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August 9, 2022

To Strain or Infuse – That is the Question

4 Comments/ 71/ 0

If you are new to tea drinking and brewing the post today might be of help to you. Tea infusers and strainers are both items that can be used when brewing loose tea.  I recently did a post highlighting some of my more fun and quirky tea infusers and you can see that post by clicking here.

Tea infusers come in all shapes and sizes and I seem to have a growing collection of these as well as teapots.  It’s all good because I like variety.

But first a little explanation.  A tea infuser actually holds the tea leaves inside the tea ball or vessel in order to steep the tea to the appropriate strength.  A tea strainer, of which I only really have one to show in this post, is used to actually strain the loose leaves out of the liquid as it is poured from the pot into a cup.  The tea is simply placed in the pot loosely and the leaves have to be strained as it is poured into the cup.

Tea strainers

First an overview of today’s offerings. 

First up is a simple spoon infuser which is super simple to use.  Put the tea inside the spoon, clamp it shut and let it sit in the cup until the desired strength of tea is reached.

strainer5

This one could actually be used as an infuser as well but I normally use it inside a teapot (although I show it with a cup here), load it with tea, stick in the top of the teapot and then pour the boiling water over and allow the tea leaves to steep in the basket until it reaches the right strength.

strainer1

Mr. Frog is one of my favorites because how can you not smile when you look at him?  Simply put some tea in the basket under his lily pad, screw the froggie top on and let him bob around in the cup until the tea has brewed.

strainer 6

This one is more of a tea wand, isn’ t it?  This is perfect for one cup at a time.  Simply place the loose tea in the section marked with the arrow, slide shut and it locks into place to stick in a cup of hot water.  Perfect tea every single time.

strainer 2
Strainer4

The final one is really more of a tea strainer but I decided that I could also use it as a tea infuser by letting it rest on the edge of a cup.  The cup has to be pretty full to use it this way so I think the option of using it as a strainer is much better.

tea strainer

Simply pour the tea and the strainer catches all the loose leaves before they can fall into the cup.

So now you know all about tea infusers and strainers.  Aren’t you so glad you stopped by today?  Don’t forget to leave a comment telling me which one of these is your favorite today.  All comments this month go to our Comments for a Cause recipient – Ausgustine Literacy Project.

“Now that lilacs are in bloom
She has a bowl of lilacs in her room
And twists one in her fingers while she talks.
“Ah, my friend, you do not know, you do not know
What life is, you who hold it in your hands”;
(slowly twisting the lilac stalks)
“You let it flow from you, you let it flow,
And youth is cruel, and has no remorse
And smiles at situations which it cannot see.”
I smile, of course,
And go on drinking tea.”
― T.S. Eliot, Prufrock and Other Observations

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4 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Sonia
    August 09, 2022 at 06:18 am

    This post caught my attention this morning. I’m not a tea drinker although I like it! I’ve been watching a YouTube channel called Reactistan & Reactistan Couple. The creators are from Pakistan and bring in Villagers to try various foods and items from other Countries. It’s fascinating how these villagers live, even the Couple are in a more populated area but still live in what I’d call less than ideal situation. Anyway Tea! These people adore their tea! They make chai, well that’s their word for tea. I imagine it has the spices. But they use a pan on stove or open fire with milk, they add loose tea and sugar , boil it and they strain it. It just always looks so delicious! Your tea blog reminded me of that and you might also enjoy watching these people 😁 Pinkies out! Sonia

    Reply
  2. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    August 09, 2022 at 10:47 am

    I had no idea tea infusers could be so creatively cute, like that frog. Whenever I drink tea, which is seldom, I use tea bags. I know. I hear you thinking, Audrey!

    Reply
  3. Shirley Matthews Dunn
    August 09, 2022 at 03:51 pm

    The cute little frog is my favorite!! I never knew drinking tea could be such fun until I started reading your blog. Thanks, Beth Ann

    Reply
  4. judithhb
    August 10, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    As I am English and so drink tea I usually use dry leaves in a teapot. Depending on the pot I use, I then either pour the tea straight from the pot if there is a diffuser in it or more often use a strainer. As a tea drinker, may I say do not succumb to the ease of teabags? They o not ever taste like tea.

    Reply

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