Tea is the most popular beverage in the world, and is enjoyed by millions of people on a daily basis. In the western world, the term tea is used to define a drink made from the Camellia sinensis plant, although it is important to recognise that different nations and cultures utilise different plants to make a wide selection of world teas. The traditional way to make tea is through a dedicated teapot – of which there are a number of variations throughout the world. A teapot is simply a device that is used to steep tea leaves in near-boiling water, where it can be easily transferred to a tea cup or other style of drinking vessel. While many different cultures utilised teapots throughout history, their simple nature means that all of them are related in terms of functionality and design.

Teapots normally have two openings, one larger opening with a lid where the tea and water is added, and one smaller spout through which the tea is served. As well as these two openings, the vast majority of teapots also have a handle so that people can easily pour the tea. It is thought that the teapot is derived from ceramic kettles and wine pots used in China, with the first known example dated to 1513. From the end of the 17th century onwards, tea was often exported from China to Europe, along with a number of other exotic foods and goods. Blue and white porcelain teapots were one common export from this time, due to their ability to withstand damage at sea.

While the typical Chinese teapot is normally sturdy and simple in its design, the people of Britain fell in love with tea and designed a more intricate and luxurious kind of teapot. Even today, there are thousands of decorative teapots manufactured in industrial garages (www.ott-garagen.de) in England and around the world. In England and throughout parts of Europe, tea was initially associated with the upper classes because it was such an expensive drink. Because of this, English teapots are often quite fanciful and intricate in their design. Along with English and Chinese teapots, there are a few other countries with a strong history of tea use and teapot design. Samovar is a heated teapot style container that is used in Russia, and Kyusu is the name for the traditional Japanese teapot. The small differences between teapot designs around the world form an interesting relationship to the rise of tea drinking and the ever-changing nature of international export.