Sorapot Teapot

Elegant Teapot Lets You See the Leaves Unfold, Infuse the Water

No matter how many hours you've whiled away in tearooms and chashitsu, you've never seen a teapot like this. At rest, it looks like a modernist sculpture of a dachshund. Come tea time, you flip it on its rear (Sit, boy!), unhinge the spout, and drop in loose tea leaves. Add hot water — up to 11 ounces, enough for two cups — then kick back and watch the leaves dance as they turn your brew the exact depth of color you desire. Crafted from Pyrex glass and stainless steel, the Sorapot will likely outlive its owner — which is good, because it's designed to age gracefully, with each pot developing a unique patina. You'll be able to pass it on to the grandkids as a suitably old-looking heirloom. A model with a brushed finish is $200 ($50 less than the mirrored finish model).

• Type: Kitchen gadgets
• Manufacturer: Sorapot
• Price: $250 (mirrored finish)
Release Date: November 24, 2008