Choosing the Appropriate Tea Infuser

Often overlooked in the process of creating the perfect cup of tea is the type and size of infuser being used. Considered a crucial part of the loose-leaf tea steeping process, it can enhance your tea drinking experience. By the same token, choosing the wrong tea infuser can make it harder than it needs to be. Possibly making this enjoyable experience less pleasant. Why is this, you may be asking? Aren’t tea infusers all the same? Not exactly.

Let us begin the question, what is the definition of the perfect infuser? This seemly problematic question has a surprisingly simple answer. It all depends on what type of tea you are trying to steep. If, for example, you are trying to steep a tea with small particles or leaves, it is ideal to use an infuser with smaller gaps in the mesh. This is will ensure that the particles will not get in your cup of tea after the steeping process. By contrast, if you are attempting to steep whole tea leaves that will expand during the infusion process, it is ok to use a larger infuser with wider gaps. A good example of this are black teas like the Old Alex Blend and the Old Homestead.

If the tea you are steeping contains extra-large pieces of dehydrated fruit peels and smaller leaves of the Red Rooibos plant, like Citrus Bliss, a special type of infuser is needed. In this case, a large infuser with small gaps in the mesh will block bits of the Red Rooibos from getting into your tea, while allowing for the space needed for the fruit peels. By using such an infuser, it will only help you create your ideal cup of tea. As you can see, the type and size of infuser used must match the tea being steeped.

These guidelines will ensure you the freedom to fully create your perfect cup of tea. It is advised to do your research on all the types of infusers so you will not limit yourself. In other words, your cup of loose-leaf tea is only as good as the infuser you use.