Striped Glass Teapot

There's a moment, about ninety seconds in, when a rosebud opens and colour starts bleeding through the water, in a ceramic pot you'd miss it entirely. Our striped glass teapot is blown from heat-resistant borosilicate, so it takes water straight off the boil, and the vertical ribbing catches the light and throws it back through the brew. Tea needs room to move, so rather than cramping the leaves into a mesh ball, they stay loose in the body of the pot while a fine coiled strainer sits inside the spout and holds everything back as you pour. It handles the awkward brews well: whole rosebuds, chrysanthemum heads, blooming tea bundles, chunky fruit blends, sliced ginger, herbs from the garden.

At 800ml it fills three to four cups, about right for two people over a long breakfast, or one person who doesn't want to get up again. The handle is a single smooth curve of glass, wide enough for a full grip rather than two fingers, and the lid sits flush with a rounded knob you can steady with a thumb mid-pour. Rinse with warm water after use, or wash on the dishwasher's top rack. Avoid setting the hot pot directly onto cold stone, and don't use it on a hob or direct flame.