No matter what type of tea ware you choose, there are some general principles to consider that will ensure a better cup of tea.

Choose a Small Brewing Vessel

Smaller is better. Premium teas leaves have a lot of flavor to give, with the best teas yielding upwards of 8 to 10 infusions. To maximize a tea's flavor potential, it makes more sense to make only the amount of tea that you can drink in one sitting. Rather than a brew huge pot of tea that will quickly grow cold and even worse, bitter, before you can drink it all, it is much more satisfying to make and drink a flavorful, fresh cup of hot tea each time. Smaller brewing vessels naturally encourage this.

But not too small. Most high quality Chinese and Taiwanese tea leaves are much larger than their English counterparts. Some of the nicest Taiwanese oolongs can unfurl to be the size of one's palm. A tea will taste best when brewed in a vessel that allows all of the leaves enough room to have even and free flowing contact with the water. Don't cage your tea leaves in a tea ball. They'll be bitter for it.

No Metal or Plastic

Your tea should taste like itself -not like other teas or the teaware. Plastic and stainless steel should be avoided. Over time these materials absorb the flavor of whatever with which it comes into contact, and they may lend a plastic or metallic taste your tea as well. Tea ware made of yixing clay should only be used when one is ready to devote that piece to a particular type of tea or even one tea. Otherwise, glass, porcelain, or glazed ceramic wares are excellent choices if you enjoy variety.

Sorry, this includes cast iron pots. Despite their durability and pleasing look, avoid brewing your tea in cast iron pots. The iron retains too much heat, causing your tea leaves to over-brew. Over time the iron will eventually rust as well ' tea is naturally acidic. A rusty smell and taste does not enhance your tea drinking experience.

Cast iron pots, first developed in Japan, were originally intended for holding hot water only. Japan is predominately a green tea drinking nation. Green tea requires much lower brewing temperatures because of their more delicate leaves, especially the most premium Senchas and Gyokuros. Teas were and are always brewed in separate tea bowls or ceramic tea pots.

Use your cast iron pot for holding the hot water for your tea instead.