With the best tea infusers available in 2023, you can enjoy your favorite tea.
Making a cup of loose-leaf tea is just as simple and delicious with the right tea infuser as making a cup of tea in a bag. Although most infusers are made of mesh stainless steel, there are a variety of unusual options (such as those on this list) that can give each and every sip a special touch.
Here are the best tea infusers to have for your next cup of tea, from an electric tea kettle that will definitely make your morning tea amazing to inexpensive tea balls that should keep all your loose-leaf tea in one place.
Best Tea Infusers
Here are the top eight tea infusers.
Best Overall: Finum Stainless Steel Mesh Brewing Basket
For the majority of people, Finum’s Stainless Steel Mesh Brewing Basket hits the mark. The simple-to-use basket, which has a BPA-free plastic frame and stainless steel mesh, doesn’t get as hot as tea balls can.
The large basket shape encourages proper steeping by giving the tea room the to spread out. Since the mesh is so tiny, leaves won’t get into your tea through the filter.
Best Budget: JEXCULL Snap Ball Tea Strainer
To be completely honest, I’m not a big fan of tea balls because it’s challenging to pack enough tea in there to make a potent cup. Regardless of your personal preferences, they can make a passable cup of tea if you’re on a tight budget or only drink tea when you’re sick.
To make a stronger cup of tea, you can double the number of tea leaves in this set, which comes in a three-pack.
I’ve had too many of those so-called locking tea balls burst open and flood my cup with tea leaves mid-steep, so I’d advise against the tea ball on a chain setup and instead suggest the snap ball style like JEXCULL’s.
Best Glass: Lezero Loose Tea-Leaf Brewing System
The Loose Tea-Leaf Brewing System from Lezero is made of thermal shock-resistant, break-resistant borosilicate glass that can withstand temperatures between -4 and 300 degrees.
This means that you can use it in the dishwasher, microwave, and even on the stovetop, though I wouldn’t advise it. For very finely ground teas, like rooibos, this isn’t the best option because some leaves may fall through the glass slits.
Best Portable: Teabloom All-Purpose Beverage Tumbler
On the go, finding good tea can be a real challenge. It is best to bring your own tea set if you need a cup in the morning. Since they are durable, I prefer travel mugs made of stainless steel, and Teabloom’s All-Purpose Beverage Tumbler gets high marks for its ability to retain heat and has a leak-proof lid.
This 16-ounce tumbler can be used for a variety of hot beverages, including tea, cold brew coffee, and infused water. The infuser basket is attached to the tumbler by snapping it together.
After that, you either leave it in place for fruit-infused water or remove it for your tea (or cocktail!).) is finished steeping. Most loose-leaf teas will remain contained in the basket because of the fine mesh. This multipurpose travel tea infuser’s dishwasher safety is the only drawback.
Best Mug: Teabloom Glass Mug
The Borosilicate glass used to create the Teabloom Venice Mug is a hardy and heat-resistant material. Due to its double-wall construction and air-pressure relief hole at the bottom, it is also shock-resistant. It can therefore be used in the dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator without the risk of the glass breaking or cracking.
Although this choice may be a little more expensive than some other infusers, the 15-ounce capacity gives you enough for a generous pour without having to brew a whole pot. Also included with this mug is a lid that can double as a coaster.
Best Basket: Vahdam Classic Tea Infuser
Many people who enjoy drinking tea turn to Vahdam because of its large selection of teas and teaware. The company we suggest offers an inexpensive accessory called the Classic Tea Infuser. The basket-style infuser is large enough to hold a full teapot’s worth of tea or a single serving, and our tester found it to be very reliable at keeping leaves out of his beverage.
Despite the product’s robustness and high-quality stainless steel, it has a pervasive design flaw that our expert discovered during the testing process and that many online reviewers have mentioned: the lid, which also serves as a drip tray, may not fully close. This has no impact on the steeping process; the infuser continues to brew delicious tea; however, it is an odd and annoying flaw.
Best With Handle: Oxo Brew Twisting Tea Ball Infuser
Compared to traditional tea balls, infusers with handles have two advantages: they are simpler to control during steeping and less likely to create a mess. Our top pick in the category is the Oxo Brew Twisting Tea Ball Infuser because it builds on these benefits and adds a few original features of its own. The twisting handle that opens and closes the infuser ball is most notable.
The Oxo model is still reasonably priced even though there are many tea infusers that are more cost-effective. Additionally, it is constructed of durable stainless steel and non-skid plastic. The lifetime guarantee offered by Oxo applies to all of its products.
Best Kettle: Breville Smart Tea Infuser Compact Tea Maker
Utilize the Breville tea maker presets to create the perfect cup. You’ll put tea leaves in the infuser and water in the kettle, and then tell the machine how hot you want the water to get and how long you want your tea to steep.
The temperature presets indicate the type of tea they’re best for, and your tea will be made as mild or strong as you like. The kettle has a small footprint and a lovely design, and it can brew up to four cups of tea at once. You can store it in a cabinet or on the counter.
What to Look for When Buying a Tea Infuser?
Here are some factors you need to consider when you buy a tea infuser:
Types
Steel is the most popular material for tea infusers among a variety of options. “I like all stainless steel infusers for home use,” Infusers come in the form of balls that split in half and lock or containers with lids; some lids also serve as coasters or drip trays, according to Richardson.
Ease of Use
A tea infuser that fits your needs and way of life is what you should choose. Choose a tool that contains plastic if you have trouble working with hot metals so you won’t have to worry about injuring yourself. Cleaning up usually doesn’t take much work because all of the infusers we recommend are dishwasher-safe.
Size
Tea balls only infuse one cup of tea; larger infusers can infuse up to four. Select an infuser that is the right size for how much tea you typically drink alone or with others in a sitting.
Care Instructions
Dishwasher-safe tea infusers include those made of silicone and stainless steel. However, you should check the care instructions for any additional infuser set parts, such as mugs or electric kettles, as they might have hand-washing requirements.
Hole Size
In addition to an infuser’s actual size, it’s important to consider the size of its holes. Some loose-leaf teas are so fine that they can squeeze through the infuser’s larger holes, clogging up every sip and making it completely useless. It will be simpler to choose the best infuser for you if you have a preferred type of tea and consider whether the pieces are on the larger or finer side.
Cleaning
If your tea infuser is difficult to clean, you probably won’t use it and will choose bagged tea instead, pushing it to the back of your drawer. Since there are fewer small spaces to reach into, large infuser baskets are simple to clean.
Some infusers can be placed in the dishwasher for a sanitizing rinse, but to prevent tearing, you may want to hand wash anything made of mesh.
How Do You Use a Tea Infuser?
An easy procedure is required to use a tea infuser. Start by calculating the quantity of dry tea leaves you want to use. They should steep in hot water after being placed in the tea infuser container. Your particular tea and preferences will determine the steeping time.
Make sure the leaves have plenty of breathing space, and then account for the leaf’s oxidation and style to determine the appropriate steeping time. Tea should be a ritual that you perform as a time to relax.
How Long Should You Steep With a Tea Infuser?
Although there isn’t a universally applicable time scale for steeping tea, you should plan on it taking a few minutes.
Because there is no oxidation and there are few processes, white and greens prefer lighter steep times and lower temperatures. As a result of their higher level of oxidation and exposure to heat, oolong, and black teas prefer longer steep times and higher temperatures.
Each tea has very specific instructions, but don’t be afraid to experiment a little and play around with steep times and temperatures to see what might work for you.
Final Words
The eight top tea infusers are listed in this article for you to choose from.
In addition to being dishwasher safe and versatile, the Finum Stainless Steel Mesh Brewing Basket also produces excellent tea at a reasonable cost. JEXCULL Snap Ball Tea Strainer is an affordable option.
FAQs
How Much Tea Do You Put in An Infuser?
A teaspoon of tea leaves per cup is a good starting point, but you can always adjust based on how potent you want your tea to be.
Are Infusers Different from Strainers?
Indeed, tea strainers and infusers serve different functions and require different tools. Tea infusers are brewing tools that are utilized throughout the entire tea-brewing process. On the other hand, strainers are used after the tea has finished brewing. They are used exclusively to separate tea leaves from the tea, which is usually done by pouring a teapot over the strainer and into a mug or another teapot.
