Are glass teapots safer than porcelain?
Based on 1 peer-reviewed studykitchen
Verdict: Safer
Both are clean if undecorated. Painted porcelain can leach metals; plain glass never does.
What's actually in it
Plain glass is inert. It doesn't add anything to tea. Plain white porcelain fires at high enough temperature to lock in any trace metals. Decorated porcelain (hand-painted florals, gold rims) can leach at the painted spots.
What the research says
A 2025 study in J Hazard Mater tracked lead and cadmium migration from decorated ceramics, with painted samples releasing the most.
Pick plain glass for a low-fuss, low-risk teapot. Plain white porcelain with no interior decoration works too.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Migration kinetics of cadmium and lead from ceramic mugs. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |
What to use instead
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