Talking of teapots my Grandmother used a china teapot and my mother had a metal one. I preferred the taste of loose tea brewed in the china one but liked the fact that tea stayed hotter for longer in the metal one. The microwave wasn't around then so it was a case of nagging people not to let their tea go cold.

The other thing is milk or tea in the cup first? I have always measured out the amount of milk first but some people say that tea should be poured first then the milk added after.