

I'm an Upton girl all the way. And I have a teapot collection also.

[kathy b]

Teapots galore. How wonderful to see them all. I loved the Harrod's teapot.
fun post. Now,how many tea cozies have you made? Do you want to show us one?