Teapots and tea kettles are often used interchangeably as a vessel to brew tea. But there’s some big differences between a tea kettle vs teapot, and they actually serve completely different purposes.
What’s the difference between a tea kettle and teapot?
A tea kettle is designed and made to withstand high temperatures and direct heat for the purpose heating water to brew tea. A teapot is usually a glass, ceramic, or porcelain vessel for the purpose of steeping and serving tea. A teapot is a pot with a lid and a spout that is used to brew and pour tea.
While both can be used to brew tea, a tea kettle is typically used to heat water, while a teapot is used to brew and serve the tea.
When you look at a tea kettle and a teapot the confusion is understandable, though. The two vessels are often very similar in shape if you were to look at the traditional tea kettle and teapot shapes side by side. But the shape is where the similarities end because the function of each vessel is completely different.
By understanding the differences between a tea kettle versus a teapot you’ll see that both a tea kettle and a teapot should have a place in your home.
Copper Tea Kettle
Tea Kettle Vs Teapot – What’s The Difference?
Understanding The Tea Kettle
When looking at a tea kettle vs teapot let’s look at the tea kettle first. A tea kettle is is a vessel that’s designed and made to withstand a direct heat source to heat water. This includes your electric or gas stovetop which could bring water to a boil. Although you now see electric tea kettles in the market to heat water most of us would still think of the stovetop tea kettle. Traditionally, a tea kettle will have a lid which will open and close so you can add water along with a spout to pour the water out.
Since tea kettles need to be durable and withstand heat the materials used are limited. You’ll typically see tea kettles made of stainless steel, aluminum, copper, or stone pottery. In addition to being durable, these materials conduct heat in a way that can heat water quickly. Also, tea kettles are what you think of when you hear the whistling as the water gets hot.
Tea kettles have also evolved over the years. A tea kettle used to be used just to heat water, but many companies have added a tea infuser to the kettle so you can boil water and brew tea at the same time. However, buying a tea kettle with an infuser is not recommended since you can burn your tea which effects the taste.
Porcelain Teapot
Understanding The Teapot
Next comes our look at the teapot as we analyze the tea kettle vs teapot. Unlike a tea kettle, a teapot cannot withstand continuous heat from a heat source. Teapots are meant for brewing tea by steeping a teabag or loose leaf tea. Tea bags or loose tea leaves would be placed in the teapot and then hot water would be poured over the tea for brewing.
A lot of teapots are made of glass, ceramic, or porcelain. With these materials being used teapots can tend to be pretty delicate. Actually, we could even use the word fragile. But teapots could also be extremely beautiful. There are artistic elements to a teapot, especially, as you look at teapots that are handcrafted or hand painted. These attributes mixed within the popularity of tea as a whole often make teapots and tea sets collectible.
A teapot is what you would often see, or think about, as you play “tea party” with a little girl or watch high tea on an old British T.V. show. In addition to being collectible because of artistry you’ll also have old and vintage teapots that could be purchased if this is of interest to you.
Electric Tea Kettle
Reasons To Have A Tea Kettle And A Teapot
So now we have discussed all the differences in a tea kettle vs teapot. But why should you use both a tea kettle and a tea pot? Well, it all has to do with how the tea is brewed best. The most flavorful tea will come when hot water and poured either over a teabag or over loose leaf tea. As a side note, you should also see why loose leaf tea is has many advantages over teabags and is recommended over teabags.
Convenience And Taste
In the United States, we’re more accustomed to drinking tea as an individual or served as a single cup of tea. Water is heated in a tea kettle on the stove and poured into the cup with a teabag. A cup of water might also be heated in the microwave and a teabag added later. However, historically and traditionally tea is served in larger groups. Because of the larger groups it would be better suited to transfer the heated water from a tea kettle into a larger vessel to brew the tea. Hence, you have the use of a teapot after heating water in a tea kettle.
Using a teapot has become a matter of taste versus convenience. But let’s assume we’re using a teapot to brew. Since we’re now using one vessel, the teapot, to brew our tea we also have more control and consistency of flavors from one cup of tea to the next. The tea is also more likely to be given the time to infuse properly into the water. So there is no doubt that you’ll get a better cup of tea if you allow the brew to take place in a teapot. Especially, if you are brewing using loose leaf tea like recommended earlier.
Easier Cleaning And Poor Taste
Believe it or not using two vessels makes for easier cleaning. This is assuming that you’re using loose leaf tea and not pouring directly into a cup. Many question the use of two vessels and purchase the tea kettle with the infuser in the kettle. But using a single vessel makes for difficult cleaning and poor flavors.
As the tea is heated in the kettle you run the risk of burning your tea. This was mentioned earlier. But as the tea burns it also can cake onto the side walls of the tea kettle. This makes for difficult cleaning. As an extreme example, think about the grease on the tray that goes in your oven. It never seems to go away. The shape of a kettle also makes it harder to clean the inside. For these reasons, the taste of the tea could ultimately be effected.
Final Thoughts On Tea Kettle Vs Teapot
It’s understandable that a tea kettle and a teapot are often confused. After all, they do look very similar. But both a tea kettle and teapot have specific functions to give you a great tasting cup of tea. There’s also something plain old fun about brewing tea in a traditional way.
Now that we had a close look at a tea kettle vs teapot we hope you see that each has a place in your home. You’ll have great tasting tea combined with functionality and beauty in your home.
