Tea Blog

The spout of the teapot is often overlooked by shoppers, but it can be the most important part of the teapot. Styles vary and can make a big difference when pouring out that tasty tea. Time to take a closer look!

For this article I am mostly avoiding teapots whose design incorporates the spout, as shown in my article about Veilleuse teapots.

The spout of the teapot serves an important purpose, that is, getting the tea liquid out of the teapot and into the teacup in such a way that little or none of it spills or drips. Some accomplish this better than others. Some sacrifice this functionality for clever or cool design or change their design to something cheaper to manufacture (or they don’t sufficiently control the manufacture when they contract it out overseas). The Chatsford teapot is a good case in point, as written about by Janis Badarau last year. They are now made in China and have a different overall design, including the spout, that makes them less “tea friendly.”

Amsterdam teapots and Brown Betty teapots have similar spout designs that reduce drips occurring after pouring. The Teaz teapot has a spout that is streamlined with the pot’s body yet manages to pour without much dripping. This modern design is in contrast with teapots like the Rose Teapot, with its more curved spout. As for those cute teapots, the silver teapot with the bird’s head spout has cuteness goes hand-in-hand with usefulness.

Another cute design and one I especially like is this ladybug teapot with the flower shaped spout.

When choosing a teapot to buy, be sure to give careful consideration to the spout. Clever design is not always useful design. If need be, you can ask the store owner if you can test how it pours with some water. Maybe they will let you, maybe not. If not, be sure they have a good return policy. Happy hunting!

See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.

© Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog, 2009-2014. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this article’s author and/or the blog’s owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Online Stores, Inc., and The English Tea Store Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.