Tea infuser or strainer? Have you ever found yourself pondering over which to buy? Both tools are widely used but it’s important to make sure you’re using the right tool for the right tea leaves!
Infusers:
Tea infusers are placed directly into your cup or teapot, enabling the water to circulate around the tea leaves. Infusers vary in size and shape, but it’s important to choose the correct infuser depending on the size of your leaves. Large leaf teas such as Green, White or Oolong all require a larger infuser as the leaves unravel and expand when wet. If placed in a smaller infuser such as a tea ball, the leaves would suffocate and the infusion wouldn’t be as flavorsome and you may struggle to re-infuse afterwards.
Strainers:
When using a strainer, a teapot is usually used to steep the leaves as the strainer itself simply rests on the rim of your cup ready to catch the loose tea leaves as your pour. Strainers are typically used when a larger quantity of tea is being made and served at the same time. Strainers are more suitable for tea leaves that need a longer infusion time, don’t necessarily become bitter or harsh if left within the pot for a long duration of time.
At Hebden Tea we only stock infusers, believing that they offer much more control over the steeping process, unlike strainers which can easily lead to over brewing. By pouring water into your vessel first then using an infuser, we found that the dust from the tea leaves is less prominent, as the water doesn’t press the leaves against the wire mesh, which is the case when using an infuser. We highly recommend our Infuser with Two Handles, ideal for all teas, providing enough space for the tea leaves to infuse fully, and suitable for different sized cups and mugs. This product is also dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Perhaps you’re looking for an infuser suitable for a teapot? Or a novelty infuser for a fellow tea enthusiast? Alternativly, browse all Filters and Infusers available on our website.
By Hannah Skidmore
