Number Of Pieces In The Set
The first criterion to consider when buying the best tea infuser is the number of pieces in the set. This generally depends on what you want and how much you are going to use your tea infuser. Some models come only in one piece, while others integrate more than one.
If you are looking for a tea infuser with many pieces, then you will love the Chefast Tea Infuser Set available in our review. It includes two single-cup and one large infuser as well as a multi-functional scoop, which can be quite useful.
Best Teapot With Infuser: Hiware 1000ml Glass Teapot With Removable Infuser
If youre looking for an infuser that comes with a teapot, this is the one to buy.
One of the best things about it is that the infuser is removable, so you can use the teapot on its own.
Benefits
- The teapot is made of glassso it will look sleek and stylish on your kitchen counter. The glass isheat-resistant borosilicate glass.
- The teapot is hand-craftedwith thoughtful features to make brewing a cup super-easy and enjoyable: it hasa non-drip spout and ergonomic handle.
- This loose leaf tea brewerhas a removable high-grade stainless steel infuser thats made of mesh.
Extra Features
- For the ultimate convenience,you can use this teapot on an electric or gas stove. You can also place it inthe refrigerator if you like to cold-brew your tea.
Drawbacks
- It only boils enough waterfor two cups of tea, although that might not be a problem for you .
- Other users have reportedthat the teapot is difficult to clean because of its shape. However, you canput it in the dishwasher to clean, as its safe for washing on the top rack.
Buying Guide
This pretty teapot and infuser cost around $35.
Thats a decent price for a fantastic product that looks good and helps you make a delicious tea.
The extra touches, such as its ergonomic handle, go the extra mile.
Whats so great about this teapot is that you can use it on its own, so its really like youre purchasing an infuser and a brand-new, stylish kettle.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
This piece was written by Derek Rose, the coffee and tea expert for The Spruce Eats. He researches a variety of products, from measuring scoops to commercial espresso machines, and interviews field experts for their insight. For this piece, he tested every tea infuser on the list firsthand and wrote reviews about what he liked and disliked about each one. He also researched the differences between tea varietals and methods for brewing loose-leaf tea. Derek received an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University and a BA in Communications from Marist College.
Shunan Teng is the founder and CEO of Tea Drunk and an avid tea educator. Tea Drunk was founded in 2013 and has a brick-and-mortar tea house in New York City. Its teaware and Chinese teas can be purchased online.
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Best Tea Infuser Key Features
When youre looking for the best tea infuser basket to invest, these are some things you should look for:
Infuser Size
It needs to be wide enough that it will let even the largest of tea leaves unfurl. If tea leaves do not have enough room to expand while steeping it will be difficult to extract the full flavours.
Amount of Holes and Size
Small and more holes are better than large and less. The holes on a tea infuser need to be small enough that tea leaves wont fall into the cup.
There also needs to be enough holes so the water remains in the cup and doesnt just flood the infuser.
There are some infuser baskets that are solid with only a few slits on the bottom. While no tea leaves can escape, it takes a while for all of the liquid to leave the infuser when straining.
Lid
A lid is ideal as a cup or pot of tea should be covered when steeping so it retains the heat. As a bonus, some can double as a drip tray or coaster to set on after steeping to reduce mess.
Measure The Temperature Of The Water
After the water has boiled turn off the heat and use a kitchen thermometer to check the waters temperature.
Depending on the type of tea you are making, you may have to let the water cool down for some minutes.
Its best to use the instructions for your tea. Here are some broad guidelines:
White tea: 176-185 F Green tea: 158-176 F Green tea: 176-185 F Black tea: 203 F Herbal tea: Boiling water
Tip: If you dont have a kitchen thermometer and you want to make green tea, let the water cool down for around two minutes.
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How To Choose The Best Tea Infuser
Tea infusers are handy gadgets that make brewing a cup of loose leaf tea a million times easier. These tools are designed to contain the tea leaves while allowing them to expand and infuse flavor completely. They make it easy to remove the leaves when the steeping time is over.
While it’s a no brainer to have a tea infuser on hand, it can be hard to figure out which one is best for your needs. Here, we’ve put together a guide to help you choose the best tea infuser for your brewing style.
Pure Zen Double Wall Glass Tea Mug
This unique tea steeper with a built-in infuser is designed in such a way that it can be used for more than just brewing tea. It is also perfect to infuse fruit into water, brew herbal beverages, and to cold brew tea. The oversize 13-ounce capacity means that once brewed, you will have a significant amount of beverage to enjoy for most of the day if so desired.
The infuser is made from food-grade stainless steel and can be removed easily. The tea infuser and mug both have flat lids which will keep the liquid inside even if the mug is knocked down. The travel tumbler also comes complete with a neoprene sleeve so that you can grip it firmly without burning your fingers. There is also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
PROS
- Infuser basket is smaller thanexpected for some
- Some users find the mug willleak
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Best Glass Tea Infuser: Teabloom Glass Tea Infuser
Glass tea steepers aren’t that common, but if you’re worried about using metal or silicone varieties, they’re a great alternative. Teabloom’s Glass Tea Infuser can fit a variety of mug sizes and features extra-fine slits which keep leaves from escaping. One happy reviewer says, “It’s very easy to use, durable, a great size, and I love that the tea leaves are able to move freely while steeping.”
Buy it: $10
Time For A Healthy Infusion Of Calm
With so many tea infusers around, its impossible not to find one that suits you.
Whether you opt for a simple, inexpensive one, or choose a fancy infuser than a work of art in itself, you can make a comforting and delightful cup of tea each time.
Having an infuser can encourage you to drink more tea. That way you can tap into all the health benefits of tea.
At the same time, youll cut down on the waste that comes with throwing away teabags all the time.
So theres really no reason not to get a tea infuser or two.
Now over to youdo you have a tea infuser at home? Which type do you prefer to use?
Wed love to hear from youdrop us a comment at any time.
Until next time, enjoy your tea!
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How We Test Tea Infusers And Strainers
We test a representative sample of widely available tea infusers, and score them against the following criteria:
Ease of filling and emptying: It can be easy to make a mess when handling loose-leaf tea, particularly finer varieties. Infusers will ideally be easy to fill and empty.
Capacity to hold loose-leaf tea: How much does it hold, and can the infuser cope with loose-leaf tea varieties of different shapes?
How easy is it for flavour to escape? If the requisite amount of leaves are too closely packed or the filtration holes are too fine, steeping time for the tea may be affected and become inconvenient.
Does the handle get hot? An essential consideration for safety, tea infusers are removed before drinking, so this needs to be safe and easy to do.
How much does it make? This is also linked to the capacity of the tea strainer. Depending on your desired use, an infuser may be able to infuse multiple cups of tea, whether in a teapot or cup.
The tea strainers are tested against a different set of criteria:
Fits across a cup well: A good tea strainer will sit safely across a variety of tea cups and mugs.
Ease of use: Does the strainer stay balanced during pouring?
Depth for catching all the tea leaves: You should be able to catch and strain large teapot’s worth of tea leaves without needing to empty it.
Is it easy to clean? Silver strainers are notorious for looking tarnished if not polished. Don’t let a high-maintenance strainer distract from the deliciousness of the tea.
How We Chose The Best Tea Infusers
All of the infusers included on our list are made from high-quality, durable materials. Weve also included a range of different infuser types to ensure theres an option for every preference. This includes infusers for every kind of vessel, whether thats a mug or a tumbler. Youll also find infusers that can be used with loose leaf tea and a number of other ingredients, such as fruit, whole-flower tea or spices. Each infuser on the list has also been tried and tested and proven it can do what it advertises. In short, there are no bad options, just ones which may be better suited to your individual preferences.
Below youll find our top 14 picks for the best tea infusers available online. Find the right one for you and begin brewing brews with more flavor than you ever believed possible.
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When Was The Tea Infuser First Used
A tea infuser became popular in the early part of the 19th Century when the rise in tea was really starting to take hold. Theyve had a resurgence in recent years for a number of reasons…
Firstly, the teabag is seen as containing a lower quality tea, often containing lower quality leaves as well as tea dust as a result of its mass production process.
Secondly, since the backlash against plastics, tea bags have been cited as containing non-biodegradable products. Therefore the move towards using an infuser is seen as a move towards a greener way of enjoying tea no pun intended!
Hario Cha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot Best Tea Pot With Infuser
Trying to figure out when your tea is perfectly brewed can be tricky. Most people use the color of the tea as an indication of when the tea has steeped. With most conventional teapots, this means having to regularly lift the lid and trying to view the contents.
This will not be an issue if you choose the Hario Cha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot. This model has been made entirely from heat-proof glass, which has been treated to resist shattering. The large handle is combined with a short spout, making it easy to pour out your tea.
Full of flavor
A large stainless steel tea infuser fits underneath the lid and fills most of the teapot. This provides plenty of space for your tea leaves to fully expand and for the hot water to circulate. As a result, you are sure to find that your favorite type of tea is bursting with flavor.
One caveat
Although the glass body of this teapot has been toughened, it is still more fragile than many other models. As a result, you will need to take care not to drop it on a tile floor. However, this model is so sleek and stylish that you are sure to want to display it with pride.
Our rating:
- The glass is rather fragile.
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Best Budget: Jexcull Snap Ball Tea Strainer
What We Love: Inexpensive, stainless steel means no plastic, dishwasher safe
What We Dont Love: Tea leaves can fall into the cup
Full disclosure, I’m not a big fan of tea balls since it’s difficult to get enough tea in there to brew a strong cup. Personal preferences aside, they can make a halfway decent cup of tea if you’re keeping to a budget or if you’re someone who only wants tea when they’re sick. This set comes as a three-pack so you can double-up on tea leaves for a stronger cup.
I’d recommend the snap ball style like JEXCULL’s instead of the tea ball on a chain setup because I’ve had too many of those so-called locking tea balls burst open and flood my cup with tea leaves mid-steep. To avoid leaves seeping through, you’ll want to pick up the thick mesh variety of these lightweight stainless steel snap balls. Just make sure you get the tea fully in the ball. If loose tea is on the lip of the tea ball when you snap it shut, it wont properly seal.
Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.8 x 6.1 inches | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
Finum Reusable Stainless Steel Mesh Brewing Basket
BEST BASKET
This Finum Reusable Stainless Steel Mesh Brewing Basket allows you to brew your favorite teas without allowing any debris to get into your drink. Its extra-fine mesh and roomy basket allow the tea leaves to spread out fully for the perfect level of infusion and an even better tasting drink. The basket, which is made from a stainless-steel micro-mesh in a heat-tolerant, BPA-free material frame, also comes with a lid to help maintain your drinks temperature during the steeping process. Plus, the basket comes in two sizes and three different colors.
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Does Tea Get Stronger The Longer It Steeps
You might have heard that you should leave your tea to steep for at least a few minutes before drinking it, to ensure that you get a lot of flavors and perhaps even a higher amount of caffeine.
But there are some important rules to follow when steeping tea.
If you want to make the most of the caffeine in your cup of tea, you should brew it for a few minutes.
A study that was published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology reports that steeping tea for a few minutes can really increase the teas caffeine content.
In the study, brewing a cup of Lipton black tea for one minute resulted in it having 17mg of caffeine , but when it was brewed for five minutes, that number jumped to 47mg of caffeine.
This is something to consider if you are sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
Its not just caffeine you should be boosting by following the correct steeping rules.
Both black and green tea contain healthy flavanols that decrease levels of inflammation in the body.
If you want to make the most of these powerful ingredients, you should steep your tea for a few minutes.
Dontthink that steeping it for longer will increase its health benefits, though: astudy published in the Beverages journal found that most of the healthy compounds in tea are released within thefirst five minutes.
A Complete Set: Kitchen Kite Stovetop Glass Tea Kettle With Removable Strainer And 4 Cups
Brew for a crew with this sophisticated glass kettle and cup set by Kitchen Kite. Stovetop and microwave-safe, it includes a 40-ounce borosilicate teapot and four matching insulated mugs that keep your tea warm.
- Made with durable high-quality materials
- Includes 4 teacups and a tea sample
The kettle is equipped with a large stainless steel basket infuser that reaches to the bottom of the pot. Fill it with loose leaf or tea bags and enjoy one cup or many. All parts are dishwasher safe.
Suitable for all but induction cooktops, this stylish set is made of healthy materials that match any décor. Transparent, this glass stovetop kettle lets the color of tea shine.
Youll also receive three sample bags of loose-leaf tea, compliments of Kitchen Kite. Practical yet striking, this set makes a memorable gift for any occasion.
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Best Kettle: Chefman Electric Glass Kettle With Removable Infuser
What We Love: Large capacity with infuser basket, temperature presets lead to better tea, safety features
What We Dont Love: Infuser basket can fall out of it groove if not properly seated, hand wash only
Heat water and brew a pot of tea directly using the Chefman Electric Glass Kettle With Removable Infuser. Simply fill this with water, drop loose-leaf or bagged tea in the infuser, place it on the base, and switch on. Temperature presets let you brew water to the perfect steeping temperature for your tea with the push of a button. When the water gets to the right temp, LED lights pop on to alert you. Just make sure the infuser is seated in the groove. If it isn’t properly seated, it can pop out.
This does come with a couple of safety features including a stay-cool handle and auto-shutoff. Made of borosilicate glass, this kettle has a capacity of 1.8 liters and weighs 3.2 pounds without water. One drawback? Due to the power switch and electrical elements, this is not dishwasher safe.
Dimensions: 8.25 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches | Capacity: 1.8 liters | Dishwasher Safe: No
What We Love: Large infuser basket promotes flavor extraction, plastic-free ceramic and stainless steel tea infuser, dishwasher safe
What We Dont Love: Can be hot to the touch
Dimensions : 4.8 x 3.6 x 3.6 inches | Capacity: 11 fluid ounces | Dishwasher Safe: Yes
What We Love: Best for preserving tea flavor, durable, dishwasher safe
How Much Tea Do I Use When Brewing
This question pops up often with tea infusers, especially when people switch over from tea bags. While specific measurements vary depending on the type of tea used, the general rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of loose tea for every 6 to 8 ounces of water. Adding more tea will lead to a stronger flavor, as will steeping for a longer amount of time. Too much of an extreme for either will lead to an overly bitter cup of tea, however, so keep that in mind when brewing.
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