6 Types of Tea Infusers: Learn Their Advantages and Disadvantages

Do you like to serve tea at home? For this, you need tea infusers that allow you to enjoy the flavor of its strands to the fullest. In this article, you will learn about the main types of tea infusers and their advantages, don’t miss it!

If tea is one of your favorite beverages, you must know and have a tea infuser at home, right?

But, maybe what you don’t know yet is what exactly the function is and that there are different types of tea filters. But, don’t worry! just take note of the following paragraphs.

What Is a Tea Infuser and What Is It Used For?

The tea infuser is an instrument that performs the function of a strainer in which loose tea leaves are introduced to prepare the infusion and which is removed once the time has elapsed for it to take aroma and flavor. Did you know it?

Apparently, this tea accessory gained popularity in the first half of the 19th century, at the time of Queen Victoria, and it is said that no respectable British house could be without one when serving tea.

Its massive acceptance by the public is due to the fact that it is a great help when it comes to quickly and easily separating the tea strands from the water. It performs the same function as a tea bag.

You can find infusers of different sizes, materials, and shapes. But, when choosing one for everyday use, it is necessary to take into account, especially the size.

The larger it is the better since the leaves must be hydrated and expand as much as necessary to give all their aroma, color, and flavor to the tea.

Types of Tea Infusers

As we mentioned before, there are different types of tea infusers, the spherical, conical, and cylindrical, the most common. But, what is the difference between them? Pay attention to the following paragraphs.

Tea Balls

These are inexpensive tea filters that you can keep in any drawer and that can be opened either by pressing on the handle or by opening the clasp (in the chain one) to introduce the tea leaves and close it again. These infusers are the best known.

The sphere tea infuser, or open ball with tong-like handles to open its lattice container, is one of the most common of this variety.

You have to place it in a cup or bowl with hot or boiling water, allowing the tea bags to macerate without the loose leaves passing into the cup or bowl.

A rod or chain is usually attached to the infuser container to facilitate its retrieval from the cup.

Advantages. They are easy to transport and cleaning does not require great care.

Disadvantages. The tea does not have enough room to expand. They are not recommended for use with whole leaf teas. The result is an infusion poor in aroma and flavor. Not recommended for use with rooibos tea.

Paper or Cloth Infusers

It consists of a paper envelope, which opens slightly through an opening to introduce the tea leaves. Once used, they are discarded. We usually recommend this type of tea filter to people who want to make their own tea at their work table.

They can have a few tea bags prepared with tea in a small tin and just come to their desk and put it in the cup. When they want to dispose of it, they just throw it directly into the waste garbage can.

Advantages. They are ideal to take to work or on a trip. If you put just the right amount in them, they have enough space for the tea to expand.

Disadvantages. You can use them only once, as they easily absorb odors. The result of the infusion is poor in aroma and flavor. The advantage of cloth infusers is that they filter the tea very well, but after using it you must wash it and dry it very well so that it does not acquire odors that later influence the flavor of the infusions.They also have the disadvantage of acquiring an unattractive brownish color.

Cup or Teapot Infusers

This type of tea strainer can be used in teapots as well as in cups and bowls. They come in different sizes and materials: glass, plastic, and stainless steel.

Advantages. They have a large space for the correct hydration of the leaves. They are easy to clean. They are ideal for use with rooibos tea. They provide a quality infusion as a result.

Disadvantages. They are not so practical to take on trips, etc.

Tea Strainer

They are made of PVC (plastic), ceramic, stainless steel, and glass.

Advantages. They are the ones that can offer you the best results as tea strainers since they filter very well, without leaving residues, and are quite comfortable. Choose it according to the use you are going to give it if it is for a cup or teapot.

Disadvantages. The glass ones break easily and the openings they have to filter the infusion are often clogged. Some say that the PVC ones leave flavor in the infusions. The best are the stainless steel ones.

Bamboo Infusers

They are totally handmade and used especially in tea tastings.

Advantages. They provide enough space for a good expansion of the tea. They offer a medium quality infusion.

Disadvantages. They transfer the flavor of the bamboo, altering the flavor of the tea. They are not practical when transporting, because they spoil easily.

Silicone Infusers

If you are a lover of herbal teas, you can’t miss the silicone infuser.

They are the great novelty among tea infusers, since they have the ability to withstand high temperatures and will be of great help to prevent the heat from burning your hands.

Advantage. Silicone infusers have the advantage of distributing heat evenly, they are durable and easy to clean, since you can even wash them in the dishwasher.

Disadvantage. Silicone is considered a not very noble material for cooking, although so far it is very well accepted by the public.

Now that you know the different types of infuser for tea in threads that exist, do you already know which one to buy?

Thermos and Teapots with Tea Infuser

Do you always use tea infusers? Then you will be delighted to know that there is an increasing presence in the market of thermoses and teapots with incorporated tea infuser.

Their great success is due to the fact that they are very practical tea accessories, since they allow you to prepare tea or infusion in the same thermos or teapot, without having to dirty another object.

In addition, a thermos with tea infuser offers appropriate tea filters, since they usually have small holes that do not allow leaves or flowers of the plants used to escape.

Another good news is that you can choose the teapot with infuser, made of the material you like the most: stainless steel, porcelain, earthenware, etc.