Half a litre. That makes the Guizhou the smallest of the four, and exactly for that reason the nicest if you drink your tea alone. Two cups, both of them hot, nothing standing around going cold because you made too much.

Red and gold, with the relief cast in. It's a little taller and narrower than the rest — sixteen centimetres high, seven and a half across — so it fits next to a laptop without taking over the desk.

This is the pot I'd choose for expensive tea. With a small amount of leaf you want to measure carefully and infuse briefly, and that works better in half a litre than in a full one. The iron holds the temperature between two infusions, which is just what makes the difference with an oolong or a pu-erh.

Enamelled inside, stainless steel filter included.

This pot is for brewing, not for heating: keep it off the hob and out of the dishwasher. Rinse it out with warm water after use and dry it straight away.

Cast iron with relief, enamelled inside. Capacity 0.5 litres. Height 16 cm, diameter 7.5 cm. Stainless steel filter included. Made in China.