The best teapot material will depend on your needs.
Glass teapot – best if you want to brew green, floral and light oolong teas, can be washed in a dishwasher
Stoneware teapot – generally good for many types of tea, can usually be used in a dishwasher
Unglazed ceramics fairytale teapot – great for darker oolongs, raw pu’erh or black tea, can’t be washed in a dishwasher or with a washing liquid
Porcelain teapot – great for tea blends and teas you brew using a slightly cooler water such as white or green tea, shouldn’t be washed in a dishwasher, but you can use a washing up liquid
Stainless steel teapot – good if you don’t want to pay too much attention to your teapot and want to clean it in a dishwasher
Which size is the best for you?
The size of the teapot will depend on how much tea you want to make, and which tea you are making. If you are making flavored blends such as Vanilla Black, traditional classic blends such as Earl Grey, or herbal teas such as Chamomile Lavender, 250-500ml regular glazed or glass teapot may be the best choice for making tea for 1-2 people. If you want to brew Japanese teas, 250 ml Japanese side-handle kyusu will be a great choice for making tea for 1-2 people. Chinese gaiwan is great for almost any type of Chinese tea – 120-150 ml is a good size for 1-4 people, depending on which cups you will be using.
Should you choose a teapot with a strainer?
Some teapots have build in metal, stainless steel strainers, some have inside holes filter, some come with removable metal or ceramics filter, and some may not have a filter at all. Teapots with holes inside are good for loose leaf tea with bigger leaves. Build in metal filters may work great for small particles but could be difficult to clean. Removable metal mesh filters usually work with almost any type of tea, even rooibos.