Tea is an ancient drink made by infusing herbs and leaves in hot water. You can purchase tea two ways: in pre-packaged tea bags or loose leaf. Pre-packaged tea bags, while convenient, lack strong flavor because the leaves are crushed into small pieces. With loose leaf tea, the leaves stay intact, which makes the tea more flavorful and strong. To make tea this way, you’ll need to purchase an infuser. What is a tea infuser? This guide explains everything you need to know, and teaches you how to use a tea infuser.

What Is a Tea Infuser?

So, what is a tea infuser? A tea infuser is akin to a closed strainer. It has tiny holes (or is made of a wire mesh) that infuse flavor without allowing any leaves to escape into the drink. The most popular tea infusers are stainless steel with a sealed lid and handle, so you can easily pull it out of your mug.

How to Use a Tea Infuser

Now, learn how to use a tea infuser. Think of a tea infuser as a reusable tea bag. Open the infuser and fill it with your tea leaves, herbs, flowers, etc. Don’t pack it too tightly so that the water has enough room to flow through it. Close your tea infuser and place it in your mug of boiled water. Allow the infuser to sit in the water for three to five minutes before removing it.

Special Features

Aside from helping you enjoy bold, strong tea, some infusers have extra features to enhance your tea-drinking experience even more.
Dishwasher-Safe: Using a dishwasher-safe tea infuser means little to no cleanup for you. With hand-washing, it can be hard to get small and delicate leaves off of the holes in the infuser. Dishwasher-safe tea infusers will ensure your infuser gets extra clean after every use, and will save you the time and effort hand-washing your infuser would require.

Rust-Resistant: Metal is a popular material for tea infusers because it easily matches the temperature of its environment. Since metal exposed to water can rust over time, rust-resistant tea infusers are less susceptible to corrosion, thus they’re a great choice if you plan to use your infuser for years to come.

Types of Tea Infusers

Teapots: Infuser teapots offer a great two-in-one solution to loose leaf tea lovers. How to use a tea infuser built into a teapot is very similar to a stand alone infuser. Simply boil the water then place your loose leaf tea in the infuser and let sit for three to five minutes. You can also refill the water in these teapots while using the same tea leaves, allowing you to get the most out of your tea.

Ball Infusers: Ball infusers have a sphere at one end with small holes. This ball is typically made of metal and attached to a metal chain that allows you to take it out without having to get your fingers wet. All ball infusers are relatively small so this infuser is a great option for those who want to bring an infuser on the go.

Mesh Infusers: Mesh infusers are made out of a metal mesh and can be in the shape of a ball infuser or infuser basket. Since they are made out of mesh, these infusers have more holes than the perforated metal. This means your tea will be stronger and will take less time to steep.

Infuser Baskets: Infuser baskets are small and made from mesh. They typically are shaped like small buckets and have a wide brim. This brim allows them to sit in the opening of a tea pot or mug without falling in. It’s versatility is what makes it a good infuser for you if you like the versatility of infusing in a teapot or mug.

Pitchers: For those who like a lot of tea, infuser pitchers are a great option. Infuser pitchers have large infusers underneath their lids. These infusers have enough space to hold tea or even fruit. Pitchers are also perfect for big families or large gatherings since they hold enough tea for multiple people.

Water Bottles: Water bottle infusers were made for tea on the go. Understanding how to use a tea infuser water bottle is simple. These infusers are built into the underside of water bottle lids. Fill your infuser with loose leaf tea, fill your bottle with hot or cold water, and seal your water bottle – now you can take your tea everywhere.

Tip!

Be sure to read and follow the directions on how to make your tea. Certain teas can be made with cold water while others must be made with only hot water.

French Press: French presses are the same for coffee as they are for tea. After taking the lid completely off, place your loose leaf tea in the press. Then pour your boiled water into the press, wait for your tea to steep, then put the lid onto the press and push the strainer all the way to the bottom. French presses are great for keeping your tea warm, since the lids trap heat inside.