“The process of making tea should be beautiful, a moment for mindfulness and self-care, and using a tea infuser can add depth to the experience of preparing your pot or cup,” says Steve Schwartz, founder, CEO, and master tea blender of Art of Tea. To find the best tea infusers, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind each style’s capacity, material, and care. We also consulted Schwartz for additional insight. Overall, the best tea infuser is the Finum Stainless Steel Brewing Basket because of its accessible price point, built-in drip tray, and effectiveness at holding leaves in while tea is brewing. Here are the best tea infusers. Keep in Mind: The diffuser is sold individually, which may not be ideal for larger households. This tea infuser is constructed from a combination of durable stainless steel micro mesh encased in a heat-resistant BPA-free plastic frame. The infuser itself is suited for common mug sizes, so you’ll be able to easily use it every day. Part of what makes this pick one of the best tea infusers is the heat-resistant frame. Unlike some other options, you won’t have to worry about burning your hands when removing the tea infuser from your mug. The unit also comes with a removable lid, which is ideal for those brews that require a little extra time to steep. The lid allows the tea to stay warmer a bit longer and can even be flipped over to double as a drip tray. Price at time of publish: $21 Product Details: Material: Plastic, stainless steel | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: It may take up more space in a drawer than other styles. This entire tool, including its 2-inch tea ball infuser, is made of stainless steel. The narrow mesh design prevents small leaves and debris from falling into your tea. It is safe to throw in the dishwasher after use, so you’ll be able to keep it clean between each use. Just keep in mind that while it’s not oversized, it may take up more space in a drawer than in other styles. Price at time of publish: $6 Product Details: Material: Stainless steel | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: It’s not designed to use on the stovetop, so you’ll have to boil water and pour it in. The teapot is made of heat-resistant glass and features an egg-like piece in the middle that allows you to diffuse your favorite tea blend. When your tea is done brewing, all you have to do is raise it by the silicone string and remove it. The 25-ounce teapot is able to brew one to two cups of tea. Keep in mind that this pick is not safe to heat up on the stovetop, however, so you’ll have to boil water and pour it in. Price at time of publish: $85 Product Details: Material: Glass, stainless steel, plastic, silicone | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: It’s more expensive than some other options. The Teabloom Venice Mug is made from Borosilicate glass, a durable and heat-resistant material. Its double-wall design uses an air-pressure relief hole at the bottom of the mug that makes it shock-resistant as well. That means you can take it from the refrigerator to the microwave to the dishwasher without worrying about the glass cracking or shattering. Although this pick may be a bit more expensive than some other infusers, the 15-ounce capacity gives you enough for a generous pour without having to brew a whole pot. This mug also comes with a lid, which you can even use as a coaster. Price at time of publish: $24 Product Details: Material: Borosilicate glass, stainless steel | Care Instructions: Dishwasher Safe Keep in Mind: You’ll need to keep it on your stovetop or have enough room to store it. Both the teapot and accompanying clear infuser are lightweight and easy to maneuver. The extra wide handle and non-drip spout make this teapot very comfortable to use. It is also safe to use on both the stovetop and the microwave. The dishwasher-safe teapot features a classic design with simple, clean lines that will fit into any kitchen aesthetic, so you can keep it on your stovetop if you don’t have room to store it. The 40-ounce capacity is also a plus, allowing you to brew up to five cups of tea at a time. It even makes for a thoughtful gift. Price at time of publish: $25 Product Details: Material: Borosilicate glass | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: It’s larger than other styles, so you’ll either need storage space or leave it on your countertop. It’s also not dishwasher safe. Its user-friendly design includes pre-programmed temperature settings for different types of tea, including oolong, green, black/herbal, and white, as well as a general boil setting. There is also an automatic keep-warm function that will continue to keep your team at a comfortable temperature for 60 minutes before automatically shutting off. However, you also have the option of turning off the unit manually if you need to. The pot, which can hold up to 40 ounces of liquid, is constructed from durable Duran glass, while the infuser is made of high-quality stainless steel. This style is larger than other options, so you’ll want to make sure you have enough space to store it or leave it on your countertop. It’s also not dishwasher safe, unlike some other picks. Price at time of publish: $110 Product Details: Material: Stainless steel | Care Instructions: Hand wash only Keep in Mind: It works best with larger tea leaves. You’re sure to appreciate the non-slip grip on the handle, which makes it comfortable to stir. Part of what makes it one of the best tea infusers, however, is a simple twist to the bottom of the handle after use to self-scoop all the wet tea leaves from the tea ball. This makes cleanup fast and mess-free. This tea infuser is dishwasher safe, so you’ll be able to keep it in good condition. Keep in mind the tea infuser works best with larger, whole tea leaves. Otherwise, if you have a tea blend with smaller leaves or mixed-in herbs, you might find some of the contents slipping out of the infuser into your tea. Price at time of publish: $12 Product Details: Material: Stainless steel | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: This teapot only brews three to four cups at a time, so it’s not ideal if you’re entertaining a large group. The removable stainless steel mesh infuser features laser-cut holes that prevent even the smallest particles from escaping. You’ll also appreciate the no-drip spout, which helps prevent the tea from dripping onto your tables or countertops. This glass teapot can produce three to four cups, which is worth keeping in mind especially if you plan to use it for entertaining a larger group. Price at time of publish: $20 Product Details: Material: Borosilicate glass | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: Due to the type of mesh, brewing tea may take more time than usual to brew, compared to other infusers. The tumbler features a premium stainless-steel interior and brushed metallic exterior that is resistant to stains, odors, and corrosion. You’ll also appreciate the slim-line design that fits into all standard car cup holders. It’s offered in five colors: rose gold, navy blue, red, black, or white. Just keep in mind that because of the particular type of mesh of the infuser insert, tea may take longer than usual to brew. Price at time of publish: $26 Product Details: Material: Stainless steel | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: It may be bulkier than other options, so you’ll need room in a storage drawer for it. This novelty tea infuser comes apart in two pieces. To use it, simply fill your favorite loose-leaf tea into the bottle of the sloth, and connect the two pieces together. Then hang on the rim of your cup to let the tea brew. Whenever the tea is done steeping, it’s easy to remove from the cup. If the sloth isn’t quite your style, there are a variety of other cute animal designs to choose from, including a bunny, a hedgehog, a llama, and a koala. Keep in mind that this pick may be a bit bulkier than some other styles, so be sure you have enough space for it. Price at time of publish: $13 Product Details: Material: Silicone | Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe Keep in Mind: Although they’re biodegradable, they’re single-use, so you’ll have to buy new packs every now and then. To fill the bags, simply scoop in your desired loose-leaf tea and close using the attached drawstring. The bags are on the fragile side, so you’ll want to handle them with care to prevent tearing. Although they’re environmentally-friendly they are still single-use, so keep in mind that if you drink tea often you’ll have to re-stock every now and then. What’s more, the filter paper is effective at brewing tea. It features strong penetration and is resistant to high temperatures, letting the tea seep through easily and quickly, resulting in a stronger, more flavorful tea. Price at time of publish: $7 Product Details: Material: Wood | Care Instructions: Disposable
What to Know About Tea Infusers Before Shopping
Material
When choosing the best tea infuser, the material is a key detail to keep in mind. Tea infusers are most commonly made of stainless-steel mesh or silicone since these materials are heat resistant. Tea mugs or teapots with built-in infusers might include a stainless-steel infuser insert and a vessel made of glass, stainless steel, or ceramic.
Care Instructions
Stainless steel and silicone tea infusers are dishwasher safe. However, you’ll want to look at the instructions for other infuser set components, like mugs or electric kettles, as these might have hand-wash specifications.
Your Questions, Answered
How do you use a tea infuser?
Using a tea infuser is a simple process. First, measure out your desired amount of dry tea leaves. Pour them into the tea infuser canister, and steep them in hot water. The steeping time will vary, depending on your specific tea and preferences. “You’ll want to make sure there is plenty of breathing room for the leaves, and then factor in the oxidation and leaf style to ensure proper steeping time,” Schwartz says. “[Making tea] should be a ritual; a moment of time to take for yourself.”
How long should you steep with a tea infuser?
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all measure of time for steeping your tea, though you should expect it to take a few minutes. “White and greens like lighter steep times and lower temperatures due to lack of oxidation and minimal process. While oolongs and black teas prefer longer steep times and higher temperatures due to their higher level of oxidation and heating exposure,” says Schwartz. “It gets pretty specific in terms of each tea, but don’t be afraid to mess up a bit and play a bit with steep times and temperatures to see what may be right for you.”
How do you brew loose-leaf tea without an infuser?
Simply put your tea leaves directly into a cup of hot water, allow it to steep, and drink when ready. This can be a fun process if you enjoy reading your tea leaves. You can also choose to strain your leaves with a loose-leaf tea strainer.
Who We Are
This article was written by Adria Greenhauff, who has been writing about food and lifestyle topics for over a decade. To come up with this list, she researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind material and care instructions. She also interviewed Steve Schwartz, founder, CEO, and master tea blender at Art of Tea.
