First and foremost, you need to define your teapot needs so you can choose the right size. Volume: how much tea will you be brewing? Purpose: for decoration or for actual use? Decorative teapots have uneven surfaces and could therefore result in uneven tea, as some areas of water might be cooler than others. You'll also want to find a balance in your teapot. The lid, handle, and spout should have a pleasing alignment—but the aesthetics should also balance functionality and a touch of perfectionism. For example, pay attention to the teapot's spout. If it's not taller than the lid, you'll make a mess when carrying it from the kitchen to your living room. And it's best if the spout is pointed and narrow to avoid dripping everywhere!

The shape of a teapot reflects an aesthetic preference, yes, but that's not all! Whether your teapot is wide or elongated, there's a whole art to spatial awareness. We're not talking about feng shui here: we're still talking about tea, infusion, and the flavors to develop. Because not all tea leaves have the same shape. Therefore, it would be wrong to believe that a single teapot shape is suitable for all types of tea!

Tall, slender teapots produce the best results for most green and white teas, as well as for Taiwanese oolong and pu-erh teas. Smaller, rounder teapots, on the other hand, work wonderfully for black teas, as well as teas less common in the West but highly prized by connoisseurs, such as Tie Guan Yin, Da Hong Pao, or Phoenix Tea.

The differences between tall and wide teapots are therefore very important, as you want to give your tea room to develop. These differences also affect another aspect: the temperature of your water. A teapot that is wider than it is tall will typically lose heat more quickly than one that is taller. You might therefore need to compensate by choosing a teapot with thicker walls.