Glass Teapot 玻璃茶壺 bōlí cháhú

What it's for

Glass teapots exist for visual teas. Blooming flower teas, jasmine pearls unfurling, silver needle bobbing in the cup, and the color shifts of an aging sheng all benefit from being seen. Glass is also flavor-neutral and will not retain notes between sessions, which makes it a fair tool for testing or comparing teas without the seasoning bias of a clay pot.

History

Mass-produced borosilicate teapots emerged in the 20th century after Otto Schott formulated the heat-resistant glass in 1893. The form became popular in Western and Chinese markets in the late 20th century, often paired with built-in stainless infuser baskets. It has no deep ceremonial lineage, which is also its strength: it is a modern, neutral tool that judges no tea.

How to use

Preheat with hot water to avoid thermal shock, even though borosilicate is engineered for it. For blooming teas, pour 80 C water over a single bloom in a 500ml pot and watch it open over two to three minutes. For white teas and jasmine pearls, use 80 to 85 C water and longer steeps than gongfu style. Remove the infuser basket promptly to prevent over-steeping. Hand wash; dishwasher cycles will eventually cloud the glass.

Buying tips

Confirm the glass is borosilicate, not soda-lime; only borosilicate handles real boiling water reliably. The infuser should reach near the bottom of the pot and have fine enough mesh to catch broken leaf. Avoid plastic strainers and rubberized seals, which degrade and add off-flavors. A simple, seamless body with no metal fittings is the most durable option.

Variants

• stovetop-safe glass teapots
• double-wall glass
• glass teapots with stainless infusers
• glass gaiwans

Best pairings

• jasmine pearl
• silver needle
• blooming flower teas
• young sheng puerh
• Darjeeling first flush

Teas to brew with this

• Jasmine Pearl - Green Tea, China
• Silver Needle - White Tea, China
• White Peony - White Tea, China
• Darjeeling First Flush - Black Tea, India
• Sheng Pu-erh - Pu-erh Tea, China