Tea Infuser vs. Tea Strainer: Which One Should You Choose?

Tea is an old drink, a staple hot drink that always has its special place in our homes. Whether it’s morning, evening, or when you’re back from work, tired and exhausted, nothing can freshen you up like a hot cup of tea. Tea is our companion, and has always been, no matter whether we’re alone or together, happy or sad, and healthy or suffering from an illness.

Brewing tea may seem like a very simple task: just add boiling water to fermented tea leaves. However, if you want to add a little more flavor to this experience, you need what professionals never tell you. You should choose wisely whether to use a tea infuser or a tea strainer!

But how can you master the art of choosing the right teaware to brew your delicious cup of herbal tea? Here’s the guide that will walk you through the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of tea infusers and tea strainers.

What is a Tea Strainer?

A tea strainer is one of the simplest and oldest brewing teaware. It looks like a small basket with a handle, often made out of stainless steel, plastic, or cotton. A tea strainer acts as a filter that stops tea leaves from passing through, leaving only the liquid in your cup. You have probably seen this tool a lot. It’s a household item, commonly found in almost every kitchen, and often comes with any teapot you purchase. But it is mostly used to brew herbal teas like green tea.

To use a tea strainer, there are two main methods:

Place the strainer on the cup and pour the tea you already brewed in the teapot into the cup.
Place the strainer on the cup, fill it with your favorite herbal blend, and pour boiling water over it to quickly brew a cup of herbal tea.

While both methods are common in brewing herbal teas, the former is just an extra layer of filtration to prevent leaves from getting into the teacup, and the latter is the traditional method of brewing herbal tea blends. Keep in mind the second method isn’t ideal for brewing store-bought loose-leaf teas.

Advantages & Disadvantages of using a Tea Strainer

The main advantage of brewing herbal teas with strainers is that it’s quick and easy. When brewing with a mesh strainer, boiling water passes through tea leaves while extracting the flavor quickly and effectively. This feature not only brings out the true tea flavor and aroma that tea aficionados love, but also is a quick brewing technique, perfect for those who have just replaced traditional tea with herbal tea.

While tea strainers are great for brewing a tasty cup of tea, they have particular drawbacks that make them a hassle to brew tea with. To start, brewing tea with a strainer can be a messy process. Tea leaves may end up in your cup, forcing you to fish them out with a teaspoon. Also, if you pour water faster than the strainer can pass through leaves, well, you’re going to need a cleaning cloth to wipe the counter.

What is a Tea Infuser?

A tea infuser is similar to the strainer, but with a big twist. Infusers look like a small basket with a lid, or a mesh container that you fill with your favorite herbal tea blend and submerge it in a teapot or cup filled with boiling water. Technically, you can refer to them as reusable teabags. Tea infusers are often made of stainless steel, but sometimes you can see bamboo, silicone, and cotton ones.

Infusers are simple to use and versatile. You can brew herbal tea, a specific blend, or traditional black tea with them. To make a more accurate choice, it is better to know the types of infusers:

Teapot infusers: Special for teapots; usually made of steel or cast iron and suitable for brewing large amounts of tea.
Silicone infusers: Made of soft silicone and have fancy and attractive designs. Suitable for herbal teas.
Ball infusers: Made in the shape of a small steel ball and suitable for use in a cup.
Cotton filter infusers: Simple cotton bags that work great for herbal teas and fine teas.
Hanging or long infusers: designed to hang from the edge of the teapot; suitable for large teapots.
Mesh infusers: Made of stainless steel or plastic mesh and are very suitable for fine teas. They are also easily cleaned.

A tea infuser gives you a different experience. When you use an infuser, the tea leaves remain in a container, so nothing but the pure flavor and color of the tea enters your drink. Therefore, your tea will have a richer aroma and flavor, and depending on how long you leave the infuser in the cup or teapot, the drink will be stronger as flavor and aroma are fully extracted from the tea leaves.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Tea Infuser

Tea infusers are the teaware of choice for brewing herbal tea among tea lovers, and for good reason. One of the most important advantages of a tea infuser is no more loose leaves in the cup after brewing. You can easily remove the infuser without hassle and right after the steeping time, making your tea clean, smooth, and uniform.

However, the tea infuser is not without its flaws. The design can restrict the flow of water a little, making it take longer for the tea to infuse. This can affect the final consistency and taste, although not noticeable to casual tea drinkers. Also, in case of silicon infusers, the infuser may float, which means inadequate extraction of tea aroma, color, and taste. In addition, some infusers have a complex design and can be more difficult to clean.

Tea Strainer or Tea Infuser: That is The Question!

Now that you’ve learned the features of each, you’re probably wondering which one to choose. According to Tea India, the answer to this question depends on your taste and the herbal blend of your choice, but to put it simply:

If you’re a fan of traditional teas like black or green tea and prefer a simpler brewing method, a strainer is a good choice.
If you’re into more unique flavors and are interested in brewing different herbal blends, an infuser is a better option.

The ultimate goal is to make your tea drinking experience a unique and enjoyable one, regardless you’re using a strainer or an infuser. Both teaware can help you brew a fantastic cup of herbal tea: a cup of tea you enjoy from the first sip.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both tea strainers and infusers offer their own unique advantages that impact your tea-drinking experience depending on your preferences and herbal tea blend. A tea strainer provides a quick, easy way to brew most herbal teas, while a tea infuser allows for a more controlled and ideal brewing. Choosing between the two comes down to your personal taste, convenience, and how much time you’re willing to spend preparing your cup of tea. No matter your choice, what truly matters is the comfort and joy that a perfectly brewed cup of tea brings to your day.