You need to check out Uptontea.com. Really. There's a lot of educational material there. Your local thrift store likely has lots of glazed pots.
I really like the Finum Tea Steeper; here's a
review.
I also like the glass teapot they review; it will shatter though, if you bang it against a ceramic sink. The glass is nice in that you can see the color of the tea as it steeps.
Good lord, this thread has grown legs! LOL
I've been on tea for about 2 and a half weeks now (can't remember the last time I had a coffee, which is kind of scary, b/c I used to be a coffee addict. The Finum Tea Steeper is actually in my pantry - cross my heart! I'll take a smart phone photo here soon and upload to share - rather funny that you brought that up.
Now it's just a matter of finding a teapot to accommodate it, a travel thermost, and of course - some teas! As to the reading, I have been as time permits - been a busy day despite being done with training through Thanksgiving. Sold the house, found a new one closer to the training facility, so now it's packing boxes, admin work, and reading a page or two here and there when I have time. It's just so much to take in!
The resources I'm reading include your own recommendation of Upton Tea, but also the English Tea Store (from
Quentin), and cornflake's Palais Des Thes. I promise you, reading it all, but have already reached my brain's limit for the day. Time to switch from tea to Theraflu and hopefully kick the last of this darn throat cold.
Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming!