topic Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice in Kitchen

Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

rosehill — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:03:33 GMT

I purchased some 8 oz loose tea on Amazon today for Christmas gifts. I would like to include a tea ball/tea infuser to go along with everyone's gift. I looked on Amazon and Ebay, only to get more confused. Some reviewers on Amazon say that the stainless tea ball that they purchased turned black with use.

I woud like to buy a good quality one, large enough to do a pot of tea, not a cup. If anyone has some experience with one they liked or didn't like, I would appreciate knowing.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

Dorothy11 — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:27:27 GMT

A mesh tea ball works well, you can get them on amazon for around $2. Tea will stain any infuser, but they can be cleaned. The best way to brew a pot of tea from loose is in a French press. Ikea sells one for under $9. Another option is paper fillable tea bags. Tattle Tea has them on line.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

Nhbelle — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 02:50:11 GMT

Look on tea forte website. They have a category of tea accessories and infusers.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

NickNack — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:36:11 GMT

The best tea infuser is one with plenty of room for the tea. Look here: http://www.stashtea.com/infusers-strainers-Brewing-Teaware/b/2861470011 for ideas. The ones like the English Tea Infuser are the type they recommend when you go into a tea shop. The ball shaped ones that close are not the best ones for a good cup of tea. You also need to pay attention to the time that the tea says for it to steep. That makes a world of difference in the taste.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

jlkz — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 13:32:13 GMT

I have used loose tea in my Keurig-- just don't fill the little insert screened cup all the way to the top of the screen.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 17:41:11 GMT

I use a FORLIFE Extra-Fine tea infuser. I bought it at Amazon.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

Reba055 — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 23:00:49 GMT

I don't know what you want to spend but have you looked at Teavana?

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

rosehill — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:21:40 GMT

@Reba055 wrote:
I don't know what you want to spend but have you looked at Teavana?

I don't want to spend alot, as i have spent $150 on tea already. I realize that a $2 tea ball is going to be too small and not a very good quality. I want the best quality & size for the lowest price. I imagine that most tops of teapots are around 2.75" like mine is. I can't get a jumbo size, because it wouldn't fit. I don't think I want the silicone ones. A nice mesh stainless one is what I have in mind. Most of what I see is made in China, which doesn't please me. Most everything is made there, though.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

rosehill — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:34:46 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
I use a FORLIFE Extra-Fine tea infuser. I bought it at Amazon.

DWD~ thank you. That looks like a really nice one. I need to make sure what I buy will fit into a normal 6 cup teapot, which most of the gift recipients probably have. I would like to spend less, but maybe my expectations are incorrect.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

rosehill — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:36:25 GMT

@Nicknack wrote:
The best tea infuser is one with plenty of room for the tea. Look here: http://www.stashtea.com/infusers-strainers-Brewing-Teaware/b/2861470011 for ideas. The ones like the English Tea Infuser are the type they recommend when you go into a tea shop. The ball shaped ones that close are not the best ones for a good cup of tea. You also need to pay attention to the time that the tea says for it to steep. That makes a world of difference in the taste.

NIcknac~ there is a wonderful assortment on stashtea. I need to spend some time weighing everything and trying to make a good purchase that isn't going to break the bank, LOL.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

rosehill — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:38:21 GMT

@Dorothy11 & nhbelle, thank you- I have some homework to do. The more I look, the more I get confused. I would like to make a smart purchase.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

ChynnaBlue — Sat, 07 Nov 2015 00:48:51 GMT

@rosehill wrote:
@Dorothy11 & nhbelle, thank you- I have some homework to do. The more I look, the more I get confused. I would like to make a smart purchase.

There are many and which is the best is a personal decision, so get whichever one you think will work best. I prefer mesh ones to the metal balls with holes and the ceramic ones.

My all time favorites are the IngenuiTEA by Adagio, but there are many similar models. It has enough room for 16 cups of water and plenty of room for the leaves to unfurl. When the tea is finished brewing, you place it on top of your mug and it dispenses the tea for you. After that, just tip the leaves out and rinse the device. The mesh strainer pops out and I give mine a good cleaning once a week and just rise and let air dry during the week.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

debcakes — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 17:05:35 GMT

I use both a small stainless steel tea egg and a large one for more than one cup. Both were very inexpensive and both work very well. They do not turn black. They may get coated with black from the tea but that is because the user is not washing them well. Just use your scrub daddy or other sponge with an abrasive side. I think Pier One and Crate and Barrel will have them.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

Sooner — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 17:33:19 GMT

The mesh ones that are bigger are by far the best. They are sold with the CHATSFORD teapots (google it!) and I think Upton Tea has them. Just google CHATSFORD teapots and you will find lots of places to buy them. They are THE BEST. Amazon has them I think and probably the replacement filters--which fit in many pots and cups.

Of course BEST also is no filter and loose tea in the teapot, poured with a strainer over the cup. You can't beat that! I am a tea fanatic, and I also love Chatsford teapots with strainers (WAY better than the pots with metal strainers), and a good old Brown Betty (made in ENGLAND!) with a strainer over the cup! I do think the rounded shape of the traditional pots helps the tea steep and unford.

What a wonderful gift!

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

ctinaw — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 06:09:44 GMT

There are a lot of cute silicon tea infusers if you are looking to simply do a cup at a time. I have one that looksl like a strawberry that is pretty adorable. Unless they total tea snobs, I wouldn't bother with the full cup pour over steeper things - my husband bought me one and I just never use it because its a pain to get out and mess with. Just find a cute tea ball in silicon or metal in a cute shape that you think they would find fun

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

goldensrbest — Mon, 16 Nov 2015 13:04:44 GMT

I like the teaforte, pitcher, i want the mug.

Re: Best tea infuser for teapots-Need advice

rosehill — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 04:38:41 GMT

@Sooner, thanks for the info. I looked at the filter baskets you recommended, and they are too wide to go into my pot. I can only place something that is 2" across into the pot opening. My son has the same pot. I don't know what my cousins have in the way of pots. It just seems like the tea is so crunched into the tea balls that are out in the market. I have a small tea ball, and there is no room for the tea to really expand and do it's thing.

I, too, thought this would be a wonderful gift. I just have to find a universal tea ball of some sort that isn't too small, yet is large enough to make a whole pot of tea.