Teapot

Tea parties used to be one of the many events where ladies of social standing subtly flaunted their riches. Eventually, tea for two became a popular pastime for people who want to engage in relaxing and more intimate conversations. Enjoying tea then became an individual activity, as one relaxes with a cup of tea in one hand while getting lost in a book, a peaceful scenery or in one's own thoughts. However, making tea in a teapot that's good for many but enjoyed by one is wasteful. Teabag preparations in mugs, meanwhile, seem like impersonal approaches to an otherwise personal repast. Thankfully, enjoying tea on your own has been made more enjoyable with the tea for one teapot.

The Yixing teapot

A teapot for one serving isn't exactly a new innovation. Though the teapot wasn't invented at the exact moment as the tea drink, the early teapot was actually more of a personal kettle. The Yixing teapot is the precursor to the modern teapots of today except that it can only hold as much as 100 ml of tea or liquid, just enough for one serving or one person. Think of the Yixing teapot as a cup with a lid and a spout . Though it resembles a miniature teapot like the size of your toy, a Yixing teapot was not made for play, but rather as an everyday tool that aided early tea drinkers in consuming their tea.

A Yixing teapot is also exceptional not only for its size, but also for other properties as well. A Yixing teapot is usually made with a special kind of clay found in the Yixing province of China called Zisha clay. This clay is of durable type and can withstand boiling water without cracking. The interiors of a Yixing teapot are unglazed; the tannin and flavor of the tea brewed in it are absorbed through the porous walls. This quality of the Yixing teapot works to its advantage as it becomes seasoned through use. It is said that the tea made in a Yixing teapot actually has more potent taste due to the tannin and flavor that has been seasoned inside it.

Single-serve teapot

The modern single-serve teapot perfectly holds tea enough for one person. Though not as crude or fashioned from the same material as Yixing teapots, single-serve teapots are visual treats that come in different designs and variations. A single-serve teapot can come in a set that includes a teapot, which may be stacked on top of a matching cup. Single-serve teapot sets can make wonderful gifts to friends or family, commonly found in gift shops or tea-specialty stores.