Tetsubin Round Black Cast Iron Teapot vs Baalaka 20oz Glass Teapot

Buy the Tetsubin if you want tea that stays hot and a pot that will outlast everything else in the kitchen. Buy the Baalaka if you want to watch loose leaf or blooming tea steep and need to see the color. The cast iron holds heat far better and feels substantial, but it is heavy, needs hand washing and drying, and cannot go in a dishwasher. The glass pot is lighter and easier to clean, but borosilicate chips and cracks if knocked, and the 4.1 rating from 294 owners suggests a fair number of complaints.

• Choose the Tetsubin if you brew black or dark tea for one or two people and want it to stay hot through a long conversation.
• Choose the Baalaka if you brew green, white or blooming teas and want to watch the leaves open and the liquor color.