Reddit mentions: The best teapots

Sorry, generic tea copypasta coming though here.

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New to Tea? New to loose leaf? Let me help.

Hello, new friend. So you've stumbled your way into /r/tea, you probably though this was a subreddit for the Mr. T, but no worries you're here and you're in good hands. We're all tea fiends and we're all eager to share our fifteen minutes of meditation, our hobby and our little slice of heaven. So why should you consider switching from Lipton to something crazy like leaves some Chinese person picked off a tea bush?

• Loose Leaf tea is often higher quality than your traditional tea bags.
  
  
• Less preservatives or additives.
  
  
• A greater variety of teas that are too delicate for tea bags or can't be effectively brewed that way.
  
  
• Greater access to fine teas, you can't find good premium teas in tea bags.
  
  
• It's more cost effective. You can pick up Twinning's Irish Breakfast tea (20 tea bags) for $2.99 at your local supermarket and that'll make you 20 cups of tea. With loose leaf tea you can buy 125 grams of Irish Breakfast from Upton Tea for $5.60, which will make you 100-150 cups of tea. You can re-brew the same tea leaves two or three times when it comes to loose leaf, but with a tea bag all the water penetrates the "tea dust" the first go.
  
  
• It tastes better. That's 100-150 cups of far better tea than Twinnings. Not to say you can't get good tea out of a tea bag, but you'll get better tea with more control/flexibility when it come to loose leaf.
  
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  So, Where To Start??
  
  ^^buy ^^theses ^^teas ^^first!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  Where | Why?
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  GoodLife Tea's $7 for 7 Sampler | Free Shipping! Robb has a fantastic variety of tasty high quality tea important for building up your tea pallet.
  Verdant's Five Teas for $5 | Free Shipping! Again, Verdant sells some premium quality tea. Think of their sampler as a crash course into the rich people's side of tea. But the catch with tea is that it's a lot more affordable than wine could ever hope to be. The sampler is great for building up your tea preferences and giving you a kickstart in the right direction.
  Upton Tea | My personal favorite store, they send a nice little paperback catalog every quater. They sell a huge variety of teas, from traditional English Breakfast to Tie-Guan-Yin. Not only that but they sell their teas in different grades meaning you can dabble in what is traditionally an expensive tea by trying a lower quality (but still delicious and tasty) grade of tea. You can find the grade and variety of tea that matches your wallet and taste. They also sell cheap samplers, if you wish you can take $20 and order around 15 samples and see where your cuppa takes you.
  Adagio | A personal favorite of /r/tea if you can find a store nearby! But don't fret, most of us buy our tea online so no worries if you're in Kodiak, Alaska and can't get down to an Adagio. They sell nice quality tea, their stores people are incredibly informed and helpful (unlike a certain Starbucks owned tea store). They also have Adagio XL which sells tea in bulk.
  Harney & Sons | Amazon Prime Shipping. I love my Amazon account, that's usually by go to place online shopping and being able to two-day ship a simple tin of Harney & Sons tea without the shipping cost is fantastic. They sell lots of teas and they're all very good. Maybe not the premium tea you'll see Chinese diplomats drinking but they in my opinion sell tea that all tastes great.
  Coffee Bean Direct | Who knew a place called Coffee Bean Direct* sold tea too? Again, with Amazon Prime Shipping this seems to be the place to buy tea in bulk. They're well reviewed and their tea seems to be good. If you're like me and cold brew ice tea frequently then this might be the best place to pick up some bulkier tea to last you the season.
  Crimson Lotus | Owned by a frequenter of /r/tea, Puerh_Lover stocks a great store with lots of neat little stuff. Be warned, he caters to pu'er which is a type of fermented tea pressed into bricks or pellets. In other words this is a special variety of tea that needs special equipment and special knowledge to brew. Don't fret if you're not walking out of /r/tea after a day brewing in a gaiwan.
  White2Tea | More lovely pu'er.
  Yunnan Sourcing | Again, more pu'er, but also lots of green and white teas too. They sell teaware for good prices too so if you're looking to pick up a traditional china teacup or gaiwan this is a good place to get that.
  What-Cha | Another beloved store on /r/tea, but they're pretty pricey at times. But you can always expect good quality tea and a looser wallet from here.
  
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  Just How Do You Make Tea?
  
  Traditional Western | Gongfu | Cold Brew
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  The way you're probably familiar with when it comes to brewing tea, all it requires is a teapot like this one (I highly recommend this teapot). Western or Traditional works well with every kind of tea. It's the universal method of making tea and the best place to start. | This kind of brewing is very specific as it only works with Chinese type teas like pu'er. This method of making tea is hands down the best way to make a Chinese styled tea and does wonders to enhance and bring out the best in the leaves. But this method wont work for a cuppa English Breakfast or Japanese Sencha. To brew Gongfu style you use a gaiwan which is fancy talk for a tiny cup with a lid. The idea behind Gongfu is more leaves, less water and time. You use micro-infusions instead of waiting minutes like Western or hours like Cold Brewing. | Cold Brewing is for those of us who just love iced tea. It's simple to cold brew, a vessel like this will brew a mean pitcher of ice tea. All you have to do is leave the leaves in the filter and wait 5-12 hours for the tea to brew, perfect for leaving overnight. Fair Warning: tea can go bad, the kind of stuff you'd buy at the store has a massive amount of preservatives in it. Keep your cold brewing tea out of the sunlight and don't let it sit for more than 48 hours.
  
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  On Kettles
  
  So you're going to need a way to keep your water hot. A stovetop kettle is probably the most accessible and the biggest no brainer out of everything here. A microwave heats water inconsistently, can leave an odd taste if your microwave isn't properly clean, and you really don't have a good way of knowing how hot the water is. Temperature is important. Brewing a cuppa green tea in boiling water will result in a pretty shitty cup of tea, and brewing some black tea in the water appropriate for green tea will result in a disappointing cuppa.
  
  You also have electric kettles like the Cuisinart CPK-17 which is going to cost as much as a decent coffee machine but if tea is your caffeine fix then it might be worth it. The Cuisinart is a variable temperature kettle meaning you just have to press a button and it makes the water the appropriate temperature for whatever kind of tea you're drinking.
  
  
  Tea | Temperature
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  Black | 212
  Green | 175
  White | 190
  Oolong | 185
  Pu'er | 212
  Herbal | 212
  
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  Where To Buy Tea Equipment? What Equipment Might You Want To Buy?
  
  Umi Tea Sets sells lots of cute tea sets. They also sell pretty much any kind of vessel you can brew tea in, from Yixing to Japanese tea sets.
  
  Mr. Coffee Tea Kettle A simple, $10 stovetop kettle to boil some water. It seems to have a little hole in it for a thermometer to go in if you need to measure your water temperature.
  
  Glass Whistling Kettle I have one of these, you can tell water temperature from the bubbles if you learn to read them well. It’s pretty handy but if I could I would exchange it for the Mr. Coffee.
  
  CPK-17 Electronic Kettle probably the device that makes most of /r/tea’s mouths water (that might just be the tea). This is pretty much the best electronic kettle you can buy, cheaper than a K-Cup Coffee machine. It has temperatures for making all kinds of tea labeled nicely. I have one and I love it.
  
  OTHER
  
  Want to find the right kind of tea for you? Here’s a tea discovery wheel! Try it out here.

• 1.) Something that is grey. (sort of)
  
  
• 2.) Something reminiscent of rain.
  
  
• 3.) Something food related that is unusual.
  
  
• 4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. Tell me who it's for and why. (Yes, pets count!) (Technically this isn't on any of my public wish lists, but rather on a wish list that I keep specifically for collecting gift ideas for my husband. So this is for him.)
  
  
• 5.) A book I should read! I am an avid reader, so take your best shot and tell me why I need to read it! - Sort of a dystopian future book, but the author's ability to describe things and the characterisations are IMO, simply amazing. I downloaded this as a freebie or cheapie, and I could not put it down. Be warned, it's a first parter of more than one, so when you get to the end you will expect more and be enraged that you can't read the rest yet.
  
  
• 6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related!
  ----Umm.... I don't actually have anything less than a dollar. embarassed
  
  
• 7.) Something related to cats. I love cats! (keep this SFW, you know who you are...) It's a stretch, I know, but it has Tigress in the title, and a Tigress is technically a cat, even if it's metaphorical in this sense. :)
  
  
• 8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it. I guess it could be considered useful in a way, but really it's not at all necessary, but it's just so incredibly beautiful and lovely and I want it so bad!!
  
  
• 9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why? Cairo Time. Because AMAZING cinemetography. Lovely music. Alexander Siddig (DROOL) and Patricia Clarkson.
  
  
• 10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain. Because they're Batman throwing knives which means they'd be good for killing zombies from a distance and also, hello, they're Batman which makes them awesome and inherently gives the thrower secret Batman like abilities. :D
  
  
• 11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. - I really want to explore photography more, and learn to be a better photographer, and also I want to develop my artistic side more. I think this would help with that.
  
  
• 12.) One of those pesky Add-On items. - UGH, I don't have one! :(
  
  
• 13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why? Because it's portable, and I've been eyeing one for ages, and I'm getting ready to do some extended travel, so this would be a great thing to have in that respect.
  
  
• 14.) Something bigger than a bread box.
  
  
• 15.) Something smaller than a golf ball. eBooks are technically smaller than a golf ball because they don't actually take up physical space. :D
  
  
• 16.) [Something that smells wonderful.]
  (http://www.amazon.com/Orleans-Saints-Jimmy-Graham-jersey/dp/B00D3CJENG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=FQHQWOTK4LH8&coliid=I2XIVU4BE0S37P&psc=1) - Technically this has no smell, but if I could get Jimmy Graham to rub it up against his body, even briefly, then it would smell like him and that would be wonderful! :D
  
  
• 17.) A (SFW) toy.
  
  
• 18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.
  
  
• 19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be.
  
  
• 20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand. - It's a Zombie Head cookie jar. What else is there to say??
  
  Bonus Item 1: Because it looks kind of fun
  
  Bonus Item 2: Something made in Oregon: Do my brother's kids count? He made all three in Oregon! :D No? OK, then University of Oregon lanyard because I actually do want something U of O related to support my nephew who will be a freshman there in the fall.
  
  
  Final edit because I always forget the raffle phrase: Fear cuts deeper than swords.

Id say get a sample of a couple of different teas to try out. There are many websites to buy teas from, brownestrabbit having listed some of them. There is also Teavana and Republic of Tea as well.

For equipment, I would get a simple teamaker such as this one from Adagio. Other places carry this style of teamaker, but I dont know their pricing. It is a simple cup with a filter at the bottom, and acts like a gravity press when you place it on top of any cup or mug. Theres a video review of it in the comments of that page.

After that, id say get a e-kettle. A cheap 20$ one from walmart or target will suffice. Nothing too fancy, just something to boil water very quickly.

Since you are just starting out, dont buy into all the clay/yixing/cast iron/bone china/etc teapots. You can think about those later in life. Your focus should be on the taste of tea, not on what it comes in.

There are a couple of different types of teas, and ill make a quick and dirty list for ya here. And always try and go whole leaf/loose leaf if you have the option.


Actual Tea

These contain the actual tea leaves, Camelia Sinesis and Camelia Assamica

• White Tea: The lightest of the 4. Also the least amount of caffeine. Will often be very light and gentle in flavor, so if you like very gentle teas, white teas are often the go to guy.
  
• Green Tea: The superman of teas. Green teas have many health properties which have been scientifically backed and peer reviewed. It is one of the few that actually has studies done on it. Has a bit more caffeine than white, anywhere from 10-15% the content of a similar cup of coffee. The flavor range is so vast that ill let you discover what you like. There are lots of different types of green teas, so go check em out.
  
• Oolong Tea: China's favourite. Oolong is a hybrid of sorts between a green and black tea. So therefore some oolong will be very green in presence, others will be very black. Oolong is the kind of tea youll like if you enjoy a more traditional "tea" taste, rather than the fruit/herbal blends you see at the supermarket. Goes great with food, and has a very mild taste.
  
• Black Tea: Europe's baby. Try a solid english breakfast from a good company, like Twinnings or PGtips. Then try an earl grey. Now expand from there. Dont add any sugar or milk to begin with, so you can fully experience the flavor without masking it with additives.
  
  Other Teas
  
  
• Rooibos Teas: Rooibos comes from a South African bush, so it will be very prickly in appearance when loose. Has ZERO caffeine, and contains alot of flavor so its popular to drink at night. You will find it mostly blended with other flavors, so find one you like and test it out.
  
  
• Yerba maté Teas: The Redbull of the tea world. Has a buttload of caffeine, and is very dark so its similar to black teas. Some energy drink companies have started to put this stuff in their energy drinks to add that extra jolt.
  
  
• Herbal Blends: These dont contain any actual tea leaves, and are often just various flora and dried fruits. They are good to mix into one of the base teas with to add a unique flavor.
  
  
  A couple of tips:
  
  
• Dont buy into all that health PR marketing spiel. Things like "super-fruit enriched, may help lose weight, etc etc" are lots of bullshit and hype topped on a very small grain of truth. Youre drinking tea for the flavor and any benefits are a nice bonus, not the other way around. If you want something to help with cancer, go get chemo. Ive seen too many people suckered into buying teas because they think it will "do something" for them, such as make them lose weight, cut fat, get significantly healthier, etc etc. Also, if you go to an actual store like Teavana, dont trust what the salespeople tell you, because they are sales people first, and tea assistants second.
  
  
• If you have the chance to go smell lots of different teas, do so. Trust your nose, it will know what you will like more than a salesperson will. A caveat to this is sweetness. The western diet has become so laden with sugar substitutes(lookin at you high fructose corn syrup ಠ_ಠ)
  that it often cannot appreciate something that doesnt come up and punch your tongue in the face. So if you smell a very sweet tea, try to stray away from it.
  
  
• I know its a lot of info, and it can be very easy to get sucked into a tea-elitist type of mentality, similar to wine. Ultimately, tea is about one thing, and that is the taste and your personal enjoyment of it. If you love your tea over steeped and burnt to a crisp, and you know that its not supposed to be that way, then fuck anyone who says youre doing it wrong. That is the catch though, you have to know the "correct" way before going off and doing your own thing, so that youre not missing out on anything.
  
  TL:DR- Get a cheap teamaker, get some loose leaf green tea, no sugar.
  
  PS: I like to call drinking earl grey while in my chair "pulling a Jean Luc", in reference to Capt. Picard from Star Trek.
  
  
  If you want to know more, feel free to shoot me a message, will be glad to help.
  

The IngenuiTEA is pretty great for a starter infuser. That's what I got when I first began exploring loose tea. Mine has mostly been replaced by actual teapots these days, but I do still use it on occasion to brew a cup to go. Tons of room for your tea to expand, the strainer is nice and fine so you don't get sediment, and it's easy to clean up. I got the 32oz. one because the price difference was negligible, but it depends on if you see yourself sharing with anyone or not. This Hario teapot is what replaced mine, and I absolutely love it, so there's another option for you to think about.

As for kettle, you may just wanna go with something cheap to start out and just use a kitchen thermometer to get it to the right temp (that's what I did for a long time). Temperature control is good, but that one isn't very big. If you decide to get some nice teapots down the road, you may end up having to replace it with something bigger anyway.

Not sure what to tell you about for a cup, it just depends on your needs... how long does it need to stay hot, does it have to completely seal, etc. The ones that come with infusers shouldn't necessarily be a deal breaker. Most infusers are removable and may come in handy some day. This one is on my wish list (I have a different one by the same company that is great but can't vouch for this actual one).

For tea, Adagio is a great place to start, that's what I did. They have lots of little 4-pack samplers that are awesome. Verdant still has their $5 for 5 samples deal which is pretty hard to beat, although some of their stuff may not necessarily be geared towards beginners.

TL;DR : Tea.

Long version :

Tea is not a beverage. It is a ritual. When done right, tea is a god damn spiritual experience.

How to do tea right on the cheap.

• Tea bags. No. Just...no. No no no 10000 times no. Loose leaf tea is essential to making this the ritual it deserves to be. I can't recommend Adagio enough. Good service, quick shipping, and good quality for not much $. if you're totally new to the whole "tea as an experience" thing, I highly suggest one of the sampler packs. $10-$15 for several blends of various varieties!
  
• Get a glass pot with a glass infuser. Lots to be said about ceramic as well, and yes glass teaware must be handled with great care...but part of the magic is watching things happen. Whatever you do, avoid metal teaware, as it can alter the taste, especially of "less stable" blends. MANY glass teapots are sold with metal infusers, so be careful. My personal favorite is Grosche teaware, and a very nice little glass pot/glass infuser set can be had from Amazon for $30.
  
• Warm up your teaware before steeping. While the kettle is boiling, fill the pot (with infuser in it) with hot tap water and let it sit. Bring the teaware up to a warm temperature first, so you don't lose heat during the steeping process to warming the cold teaware.
  
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  The suggestions above aren't meant to turn you into a highly experienced tea connoisseur overnight (or even at all...though if they start you on your way, the more's the better)
  
  What they WILL do, however, is turn tea into a ritualistic relaxation experience of epic proportions.
  
  You'll open a new container of a new blend, and you won't smell the tea...you'll TASTE it with your entire olfactory system.
  
  You'll putter around measuring out the right amount of leaf...you'll carefully handle your glass teaware...you'll take the time to prepare carefully...and you'll realize that this is all part of the experience. it's your own time to do something with patience and attention and craftsmanship.
  
  You'll set the infuser of tea into the teapot of hot water, and a whole new set of scents and flavors will greet you.
  
  You'll watch as some leaves open up, others close, some float, some sink, as the entire blend is alive, and moves around, and this very action is part of what mixes flavors and oils and leaves.
  
  You'll savor the anticipation of the few minutes you allow things to steep, as you watch the color change from clear to light to dark to whatever color you prefer.
  
  Days and weeks and months and years spent steeping different blends at different temps for different times will reward you with an entirely new palette.
  
  And all it takes is a few bucks, and the willingness to devote 10 minutes of your day to learning a new skill. :)
  
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  Don't bash me, other tea snobs. :) Yes, there's LOTS of superior sources for high end blends and high grade leaf, and LOTS of different ways to steep and prep and enjoy, and a ZILLION arguments about the best materials and so on.
  
  The above is simply an introduction designed to open the door for someone whose tea experience to date has been Lipton bags in a microwaved mug of water. :)
  
  
  

(Warning, this will be a very dense comment.)

there are 2 common approaches when it comes to enjoying tea, western style, and gong-fu style. (here is a link to some photos of my equipment http://imgur.com/a/8NPN3)

The western style approach involves using a teapot with a removable metal mesh strainer to brew tea. You need to simply place your desired amount of loose tea leaves into the strainer, place it in the teapot, add water of the desired temperature (usually 170 for green tea, 180-190 for oolongs, and a full boil for black tea), and let it steep for the appropriate amount of time, once it is done steeping, simply remove the strainer and leaves and enjoy your tea. You will usually be able to re-steep the leaves multiple times depending on the quality and type of tea your brewing. You will usually be able to obtain a decent teapot and cups for around $30 online (http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Cast-Iron-Black-Trivet/dp/B0002AAP5I/ref=sr_1_3?srs=9976066011&ie=UTF8&qid=1452434419&sr=8-3&keywords=tea).

Gong-fu brewing explained simply means brewing with more leaf, less time, and more times (usually with a smaller brewing vessel). this is usually the preferred method to brew teas if you want to make brewing tea an experience and more than just a casual drink. The easiest way to brew tea in the gong-fu style is to buy 3 things: a gaiwan (basically a lidded cup), a cha-hai (basically a small pitcher to decant the tea into), small cups (to drink from and let the tea cool faster), and an optional strainer (unless you do not mind small leaf particulate in your tea.) First, fill the gaiwan with the appropriate amount of leaf then add water of the appropriate temperature (usually 170F for green tea, 190F for oolong tea, and a full boil for black tea, but feel free to experiment). let it steep for a few seconds and pour the tea into the cha-hai using the gaiwans lid to hold back the leaves. Pour the tea into your cups and drink up. repeat the process until you have either had enough tea or the leaves lose too much flavor to steep again (some teas might go for as many as 20 steeps!!!). I know this might seem intimidating at first, but if you find that you really enjoy fine teas, you will really enjoy having a relaxing gong-fu session. a gong-fu set like this will usually run you around $30 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RTSHXSS/ref=s9_dcbhz_bw_g79_i2_sh)for something usable, but prices can vary, especially if you get into the premium side of things (http://yunnansourcing.com/en/jian-shui-teapots/3768-jian-shui-clay-classic-gaiwan-by-huang-shou-zhen-240ml.html).

Lastly, I will mention another method commonly known as "grandpa style"(http://imgur.com/4OMa3ud). this is as simple as it gets, just add tea leaves into a mug, add hot water, and drink using your teeth to strain the leaves as you drink adding more water as you go. (I only recommend grandpa style for more forgiving, less bitter teas as the less forgiving kind will tend to get unbearable bitter.)

By the way, it goes without saying that these methods will use full, loose leaf tea. Personally, I cannot recommend loose leaf tea enough. It is a significant improvement in taste over teabags, and is not much more expensive considering it can be re-steeped unlike teabags. I was only able to develop a passion for drinking and brewing tea after trying loose leaf tea and actually did not really like it back when I had only tried Lipton tea bags.

As for where to buy loose leaf teas and which ones to try, I will point you to 2 helpful articles that helped me out back when I was first getting into tea. along with the website that I use most.
http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/
http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/02/best-tea-where-to-buy.html
http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/04/tea-introduction-starterkit.html

I would also recommend giving this article a read if you want to know more about tea http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/tea-for-everyone.html

Teapots are often different from kettles, so figure out which one (or both) you want.

If you're thinking about a kettle, the electric ones are fantastic and the most efficient way to heat water. If you get one with tea temp settings or digital temperatures, you'll be perfectly set up.

Teapots come in many shapes and sizes and are good for different proposes. A 100 mL Chinese-style teapot is great for gongfu for one person, while a 500 mL is great for a party.

It's really a matter of what aesthetic you prefer. There are many styles of teapots and ways of using them. Here are some tips:

1. You want a spout that pours nicely, so avoid overly rounded ones. This matters less if you choose a tiny teapot meant for pouring into a sharing pitcher, as you're gonna totally invert the thing while pouring.
   
   
2. Use a fine filter. This could be fine mesh or a stainless steel basket with tiny holes.
   
   
3. Ensure there's room for tea leaves to expand - don't use a tea ball or similarly-sized filter.
   
   
4. Pay attention to the size of the teapot. I think 150-300 mLs is perfect, but that's just me.
   
   
5. Have a plan for timed steeps. If you're using a sharing pitcher, you just pour the liquor out at the right time. If you're keeping the liquor in the teapot, you'll need a place to put the strainer.
   
   Here are some example styles of teapots that are very nice for loose leaf:
   
   

• Japanese cast iron https://www.amazon.com/Workshop-Japanese-Tetsubin-Stainless-Infuser/dp/B01NBP0OMU. You can heat it up with hot water first and it'll keep your tea warm. Edit: I don't really recommend these unless you know the enamel inside is really good.
  
  
• Tiny Chinese teapots https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32805509797.html. This is meant to go with a sharing or fairness pitcher and fine mesh strainer that goes on top.
  
  
• Glass teapots https://www.amazon.com/Teapot-Kettle-Warmer-Infusers-Flowering/dp/B01BRVAZU0/. This one comes with a nice strainer that can also be used in a mug. These are nice for blooming teas as well.
  
  
• All stainless https://www.amazon.com/Venoly-Stainless-Removable-Dishwasher-Resistant/dp/B01M0AXSH1/. For that aesthetic. Also comes with multipurpose strainer.
  
  
• A general-purpose starter teapot https://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Stump-Teapot-Infuser-18-Ounce/dp/B00345U3C8/. I've heard they drip a little but everyone likes them.

What are you looking for and what does he like? You can get a standard infuser like this one that I use.

Or you could get him a "reverse french press". The reverse french press is one of the best and easiest ways to brew. It lets the leaves float in the water, but allows easy extraction of the water into a mug (it is much harder with a regular french press because pressing down the leaves can cause them to expel a lot of bitter flavor into the water).

Generally speaking, avoid anything that will smash the leaves, or will not let them float easily. If he generally uses a big teapot, make sure to get something for that. If he typically uses just a mug, the two things I listed will work great. I even use my regular infuser in my large tea pitcher/pot.

But, if you give me a price range and a general idea of what you would like him to have, what he already has or what kind of things he likes, I can definitely help you out. I love tea myself, and would hope that my wife would ask someone knowledgeable when she goes to buy something for me.

OH! And if you're looking to get the best bang for your buck, avoid teavanna. They're not bad they're just overpriced.

Starting out places: TeaSource.com Harney.com and Adagio are great. Use CatShip19 til the end of May to reduce Teasource's free shipping to $30. Harney is always free shipping. Adagio, I'd have to look up.

I can't really recommend a tea cup without knowing your brewing preferences. Are you brewing for one or more? Do you like to have frequent small cups (consider gaiwan or gungfu style), like to brew at your desk (just get an in-mug infuser) or if you want a simple tea-pot: I love the style of ones that have a metal basket and lid that pop out for easy cleaning (link for ref, but I don't know the brand). Big glass tea-pots are nice for show. Clay supposedly can improve taste (?).

Personally - I make milk based Chai in a pot on the weekends, otherwise most of my tea is brewed with the linked in-mug infuser basket in a beautiful hand thrown clay mug from a local pottery shop. I suggest going this route until you know what types of tea you like - then you can buy the gear best suited to brew that style.

This one is super highly rated and recommended.

This is nice since it will work with any mug.

Something like this looks really nice and works well.

I had one just like this that I loved.

I had one like this that was cherished until it broke. It worked amazingly well. And there's this if you want to make more than one cup!

You really want to find something large that gives the tea leaves room to expand. The cute novelty ones are adorable, but don't steep the tea very well. You can also reuse the leaves so don't throw them away after one use!!

Also if you have one near you, David's Teas have super cute stuff. There's also a /r/tea subreddit :)

That's awesome he wants to learn more! Hope you also get to enjoy that exploration with him.

My first idea is usually to look around what you have locally, whether specialized tea shop(s) or more commercial tea selection at coffee places. Starting where you are can connect you with the people also interested and supports businesses around you.

Next my question might be whether "black-based" means flavoured or not. The highest-end black teas I have are single-origin and I usually brew them in greater tea (g) per water (ml) ratios, keeping the leaves in the water for short periods (10-20 seconds, increasing after the 3-4th time usually), usually referred to as "gong-fu" style. If that's what your boyfriend wants to go for, a nice simple starting point may be something like this, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MA4WSU4/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_wasIDbQBJ6CBZ.

If flavoured, I would usually more go for "western" brewing (less leaf-to-water ratio and longer steeping time) and you could search for "glass teapot" in Amazon or elsewhere.

For tea itself, the vendor list on /r/tea is an amazing place to start, https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/wiki/vendors/page_01. Once you've gotten into them there is a surprising amount of variability in flavours from varying places in the world and he might narrow down what types he likes most.

I'll throw in a plug for what I believe to be the best creamy earl grey you may ever find, http://www.lucasteas.com/shop/black-tea/lucas-earl-grey-cream/ , just in case you're looking for flavoured tea suggestions.

I got this cheap glass pot as a gift: http://www.amazon.com/Primula-Flowering-Half-Moon-40-Ounce-Black/dp/B002T1TUHC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MWNCZMSYM915K4N6NDW The reviews for it suck but I've had mine for 3 years and I love it. A friend knitted me a tea cozy for it and my tea stays hot for hours.

I also have a mystery ceramic Japanese style pot from the thrift store. It was four dollars. It's very beautiful and came with matching cups. I love it too.

I don't think you really need a fancy pot unless you really want one. I'm happy with my cheap pots.

Like most anything else, there's no less than a bazillion options, and everyone will have their own take on which ones you should begin with.

If you can find a tea shop reasonably close, I recommend buying an ounce or two of several teas. Any reasonably large city should have a tea shop, you may have one near you. Take note of how to properly brew each one and give it a try. Experiment with the steep time and temperature a little if it's not quite to your liking, or if you're just feeling adventurous.

If buying in person isn't feasible, try a sample pack or similar from a reputable online vendor. There are some links in the sidebar that will help with that.

Get a tea kettle for boiling your water, good ones can be had from a variety of online retailers, like teas, but home goods stores will usually have a decent kettle. Electric or stovetop doesn't really matter much, I use a stovetop kettle myself.

With a kettle and tea in hand, you have a couple options for brewing. The best (IMO) is a proper tea pot, and there are many styles available. I have this one, and it's pretty foolproof and sturdy:
Bodum Assam Teapot

Alternatively, you can just use tea filters, like this:
Tea Filters
It's basically a DIY tea bag.

That is my recommendation for equipment, and only based on what I have personally used. I will let others offer suggestions for specific teas to order online, as I make all my purchases locally and can't recommend anything in particular.

If you are looking at teas from unusual origins, say the country of Georgia, try what-cha.com.

if you are looking mainly at Chinese teas, Yunnan sourcing and teavivre are good places to start.

you can get some wonderful Taiwanese teas at Beautiful Taiwan Tea, and they have a very reasonable threshold for free shipping. You can also go to Yunnan sourcing's Taiwanese sister site taiwanoolongs.com

If you want to go down the rabbit hole that is Puerh, try out white2tea (they also have some gorgeously yummy black teas and oolongs) as well as the aforementioned Yunnan sourcing.

yunomi is a decent place to go to for Japanese teas, but since it is a marketplace type website, you would have to do some hunting (and Japanese teas are not my speciality, so I will leave much of that to other users.)

for flavored teas- there's really a plethora of places to get those, but the one that I have found with the best tasting flavored teas of the bunch is New Mexico tea company. This is just personal opinion, some people like Adagio better (and I do love Adagio's chestnut tea as well as a few others, so don't take that as a strike against Adagio).

I would stay away from most mall-type stores like Teavana because a lot of their teas are more cheap filler ingredients and less tea, just to cover up the low quality of their teas.

On the subject of tools, seeing as you are a coffee guy, might I suggest a hario teapot? A gaiwan would be the next step in going towards the gong fu style of tea. A very basic 100ml gaiwan would cost you less than 5 bucks + shipping. (shipping is expensive from here, so I would suggest getting more than one item).

For very basic tea drinking there are always in mug basket infusers.

Or you could always go grandpa style, where you just toss your leaves in a mug and refil the water whenever it gets low.

I had one of these and it’s OK but I don’t use it anymore. Eventually the seal will leak from the bottom, it’s not as easy to clean as they make it look (lots of tea leaf flecks get stuck in the mesh filter) and the plastic carafe/mesh filter soak up the color/flavor of your teas over time so you might find your earl grey tasting like chai down the road.

Also there’s no way to remove the tea leaves once it’s finished steeping, so if you’ve made more than a single cup you’ll have to transfer it to a new container or have a really strong second cup. It’s a neat invention, but I went back to a more traditional ceramic that works better for me, I can remove the leaves once the steep is done, and is easier to clean.

Edit: This isn’t exactly the same one I have, but it’s very similar and I’ve been really happy with it - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078ZKPY25/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ibN4AbWNDSARA

Get a tea pot.

http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Stump-18-Ounce-Teapot-Infuser/dp/B000FLG8XC

This is a good one, it holds about 16 oz of tea and comes with an infuser.

You'll also need tea, which you can find from nearly anywhere. I like ordering from Adagio, their tea is good. Get loose leaf if that's what you're wanting to do. I recommend starting with a black, green, white, and oolong tea. If you like flavors, great, I prefer just the pure tea. I would start with just pure tea to get a baseline for what they're like.

You can take the hobby as deep as you'd like. I would really recommend you get an electric kettle as well because you can easily heat water at an exact temperature, they're very useful because each type of tea steeps at a different temp and time.

My ritual includes the following items which make tea at work for me:

• The electric kettle
  
• The personal tea mug
  
• The meeting tea pot
  
  This is the best $60 I ever spent. These are my favorite teas I can recommend:
  
  
• Ahmad Barooti Assam - for the mornings
  
• Rooibos - A root tea popular in Africa, also called "bush tea" for the afternoons
  
  Boil water, steep and drink! I usually load up on the tea and steep for about 5 minutes because I like my tea strong. The Nissan Thermos is the best insulated mug I've ever owned. It has kept my tea hot for about 4 hours with the lid on. Absolutely amazing.

It depends what you are interested in. Loose leaf is definitely the way to go, all you need is a teapot like this and something to heat the water in. For the teas themselves, r/tea has a list of vendors that covers many different areas. r/tea can be a great resource in general, there are tons of super knowledgeable people for each kind of tea and there are multiple people in the industry there. What-Cha is very well liked and has a variety of teas from all over, they are definitely a good place to order from for the first time. They have an intro to tea collection, though I feel that a white tea like this one should be included in it.

Oh wow, someone said world peace so now this seems to trite. But maybe this could help check someone off your gift list.

These blooming flower teas look beautiful. I would love the experience of putting one of these hand sewn tea flowers in and watching is "bloom" into life before me. Like usual, I didn't buy one for myself but I did get two of them plus the glass teapots for two wonderful women in my life. I hope they enjoy them very much.

Not quite sure if this is what you meant, but I have this teapot (around the size you mentioned, 450ml is ~15.5oz) which has a removable mesh strainer and it's pretty sweet: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-450ml/dp/B0006HINDI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493529901&sr=8-2&keywords=kyusu+teapot

Pretty sure that pot has been recommended here before. Not sure as far as a plain old infuser, but anything you can get that gives more room for the tea leaves to expand would be best!

I love sencha (and I often add a slice or two of fresh ginger-- which also helps with nausea, by the way, if she will be undergoing chemo) and jasmine pearls. They're best in looseleaf form so I would also gift her a small pot with a steeper, something like this.

I like these teas for their soothing aroma and taste-- they don't have any magical, cure-all benefits.

I have a Breville one-touch, which is similar to the Hamilton Beach 40865 Glass Kettle except it has the basket. You definitely will need something that allows you to monitor water temperature or else you run the risk of scorching your tea, which makes it very bitter.

I'm personally more of a mug person, because I like to drink my tea 16oz at a time so things like Travel Tea Set by Music City Tea don't appeal to me because size. When I was new to loose leaf and before I got my Breville I used this because it's a low-cost, low commitment apparatus that's super easy to use. That way, you're not spending a lot of money on something you don't know if you'll even be into. It's not as cute, or as fancy, but it's a cost-effective introduction to loose leaf.

That being said, you definitely want an infuser that allows the tea leaves to expand, like a basket or teapot-basket combo because tea leaves love to expand. I also think expanded tea leaves produce better flavor, but that might be just me.

1. Get/make a tea cozy. It's basically a teapot blanket, but it keeps the pot warm for your second or third cup.
   
   
2. Cast iron/clay are best if you're going to drink the same type of tea (Green/Black) over and over again, as they're seasoned like a skillet. If you change your tea up, get a get a glass pot or a porcelain pot. If i were buying a glass teapot today I'd get this Hario http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Glass-Teapot-23oz-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=zg_bs_367229011_4
   
   
3. The real key is to warm your teacup while you steep the tea . Most tea only require 3-5 minutes so the pot shouldn't have time to cool too much, especially if the lid is on.
   
   
4. I'm a little more fond of the tea basket in a cup http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-12-Ounce-Double-Glass-Strainer/dp/B003D3NC1A and making new hot water for every cup, but I have easy access to hot water, I'm not sure how your dorm situation is.
   

Hi, welcome!

There's a lot of different approaches to brewing tea, just one of which is the familiar teapot method. A really popular glass one is https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0/. One really good reason for white/glass teaware is that they allow you to easily evaluate the color of your tea, which is helpful in appreciating it better and learning how to brew your tea.

When you say Japanese style, do you mean the Kyusu teapot, or do you mean teaware with Japanese designs on them?

Yess the good stuff!! This is the one in the video, but I'd actually recommend the IngenuiTea or IngenuiTea2 - they're a bit easier to clean IMO! Happy tea-making! 🍵🙏

Grandpa style is great and all but some people aren't used to having the leaves in their cup. A simple infuser and a mug is all you need for a western-style tea brew. The reason people are telling you not to use a coffee brewer with tea is that unless you scrub it clean pretty often, you might get some lingering coffee taste in your tea. It looks like a similar device to gravity steepers as well though, you could just get a separate one like the Ingenuitea.

I am an unashamed Sleepytime tea addict...it's a must every night before bed. Yes, it's a mix, but chamomile is the main note. I got one of these and one of these for his recent Happ-Tea Birthday with a bunch of quality loose leaf black teas. He decided he just likes his Red Rose English Breakfast tea bags, so I get to play around with the tea steeper. I quit caffeine, so I haven't tried those, but I've tried Tranquil Dreams so far which I really liked. I think I might get a just straight up chamomile and lavender blend next go around.

Long live tea!! :-D

What are you doing right now? Be as specific as possible. (And don't answer commenting on this thread, smart ass) I'm commenting on this... oh. I'm sitting at my dining room table with my laptop, watching Into the Wild on my TV, drinking tea, and coloring in a coloring book. :P

Why are you doing that? I'm not feeling very well, so I didn't feel like doing much else.

What are you going to do tomorrow? Apply for jobs. YAY FUN.

Name one long-term goal you have (A month off or more) I'd love to publish my own cookbook.

What is on your desk? Be as specific as possible. I'm not near my desk, but let's see... There are plastic drawers with post-it notes, notepads, and recipe cards. Lots of pens, sharpies, highlighters, and pencils in jars next to a picture frame. There are binders, a culinary book, and a sketch book. It's a mess.

Open the nearest book to a random page and post the first sentence from that page. "The straw on the floor stank of urine. There was no window, no bed, not even a slop bucket."

What book was it? A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

What was the last thing you had to eat? Chocolate covered peanuts. :D

What is the last book you read? Did you like it? The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It was a great read, I really enjoyed it.

What is the best book you've read since the start of 2013? Perks!

Link to the item you want most on your wishlist. hmm... This or this.

Zweihander

If you want something simple to make tea for one, I would suggest something like this. I don't like the in-mug infusers. I usually end up having to look around for something awkward to get it out of the cup like a fork or chopsticks otherwise I end up burning my fingers. Tea pots are nice but I find them to be more ceremonial than I feel like dealing with when I just want something quick.

As far as temp goes, usually for green tea you're good to go once small bubbles start forming in the pot/kettle. You don't need to worry about having a thermometer nearby or anything like that.

And the corn pops green tea you're describing sounds like Genmaicha.

Hi! If you want to get into tea, I would reccomend starting by watching Alton Brow's episode on tea here. It's a good background on everything involving tea and tea brewing.

If you have a Peet's Coffee near you, you can go and order mugs of tea (brewed with loose leaf). They will give you free hot water refills so you can drink as much as you can handle. You can find a tea you like without having to commit to a huge container.

I prepare my tea in the morning in a tea pot (I have this one, but I don't like it because it's hard to clean) and pour it into a travel mug.

They make travel mugs that are similar to a frech press (here) where you put the leaves and hot water in and just push down a stopper to stop brewing. I'm really picky about the lids on my travel mugs, so I don't own one.

For resusable tea bags, the most popular style is a [tea ball] (http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Stainless-Steel-Mesh-Ball/dp/B00004RIZ7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407090137&sr=8-1&keywords=tea+ball) (although the one I linked is a little too small to allow the tea to fully unfold). They are cheap and fairly easy to clean, but you have to be careful where you store them so they don't get bent up.

They also make tea bags for loose leaf tea. These would be easy to pop into your travel mug. You can also find bags made of muslin that can be washed out, but I don't know where you would do that.

Hario 700ml teapot is excellent and pretty cheap as well. The basket is huge, which is a significant advantage, imo. The lack of spout makes it more compact and it's top is very wide, so it's super easy to clean when it stains.

A bottom-dispensing teapot like this one is a super easy way to do gongfu. You can look it up on youtube or something to see exactly how it works.

It doesn't have the same romance as traditional teaware, and you can't build up a patina like with yixing clay or other unglazed ceramics, but it is super convenient. Sticking a coffee filter in the bottom makes cleanup even easier.

Do you have a teapot already?

Nut and Spice sampler

Orchard Black Teas sampler

I'm sure everyone thinks I'm a shill for Adagio at this point, but I swear I'm not! I'm just very happy with their teas.

EDIT: oh, you like herbals!

Tazo Passion (teabags, but sooo good)

Blood Orange

Herbal Tea sampler

What do you think about ingeuinitea?

Am I getting sucked into some gimmick or is it actually convenient?

I would go for the white tea but it's kind of expensive for a beginner, so Alishan Milk Oolong it is.

The reason I'm getting into tea is because it seems like it's a healthy alternative to straight water, but the taste puts me off atm so a fruity, creamy flavor would be nice

This Alishan Milk Oolong brand seem good to you?

Random question: Do you believe drinking tea before sleeping is bad? I've heard it has caffeine but idk if it's tea-specific or what else, the green tea I have doesn't seem to bother me

Lastly, any specific method of measuring water temperature you recommend? Should I just buy a thermostat and wait for boiling water to cool?

Brewing really isn't complicated at all if you invest in the right equipment. You can get a functional variable temperature kettle for ~$40 on amazon and an easy to use tea pot for ~20.

Honestly I would recommend decent equipment first over a wide variety of teas to begin with.

I would also point you to upton tea which has really cheap samples and offers pretty much the best price for any tea I have found on multiple vendors.

You should try one of the many mug strainers. They sell them all over the place. You said you were in Canada so you could try DavidsTea, Teavana/Starbucks, or even Chapters has some. They allow for more room than a tea ball (which I also hate) but allow for less than a pot.

You could also try just getting a smaller pot. I use this teapot as one of my smaller ones. The Hario pots are pretty amazing plus it's nice to see your tea brew in the glass. Some people don't like glass teapots though.

Definitely go loose leaf.

For the tea brewing
This teapot is nice. I also like this style of in-cup infuser - both give the tea a reasonable amount of room to expand.

I would recommend starting with samples - What-Cha do two sample sets - one for a range of blacks, greens and oolongs; and the other just for Taiwan oolongs. They are in the UK and ship quickly. Linky if you're interested

I would probably recommend starting with oolong - iirc roasted have a lower caffeine content, but you'd need to check. Based on what you've said I think there are quite a few oolongs you will enjoy.

Adagio do some flavoured teas which might be worth looking into, too.

My understanding re caffeine in tea is that per-cup it has less than coffee, and one of the other compounds in it (l-theanine?) makes it less buzzy. I've also read - but am not sure how true it is - that if you re-brew with the same leaves each subsequent brew has a bit less caffeine than the previous one.

Beyond that I can't comment on the caffeine content, as caffeine doesn't much affect me (something which I'm incredibly pleased about, as I do have periods of suffering from anxiety and tea helps calm me).

Here's something I think you would really like!


And this tea pot looks really nice!


I would love this cute vaporeaon plush!!

A mattress topper will make your bed feel ten times more comfortable

As for me I would like this tea pot

Congrats on the job and good luck!

In case anyone is wondering, this is the best way to steep tea. Many good quality oolong, gunpowder and any other large loose leaf teas need room to bloom and tea balls and bags just can't accommodate that. It's also very easy to clean, especially if you have a sink strainer.

Source: voted best way to steep by America's Test Kitchen, also my ex manages a tea store.

Those look great!

I am a tea fiend, so I can help you out most there. :) I personally own the first cup and am personally not happy with it, despite its good looks. (FYI, tea leaves easily get stuck in the drain slits, not to mention it's incredibly fragile.)

I would instead suggest this teapot instead, which is still glass and the filter is good quality. Pro-tip: For tea that expands into much larger leaves (blossoming or oolong teas), no need for the filter so you can see the beauty of the tea expanding. :) Another suggestion would be the Teavana Perfectea Maker for a gravity brewer that lets you see the tea leaves brewing.

I just started playing LoL. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

These are basically amazing.

And I am absolutely in love with this stuff.

I posted it in my own response, but it's worth another mention..the Bodum Kenya, or the Bodum Assam are both great for steeping loose leaf tea. I brew most of my tea in a Kenya, including making stronger brews for iced tea. These pitchers/kettles/whatever are good at keeping leaves separate, so you can pour your tea over a full pitcher of ice from them and stick it in the fridge.

Also, any French Press does this job pretty handily.

Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot, 700ml - $15

Teaology Luna Double Wall Borosilicate Tea Cup - $3.95

I'm very much still learning, but I love this cheap little setup and it's been working especially well with my Oolongs and Greens. I picked up a sample of Pu erh Pearls from Adagio (pictured), and it works just fine for that as well if you're okay with western brewing techniques.

Sorry this is a bit late!

Honestly that bottle seems like a pain to clean and not worth the effort (it looks to be like a vinegar bottle?). Even with a decent brush, the neck of that bottle is so small that it seems unlikely that the brush can be fully utilized.

If I may, I would suggest this instead. I actually have it and have found it to be AMAZING for cold brew. There's plenty of space for the leaves to expand and the spout is sharp enough that there's almost never any drippage. It's not too large either and can be tucked away into the side shelf of a refrigerator.

You don't need much in terms of apparatus. Personally, I would begin with the following. Keep in mind I am only talking about loose leaf tea.

• Something like this to which you add loose leaf tea, water, let it steep, and then push the button down to decant
  
• A digital scale to accurately measure the quantity of dry leaf. Something simple like this will suffice
  
• If you're going to experiment with a variety of tea types (black, green, white, oolong, etc.), I would highly recommend a variable temp kettle. Or at the very least, an immersion thermometer. This will help you accurately measure the temp of water. I have this one
  
  The above combined will set you back <$60. Honestly, you can substitute the Kamjove tea maker with a simple all purpose teapot, eyeball the dry leaf instead of weighing it, and guess the temp of water and do without the variable temp kettle - I personally wouldn't do it for a variety of reasons, but if you're on a budget...
  
  The next step, and the most important one, would be to get your hands on samples of tea. A lot of vendors, incl myself, offer samples. Get small quantities from a variety of vendors so that you have enough tea to experiment with, but not so much that you're stuck with a large quantity of tea you don't like. Once you have sampled enough to determine your likes and dislikes, invest in larger quantities of tea.
  
  Good luck!

I've been using [Finum Brewing Baskets] (https://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-large-black/dp/B000J3JFJU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479061928&sr=8-1&keywords=finum+basket+large) for the last decade or so for brewing one cup of tea at a time. The fine mesh is easy to clean if you rinse is out right after steeping. The large one is ideal for most mug sizes. I find the medium-sized basket to be a little too small for mugs larger than 10 oz.

EDIT: If you're looking for a decent and affordable tea pot, [Hario] (https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479062141&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+tea+pot) makes some good ones. Despite the glass looking thin, it's actually quite sturdy.

rah is of course right to suggest you spend more of your budget on tea, and less on ceremony. however, then you should instead invest in an effective tea brewer/seeper that makes good tea and skip the ceremonial pieces altogether. like a "french press" for coffee, there are various contraptions that may do a better job at making tea than ceremonial pieces. or as rah suggests, simply get any teapot with a large mesh center basket and go from there. I'm not advocating these products, simply giving you more to consider.
http://www.amazon.com/Teavana-PerfecTea-Tea-Maker-16oz/dp/B004X7DIHI
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0

Hario. I own this particular size (450 ml), and it's perfect for 1 big cup or 2 smaller cups. The glass will get hot where the tea contacts it, but the handle has never gotten hot on me. It pours really well and is easy to clean too -- always a plus at work.

I added Davidson's Christmas tea to my WL recently. What I recommend is good gear. There are $10 digital scales accurate to 0.1g, so once you find out how much tea you like for a large mug (I like 6g), you can get it right every time. And an IngenuiTEA teapot makes it fun to brew, too.

Hint: You probably don't need to buy a 500g weight to calibrate the scale. A roll of brand-new pennies, 2.5g each, will probably give you plenty of material to work with.

For a variable temp kettle I just got this and it works great. Same brand as top comment but it's variable temp (also comes bigger in a 1.7L)

For infusing: this is neat and not too pricey, not glass but allows you to see the leaves. You can also get one of those neat glass mugs that have the infuser in it that you just lift out, I've got one of them too but not a link.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dr-Who-Tardis-Tea-Pot/dp/B0083AR8LI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2I041LAM33CUW&coliid=I1N7XD889I129L

This, well, I'd like to say saving up but with every spare pound or so I find spare I buy gifts for the redditgifts exchange >.<

But yes, this. Where I live I share a kitchen with others who tend to not fill the kettle up after they empty it, so a nice teapot would let me enjoy the tea in my room :D

And let's get Saving Private Ryan!

Can someone point me in the right direction of a website that I can get affordable fresh loose leaf tea? I am an avid coffee drinker and I'm looking into tea when I want a hot drink to enjoy and relax with. I am a college student so budget is an issue. Also, what kind of gear should I start off with to brew my own loose leaf tea? I have a gooseneck kettle for coffee so boiling water is not an issue. I found this teapot on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZOLU1VI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A288LJKUH48CHC&psc=1), is it good quality?

Starting out, all I'd get is a simple pot with a removable infuser such as this. Something like that will make perfectly great tea. You can always get a fancy tea set later; it's mostly an aesthetic thing.

Try an insulated/double walled mug (I have several), and you could also invest in a mug warmer to keep it warm.

I also just started using a cast iron tea kettle that is heated underneath by a tea candle, and use small tea cups such as these. So the amount you pour is less, but the amount you drink will always be at that sweet spot and you just refill.

Hope this helps!

I use an IngenuiTEA to make my kratom tea. It steeps it for as long as I like (usually at least 15 minutes), and dispenses when I put it on top of a glass. I usually fill the glass it dispenses into with sugar and stir to dissolve, before pouring into another larger cup filled with ice. Cold, sweet, perfect.

I have this and it's awesome! I love it! You add hot water, stir and just put the cup on the bottom.

Yeah, the process is fun. :) I have one of these teapots, which is the perfect size for 3-4 servings, along with some simple Japanese ceramic teacups. Nothing fancy (maybe $25 all told) but Asian green teas aren't meant to be drunk in huge American mugs. If you have a decent digital thermometer then that helps to dial in your temps/timings.

im not sure if this is what you are looking for but I have used mine for over a year without any problems. It makes 4 cups of tea

http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-34-Ounce-Teapot-Stainless-Steel-Filter/dp/B0009VF4V0

Combined with a mug warmer and you have warm tea all day :)

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-MWBLK-Mug-Warmer/dp/B000CO89T8/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1414736043&sr=1-1&keywords=mug+warmer

This teapot is by far my favorite. I feel like Hario needs to hire me as a sales rep, I love these things so much. It is easy to clean, damn near unbreakable, and still looks brand new after years of regular use. I have all three sizes, but the 100ml is the one I reach for most often. I have clay pots, glazed, non glazed, and numerous other styles, but they all sit in a cupboard while the Hario is on the counter. I like to think that I learn a lot about a tea via color and how it changes, so I gravitate towards glass pots.

Morthy demands:

Item which would most make you seem like an old posh Englishman:

Most "oh god, I would never be seen with this in public" looking item:

Most phallic looking item:

Akeleie demands:

Most geeky item: Read by Alex Kingston ;_;

Item which would most help you achieve a goal: This is actually for a class next semester

Best item to bring to a deserted island: So I can see? I have no idea

I always recommend Japanese Hario Maru teapots, as I feel that they are relly well designed and made.

The infuser basket is big and easily removed when the steeping is done. It pours well without dribble and the short lip is not as frail as a long glass spout. The whole thing is easily washed. They come in three sizes.

I've had a gaiwan for a while, and like everyone has said, they're versatile and inexpensive. But like you, I started out with one of Teavana's steepers and I think at first the transition to gaiwans and gongfu style brewing was a bit intimidating- so my intermediary step was a glass teapot with a large infuser basket. I got the Hario ChaCha and I still love it and use it all the time, in addition to my gaiwan =)

Steeping tea is enjoyable to me. At minimum, you'll need a device for heating the water (kettle, either electric or stovetop), a container for steeping (teapot), a filter to catch the leaves (can be part of teapot or separate), and a cup for drinking.

I use these:

• Medelco kettle
  
• BIA Cordon Blue teapot and cup
  
• Steel ball strainer
  
  The process is simple.
  
  
• Place leaves into teapot.
  
• Heat water in kettle.
  
• Pour water into teapot.
  
• Place strainer at mouth of teapot while pouring tea into cup.
  
  You can alternatively place the leaves in the strainer and stick it inside the teapot to steep. That's slightly simpler, but it doesn't allow the leaves to fully expand.
  
  Some teapots are also designed to ease the steeping process further, like Adagio's Ingenuitea, which I own and yet don't use as much. You place the leaves inside, steep, and then the tea flows out from the filtered mesh bottom, directly into a cup.
  
  Once you've developed tea as a hobby and have certain regional or style preferences, such as Japanese sencha (green tea) or Chinese oolongs, you can invest in steeping equipment specific to those, such as kyusu or tetsubin and Zisha teapots or gaiwan. These are by no means required, but they can heighten the experience, especially if you decide to prepare the tea in the culturally traditional manner; see Japanese and Chinese tea ceremonies.

Amazon. Hiware Good Glass Teapot with... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZOLU1VI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I like it. It's stovetop safe, so I've used it to brew Chai in milk, but mostly I like being able to see the different colors of teas I drink.

So I currently have 2 teapots; one is about 450ml and was a second-hand gift, but sadly it's too small to fit my infuser basket in. The other one is a fancier porcelain one, but the issue is that it's a litre. My infuser basket fits great, but unless I fill it rather full (900 or 1000ml of water), it doesn't work amazingly because it's one of those taller, thinner ones.

After browsing the sub I found http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hario-Stainless-Glass-Teapot-Infuser/dp/B0006HINDI/ (which is 450ml) and it seems to have a much bigger infuser basket than I currently have. I really want to try gongfu, too...blah, I'm going to end up with far too many teapots at this rate.

I've used this as my only teapot for several years:

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0

It's pretty minimal and maybe not what you're looking for. I've fumbled it several times and never broken it. Works great with every kind of tea.

I love my BODUM Assam tea press. It works like a French press but keeps the tea from continuing to brew. Plus you can get it almost entirely plastic free so it looks fancy despite being fairly affordable.
https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Assam-Medium-Plastic-Filter/dp/B00005LM0Z

I have this Bodum teapot at home which does stop the tea from steeping when the plunger is pressed down. A French press won't work in the same way. It sounds like you've figured out a pretty good solution for brewing tea with a French press though. It's either that or pour all the tea into a separate container once the steeping is done.

I've seen a few different styles of spout-style filters that come with pots but I have never seen them sold separately. The most common are the "spring filters" and look like this. They also have fancy ones like this. Dragon Tea House's glass pots all have the spout filter but they never sell them seprately!

Invest in an infuser and start drinking loose leaf tea. The dust/scraps that go into bagged tea can't hold a candle to the fresh, rich flavour you get out of the full leaf. You can find single-serve mugs, mesh strainers, and full-size kettles. The difference is noticeable and makes the whole experience more enjoyable.

You actually can do that if you have a big enough tea basket or a small enough cup. You do it a little different tho.

You want to put the strainer in the cup or gaiwan first, then put the leaves in the strainer. Then when you're done steeping, instead of pouring the tea out of the gaiwan into the cha hai, you can just lift the strainer out and drink from the gaiwan.

So it's basically like standard western style tea brewing, but with very short steeps and a lot of leaf for the amount of water. I use about 8 grams of tea leaves for 90ml of water and then start steeping 8 to 10 seconds. Every steep I increase by a couple of seconds. You can often get 10 steeps from a tea, which at 90ml of water per steep is almost a liter of tea! For good puerh I sometimes can get 20 steeps or more.

They also make a device that is a self contained gaiwan and cha hai. I have one but they're a little difficult to clean. https://www.amazon.com/Kamjove-Gongfu-Teapot-Infuser-TP-757/dp/B00MA4WSU4

An electric programmable kettle with different temperature settings will cost you about $30-$40 I just picked up this one, pretty decent, probably a bit too much water for one sitting to be honest. It's pretty important to get the right temperature for tea since too hot scalds certain types, and too warm doesn't get the full benefit of others.

At work, I'd go with those infuser cups, since it's really convenient. I don't have this one but I've got something similar to it.

With about $60ish left, you can get quite an assortment of teas.

People seem to really like the Bonavita gooseneck variable temp kettle. I wouldn't recommend brewing tea in your kettle. It's better to have a separate teapot for brewing. Something like this or this maybe.

My dream, it has become real. I wanted to do something similar for years, well done finding the motivation to actuate it.

​

I'd always picture using something like: https://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-ingenuiTEA-Bottom-Dispensing-Teapot/dp/B000FPN8TK/

I was kind of being sarcastic about being a snob. I'll drink folgers or earl grey or w/e is available and it won't bother me, but I like making good stuff when I'm at home.

The grey jar is dried lavender I use for lavender tea sometimes. The "french press" is actually a nifty thing for brewing tea.

The pu-ehr I got was just some random one I found on amazon called "yunnan longrun". One of these days I'm going to put in a big order on yunnan sourcing or something and try out a bunch of different teas.

I just got a Forlife Stump 16-Ounce that I've been pretty happy with. It's probably a bit smaller than what you're looking for though.

If you want a cheap teapot that will work well with any type of tea (as I did) I got this. For <$20 it gets the job done. As a bonus, if it breaks, you're not heartbroken.

http://www.amazon.com/Primula-40-Ounce-Teapot-Infuser-Flowering/dp/B002T1TUHC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1318022254&sr=8-2

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Cha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0?th=1&psc=1

Its glass but 300 ml pot. Large basket. I have the 700 ml one and love it.

I've tried a few different pots and by far, like really really far this is the best one.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007WTBQ0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've since bought 3 of them. One for work, one for the kitchen, and one in my office.

I have this. Dirt cheap, ceramic, Amazon prime, I use it every day.

Perfect for two mugs. Sometimes when I brew something really fluffy like silver needles, I have to pour a little extra water over top and stir a bit to cover everything.

I have this one which I use at work:
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417840377&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+tea+pot

It's about the right size for 2-3 cups of tea and works really well. Added bonus is that if you take the mesh out you can steep a flowering tea and watch it bloom!

If I go to re use the loose leaf how do I do it? I usually only drink one cup at a time. Do I just take the infuser out, let the tea dry lol? Or is it only intended on steeping again right after the first?

Also, i was looking at this combo https://www.amazon.com/Epica-6-Temperature-Variable-Stainless-Cordless/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486621787&sr=8-3&keywords=variable+kettle plus https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B000NVMC4I/ref=pd_bxgy_79_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=W6562BAB0YZQKH1YGCTM&th=1 i assume I get the water to the desired temp then pour into the infuser then straight into my mug?

Finally, as for the variable kettle is it okay to only pour one cup into it? Also, I heard a complaint that it didn't heat the water all the way up to the desired temp?

Damn, that's unfortunate! this teapot seems to be pretty good, I hear good things since the infuser is so big it allows a lot of room for the leaves to expand - also cheaper!

My favourite western-style teapot is the Hario Maru. The Ikea Riklig mentioned earlier also looks nice. IMHO the most important thing about glass pots, if you go for one, is that they are easy to clean: No bamboo parts, and no curvy spouts.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_t.bYDbFZ2G82Y 😊

Or the smaller (300ml) version of the Hario teapot. I bought one after it was recommended here, and I love it.

I highly recommend a tea brewer like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-ingenuiTEA-Bottom-Dispensing-Teapot/dp/B000FPN8TK/

It'll open the world to loose leaf and your options become vast. Otherwise check out Adagio or David's Tea for Mightly Leaf like teas.

> hario teapot

Like these:

Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot (700ml) Hario https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_bxaHzbVRCQ14M via @amazon

Hario Fukami Tea Pot (700ml) Hario https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BD1O0WO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_wAaHzbACZRYP5 via @amazon

Hario Pure Glass Tea Pot (700ml) Hario https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GYVDKO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_exaHzb99HJJDR via @amazon

At 700 mL (23.7 oz) they seem a bit small compared to the other 40 oz pots I've been looking at. Thanks for the recommendation, though!

For daily simple use, I've always enjoyed using the ingenuitea:

http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-32-Ounce-Ingenuitea-Teapot/dp/B000RJDX3K/ref=pd_sim_k_1

Though the filter is plastic, I've no no problems with it to date (8 months), and the pour is fantastic!

Is something like [this Hario kyusu] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HINDI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_AvJgVokcDe4Tk) what you're looking for? I recently bought one and absolutely love it. The infuser is removable so I just use it as a strainer to avoid that metallic taste. Works wonderfully and at $14 it's a steal.

Amazon reviews are overwhelmingly positive. I don't have one since I'm happy with my current infuser, but if you're interested I would say go ahead.

The forlife is a good infuser, I have used it in the past. At work, I used to use an Ingenuitea because it is really straightforward to use and clean. And then any old mug is fine.

The leaf and water matter the most, but make sure your leaves have room to bloom and move around, or you'll get a weird brew.

Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot glass teapot w/ large stainless steel basket, makes 2 cups of tea or other herbal drink. I love this teapot!

The Keuring aint mine. It's my roommates. If I were to donate it, it would end very badly. Haha.

He also bought me a tea thingy and a bunch of teas.

I love all of it.

I recommend the Adagio ingenuiTEA, which I've used for years. It's dead simple, and brews a nice big cup. Plastic isn't usually BIFL material, but mine's withstood 5 years of regular use without failing at any point. It's dishwasher safe, so you won't have to hand wash. I wash mine in the dishwasher maybe once a month to give it a good cleaning, and just a dump and rinse in between.

You can also get it on Amazon for a decent discount.

I swear by ingenuiTEA (they also have a 64oz one). I've bought all the tea lovers in my life one. It's dishwasher-safe, the handle never gets hot to the touch, and you can steep as little or as much loose-leaf as you like. It's freaking magic to everyone who sees it for the first time, because it's gravity-fed and all the tea drains out through the bottom into the mug.

Make sure you buy at least one spare filter, though. I've accidentally thrown one away when throwing out the used tea leaves (look, I don't function well in the morning before I've had my first cuppa, okay???) and another time I accidentally popped one out in the sink and it fell down the garbage disposal, I didn't see it, turned on the disposal, and it made the most god-awful noise. Whoops.

\ They recommend the 64oz size good for "brewing a pitcher of iced tea". Well, screw that, I have a 72oz monster mug and you bet your ass I'm going to enjoy every last drop. Pitchers, hah.

I have this in the 700 ml and love it https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0

This has been my go-to for a few years now. Makes the best cup of tea I've ever had.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MA4WSU4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491921419&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=gongfu+teapot

My advice for a simple way to brew that is really tasty is: get one of these, learn how to use the gong fu style of tea brewing in it. Your tea will taste less biter, have stronger aromas and you'll get many infusions out of each brew.

Here's a good video that explains how it works, go to the 25 minute mark. Or watch the whole video for education on all brewing styles. It's a great YouTube channel for tea education.

https://youtu.be/puldqGnW9P0

Don't worry about the short brew time, caffeine dissolves very quickly 😉

I just ordered this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007WTBQ0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3TCNCNGLOHBSA. It gets great reviews--check out the review by stevek216. I can update when I get it.

I got my wife one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FPN8TK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_B8k3AbCXHXN9Z

Does great at keeping leaves out.

I have two of these in my fridge most of the time they're great.

I had to show you two.

The one with the fish is smaller and I don't use it as much because I always reach for the big ones, but I have owned that thing for probably 25 years -- I bought it in Hawaii when we performed at the ProBowl halftime show when I was in high school.
The second is, admittedly, a Starbucks mug but it's so my taste and the colors are amazing and it does NOT say Starbucks on it.

Also included in the picture is the reason my husband has banned me from buying any more tea... and that's not all of it. I could open a store, I think.

As proof of my tea geekery, I have had this on my wishlist for ages. Of course, I could also replace my favorite mugs with something like this.

Of all the silly nonsense, this is the stupidest tea party I've ever been to in all my life.

I've done it. I usually throw all of my tea in one of these. I'll tear open one or two green tea packets and throw them in sometimes to compliment whatever else is in there. It's not bad, actually. I've never tried with anything other than green tea, though.

edit I wouldn't suggest putting it in an infuser, though. I've tried that and it makes for gritty tea.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_bxaHzbVRCQ14M <-----LOVE THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's a reason they have like 1000's of reviews. It's a lot more sturdy than it looks, too.

Not exactly pretty or quirky, but DARNED useful!

Am extremely excited for my paycheck so I can get one. :D

[This] (http://www.happymugcoffee.com/darktea/213-pu-erh-bird-nest-china.html?ps_full_site=1) tea. I ordered their gyokuro, keemun Mao feng, Jasmine pearls, gf oolong, and Taiwan high mountain as well if you have any input on those.

Also ordered [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0006HINDI/ref=ox_sc_act_image_2?smid=A3TCNCNGLOHBSA&psc=1) and [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IM42AZ4/ref=pd_aw_fbt_79_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BRN3K6M22VSK4D1DXZ8E). Any good as far as you know? I mostly drink and roast coffee but wanted to branch out.

It’s a tea brewer/ strainer like this:

Adagio Teas 16 oz. ingenuiTEA Bottom-Dispensing Teapot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FPN8TK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_29l1Cb61CSYJV

They can be a PIA to clean.

It depends on what your brew method is. If you're using something like this it takes 1-2 minutes to make a cup. Follow up cups are even quicker as the leaves have already been prepared.

I had one of these but it was a bit too fragile for cleaning out daily in the office, so I got a cheap version at a local market for like $5 with a plastic handle and covering.

I like my [glass Bodum teapot] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005LM0Z/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=569136327&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0009VF4V0&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=5E48DC1YZBEKJVNYJX5W). It makes enough for two and a bit of the huge mugs we use and stops the tea stewing once it's done.

Bring one of these and then make your own Chai. =)

I have the same one as well and love it but I got mine off of amazon much cheaper than teavana.

For single cups, my mom uses this type of handy guy.

I've been wanting to get something like this one.

Both work for loose leaf, both are good for small quantities, both are fairly cheap.

Just another tip, gunpowder green tea is pretty good and it's one of the cheapest loose-leaf types I've found. Five or six bucks (USD) for a quarter pound, which should get you two cups a day for about a month if you reuse the leaves. If there's a Peet's Coffee and Tea near you, they sell it, or you can get it (along with other great teas) at Harney and Sons.

I use this to brew my loose leaf tea, it's dead simple. And of course, once you start getting obsessed you can check out /r/tea for more info.

I'll add to the anecdotal evidence: I drink tea all the time now, which both keeps me feeling full and stops me from drinking more high-calorie beverages. That's enough for me even if tea doesn't have any weight loss benefits beyond that.

I use one that I believe is the same as his. You can purchase it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UixazbXDQPTK9

It's very nice. I've used it for maybe a year and a half and have little issue it.

I ordered one of their other products and get it today - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007WTBQ0/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza. They make good products.

This one works better based on my experience with both. https://www.amazon.com/Teaze-Tea-Infuser-Pot-Cup/dp/B0053YPXAA
My local tea shop starting using teaze instead because it pours more consistently.

Your last example can actually be even shorter. I usually give links like this to people:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0

(Also of note: You can change the text before that to anything you want. For example, http://www.amazon.com/Adorable-Fluffy-Kittens/dp/B0007WTBQ0#.)

I can technically still brew gongfu with my 300ml teapot https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B0007WTBQ0

I just put the leaf and everything in the gaiwan and then strain it out but I use the teapot for western brewing alot (which is what i mainly do is western)



I use the 350ml version, but yeah i'll find a lid soon. I've been told 1g per 100ml for western style. Does that sound correct?

I find this to be excellent for straining Kratom when making tea!

Put boiling water and kratom in the top of one of these https://www.amazon.com/Teaze-Tea-Infuser-Pot-Cup/dp/B0053YPXAA

Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Place the infuser on top of mug, add sweetener, done.

I think I'll go with this teapot then, is there anything I should be aware/wary of when looking at gaiwans? some of them seem way more expensive and I don't know if going with a cheaper one is advisable. For those specifically, I might try taking a look at the asian markets near me tonight or tomorrow to compare before I commit.

What you might be looking for is a gravity tea brewer. They are super convenient and quick as well as being really easy to use.

You boil water or heat it to the temperature for your tea, put the tea leaves in the gravity tea brewer, pour the hot water over the leaves, let it sit for the amount of time for the tea, and then set the gravity tea brewer on top of your mug and the tea comes out. Cleanup is as simple as dumping the leaves in the compost, a flowerbed, or trash, and rinsing out the brewer with water.

I don't know if you use amazon or not, but here are a few options:

https://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-ingenuiTEA-Bottom-Dispensing-Teapot/dp/B000FPN8TK

https://www.amazon.com/Teavana-Black-Perfectea-Maker-16oz/dp/B004X7DIHI

https://www.amazon.com/GROSCHE-Aberdeen-Removable-BPA-Free-Food-safe/dp/B00KIW0T9C

Loose leaf tea can be purchased from one of the many sites in the sidebar or at a local store. I find loose tea at my local natural store in bulk so I can measure out my own.

I have Bodum 17oz It fills about 2 mugs and looks like it works the same way as your larger pot. It does the job.

I usually use this magical contraption that /u/rarelyserious got me. No microwave could come close to the perfection it brews.

Not really, it's a personal gravity steeper. Super easy to use and works with anything. Also, my bad... I lied, they went up in price since I last looked. The one I would recommend is $16, but it would change your tea game.
https://www.amazon.com/Kamjove-Gongfu-Teapot-Infuser-TP-757/dp/B00MA4WSU4/ref=sr_1_8?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1481078936&sr=8-8&keywords=kamjove&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

Seriously, I use this thing at work multiple times a day.

I kinda like this one: http://www.poshbananasdirect.co.uk/mr-t-lisenced-product-tea-for-one-teapot-and-cup-set---quirky-gift-idea-for-men---mr-t-merchandise-2108-p.asp

oh and this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Tardis-Tea-DR182/dp/B0083AR8LI/ref=sr_1_42?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1523432960&sr=1-42&keywords=teapot

This is the one I have. I bought it a year ago and it's served me well through college so far.

Check out some of Hario's stuff on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IM42AZ4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002LW0HVM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A Hario is always worth considering and quite cheap.

Teavana is ludicrously overpriced. Their heavy iron teapots are marked over a hundred bucks and you can find them on amazon in the 30-60 range Black, Red, Green.

Also if you want blooming tea you can find it on amazon for about $12.

How large?

Hario makes a couple different 700mL glass teapots that you can get on amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTBQ0

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GYVDKO

You could try a tea pot with a strainer inside like the Hario Kyusu.

The IngenuiTea teapot from Adagio is cheaper, does the same thing, and doesn't give any money to Teavana. You can't lose.

buy this.
http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-16-Ounce-Ingenuitea-Teapot/dp/B000FPN8TK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331854860&sr=8-1

make your own teas.