Tea Blog

Do you remember the first teapot you truly loved using?

Maybe it was just the right shape, the perfect size, or your favorite color. Whatever made it special, you probably used it every day—or perhaps you still do.

My first real teapot love was a Chatsford four-cup teapot.

I bought it nearly twenty years ago for its rounded shape, its tapered dripless spout, and its wonderfully practical feature—which at the time felt revolutionary: a built-in infusion basket for loose-leaf tea.

Before discovering Chatsfords, I struggled with tiny metal infuser balls, awkward cloth tea “socks,” and the hassle of decanting tea into a second pot.

Chatsford teapots were not only functional—they were beautifully made. The lid and infuser fit seamlessly, the glaze was smooth and even, and the overall look was elegant.

Over the years, I bought several in different sizes and colors—for myself and as gifts. At the time, they felt like the perfect teapot.

What Changed?

Then the London Teapot Company moved production from Europe to Thailand.

And things changed.

The spout began to drip. The lid no longer fit as snugly. The glaze became uneven. Most disappointing of all, the clay shifted to a more porous earthenware.

That change had real consequences: the teapot felt lighter, didn’t retain heat as well, chipped more easily, and began to craze with regular use.

After replacing two damaged Chatsfords within a year, I realized this was no longer a lasting relationship.

The Search for a Replacement

There are now many teapots with built-in infusers—but few match what made the original Chatsford special.

Some lack the classic rounded shape. Others have poorly designed spouts that drip. Many treat the spout as an afterthought.

The original Chatsford infuser stood out because:

• It was large enough for leaves to expand fully
• It used fine mesh to filter even small particles
• It included a handle for safe removal

Other designs usually miss at least one of these key features.

Recently, I’ve been testing a Beehouse teapot. It has a decent weight, holds heat fairly well, and the spout behaves reasonably.

But it’s not perfect.

The infuser is too small and not fine enough to filter smaller leaves. It also lacks a handle, which makes removing it a bit risky—I’ve resorted to using chopsticks.

And the metal flip-top lid? Functional, perhaps—but awkward and not particularly attractive in practice.

Still Searching

So the search continues.

I’m sure the perfect teapot is out there somewhere.

Sadly, it just won’t be a Chatsford.

(The London Teapot Company still produces some models—such as commercial two-cup teapots and bone china versions—in Europe, though at a higher price point. As a vegetarian, I personally avoid bone china.)

Further Reading

See also:

• 
  Those Wonderful Amsterdam Teapots
  
• 
  Collectible Sadler Teapots
  
• 
  Hemisphere Teapots — Out of This World
  
• 
  Is Your Teapot a Dribbler?
  
• 
  Price & Kensington Teawares
  
• 
  Replacing Your Irreplaceable Teawares
  

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