The four main types
1. Tealight (candle) warmers
These are the classic: a ceramic, glass or metal stand with a tealight inside and a ring or grate on top for the pot. They're cheap, quiet and need no plug. They also look good on a table, which is half the point.
Best for: tea at the table, sharing a pot, slow weekends.
Watch out for: an open flame, a stand that gets hot, and pots with very small bases.
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More detail: how to use a tealight teapot warmer safely.
2. Electric warmers
These are flat heating plates, like a larger mug warmer. Better models have several temperature settings and auto shut-off. There's no flame, so they're the sensible choice for offices, dorms and homes with kids or cats.
Best for: desks, all-day sipping, anyone who forgets things.
Watch out for: plates too small for your teapot's base, and models with no shut-off timer.
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3. Glass teapot and warmer sets
A heat-resistant (borosilicate) glass teapot, usually with an infuser, sold with a matching tealight stand. The set guarantees the pot fits the warmer. It's also very pretty with flowering teas or a red rooibos.
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More detail: glass teapot with warmer guide.
4. Cast iron warmers
Heavy, stable cast iron stands sized for Japanese-style cast iron teapots. Iron holds heat well, so a cast iron pot on a cast iron warmer stays hot for a very long time.
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More detail: cast iron teapot warmer guide.
What to check before you buy
- Fit. Measure the flat base of your teapot. The pot should sit securely on the warmer's ring with no wobble. Very small bases can tip on wide rings, and very wide pots can overhang and get uneven heat.
- Teapot material. Heat-resistant glass, porcelain, stoneware and cast iron are generally fine on a tealight warmer. Avoid putting thin decorative china, plastic or anything the maker says isn't heat-safe over a flame.
- Airflow. Candle warmers need side openings, or the tealight starves and goes out. Good designs have open sides or cut-outs.
- A stable base. Wide and heavy beats tall and elegant if the warmer lives where people reach across it.
- Shut-off (electric). An auto-off timer is the most useful feature an electric warmer can have.
The one mistake everyone makes
A warmer keeps tea hot, but it doesn't stop the leaves brewing. Leave the leaves or tea bags in and keep the pot warm for an hour, and you'll get bitter, stewed tea. Remove the infuser or strain the tea into a second pot before it goes on the warmer.