Teapots

The capacity follows from the number of drinkers. The 30 cl Shanghai is a pot for one person and fills about two cups, exactly enough for a tea while you work without the last mouthful going cold. The 60 cl Theemaker does four cups and is the size for two people at the table. The 90 cl Tokio pours six cups and is meant for guests.

Pay attention to the filter as well. The Shanghai and the Tokio have a removable filter, which means you lift the leaves out of the pot once the tea has drawn instead of pouring through them. Without that option the tea keeps steeping and the last cup is always stronger than the first. Bar Professional makes all three models in heat-resistant glass with a flat base.

First rinse the pot with hot water so the glass is up to temperature and your tea does not immediately lose twenty degrees. Allow about two grams of loose-leaf tea per cup. Black tea needs water at around one hundred degrees and three to five minutes; green tea about eighty degrees and two minutes; herbal tea can steep longer.

Remove the infuser as soon as the tea has reached the desired flavor and leave the pot to stand. Pour with a steady motion so the sediment stays at the bottom. If you are looking for something warm with alcohol, you can also serve a hot toddy or a well-rounded Irish coffee from the same pot for a group.

Rinse the pot straight after use, because tea residue clings to glass and turns brown after a few days. Warm water and a soft brush are usually enough. If a haze does build up, leave the pot to stand for half an hour with hot water and a spoonful of soda crystals.

Glass can take heat but not sudden differences in temperature. Never set a hot pot on a cold stone surface and do not pour boiling water into a pot that has just come out of the fridge. Rinse the filter separately, otherwise leaves stay caught in the mesh.

A pot calls for glasses that let you see the color. They’re with the tea glasses, including double-walled models that keep your hand cool. If you want to serve cold drinks in the same style, check out the carafes or the drink dispensers for larger groups. If you’re looking for alcohol-free recipes to pour, you’ll find them under mocktails. The rest of the serving utensils can be found under bar tools.