Question from Julie Burns
Hi Debra,
I wonder about getting an English bone china teapot – are they safe to drink from and are their any environmental issues with their production? Thanks!
Debra’s Answer
“China” is a common name for porcelain, an ancient ceramic material perfected by the Chinese (thus the name “china). Examples of porcelain date back to the 7th century.
There are three types of porcelain: hard paste, soft paste and bone china.
Hard paste porcelain is made from kaolin and petuntse.
These are fired at high temperatures, with or without a glaze, and produce a hard, translucent porcelain.
Soft paste porcelain contains the kaolin and petuntse of hard paste plus frit.
The frit in the mixture liquefies and turns to glass, which fuses to the porcelain. Soft paste is not as strong as hard paste porcelain.
the question as to wether or not it is safe was not answered
Oops, you’re right. I myself have a bone china teapot and have not been concerned.
You are not even exposed to the china itself. If there is a problem it would be in the glaze. You would have to check to see if it contains heavy metals.