With a plethora of infusers on the market, it can be hard to choose which to use to brew loose leaf tea. From mugs and teapots with removable infusers built in, to strainers, tea balls, t-sacs, and who knows what else – I find it’s easy to be confused when trying to come to a decision.
While the infuser mugs and teapots are convenient, many tend to come with ceramic infusers with larger holes, and when brewing smaller leaf tea, bits of leaf can creep in, and will need to be strained out anyway. If you like this idea, try to find an infuser teapot or mug with a mesh infuser for the best results.
Tea balls seem to present the image of a reusable t-sac – which is eco-friendly and seems fairly simple. However, I find these things awful to clean out. I think one’s intention is to “bang” them on the sink or trash can to remove the bulk of the leaves, and this tends to break either the clasp that holds it shut, or the hinge that holds it together. Either way, now you’ve got no way to infuse your tea – or, hopefully, you have a backup method you can move to.
Sure, brewing tea in a teapot is the way to go, but consider the necessities – this can be difficult to do at work, or could be a hassle if it’s just for a cup. Either way, once brewed in a teapot, the tea should be strained into a cup or mug. The metal is tight enough to catch the tea, with even the smallest leaves, and the tea leaves have the advantage of having much more room to unfurl and brew, and more room to circulate throughout the pot.
But how convenient are t-sacs? They are the greatest accessory a tea drinker could have! You can have one cup of this, and one cup of that – in any variation that you want. Consider how many more teas you can easily put into your own, personal teabag – rather than searching for appetizing blends already in teabags.
However you choose to go, consider your options – and the pros and cons of each, before deciding on a tea infuser. And, if you’re someone who likes variety, why not switch them up at your own discretion?
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