As opposed to the tea kettle. The tea kettle being what you use to boil water for your tea. There's one I have my eye on but I haven't taken the plunge yet. On the other hand I really needed a good teapot. Winter is in full swing and there's nothing like a cup of tea to warm my bones on a chilly afternoon. I had a few requirements. It needed to be insulated so that tea wouldn't cool off before I could drink it and it needed to do its job well and be easily cleaned. The solution was the this teapot from Bonjour. It's not perfect (is anything?) but it does make a damn fine cup of tea. I've only had it for a few days but it has already brewed several cups for me. One of the hazards of having a toddler is that more cups end up cold on the counter instead of warm in my tummy.
The teapot has a stainless steel, perforated well in the center for the tea leaves and a plunger that allows you to stop steeping when the tea is strong enough to suit your taste. The plunger can be a bit awkward and in spite of this, the teapot works beautifully and I have no complaints. It's on the expensive side, as teapots go, although I considered it an investment. If I'm going to spend the money on premium tea leaves I ought to have a proper pot to brew them in. Now I do and not a moment too soon because it's the little pleasures that make my day feel special.