Why Use a Tea Infuser?

The tea infuser was invented in the early part of the nineteenth century and by the turn of the century no proper household would be without one. Prior to the invention of the tea bag, tea leaves were sold loose requiring tea to be strained after brewing. The invention of the tea infuser was the height of convenience for the times and quickly the idea gained momentum. Early homemakers were glad for the easy clean up involved removing the need to strain tea after brewing and freeing up valuable time.

The popularity of infusing tea has remained strong throughout the one hundred plus years since it's conception and today tea infusers are given as gifts for many occasions, making for an especially popular wedding gift. It is not uncommon to see tea infusers presented as house warming gifts, at engagement parties and even baby showers.

Tea infusing is an excellent choice when brewing tea for oneself or one's guests. Acting much as a tea bag would the infuser itself keeps loose tea leafs from compromising the integrity of tea. A tea infuser is typically made of metal mesh, bamboo, porcelain or glass. Tiffany and Co. has made high end infusers since shortly after the invention hit the main stream. Quite often a tea infuser will have a chain attached to it removing the problem of retrieving the infuser once the tea has steeped to perfection. Implementing the use of an infuser increases the tea drinker's likelihood of an enjoyable tea time experience. Experienced tea drinkers find using a tea infuser to be necessary and would think of no other way to enjoy tea.

When choosing a tea infuser it is important to decide if a single cup infuser is right or one capable of preparing multiple servings at a time. There are many varieties of tea infusers including but not limited to glass tea infusers, tea pot infusers as well as a relatively new take on tradition, the sharky tea infuser. These days traditional tea infusers can be found incorporating many whimsical shapes such as a stars or hearts.

A glass tea infuser works exactly the same as a traditional model, however rather than being made from meshed metal it has been worked from glass. Many glass infusers come with their own cup to be used or the consumer may also chose a larger glass tea pot infuser which typically will come with it's own tea pot.

A particularly user friendly type of infuser is the sharky tea infuser. The sharky was invented by an Argentina man named Pablo Matteoda for an invention contest presented by Designboom called "beyond silver". The sharky won third prize and is a wonderful addition to the tea infuser family. The sharky gets it's catchy name from the adorable shark fin which floats above the water line making for easy removal once the tea has steeped. While the fin floats above the water, the loose tea leaves are contained in the capsule below. Check it out.

For the host/hostess who likes to entertain a tea infuser pot would likely be the best choice. The ability to provide guests with truly fresh brewed tea is lovely. A tea infuser pot is a type of teapot that allows the host/hostess to make multiple servings of tea in the same brief time as brewing a single cup of tea. It also should not go without mention that there is a very real satisfaction in being able to combine different herbs and tea flavors into a blend that is completely unique, setting creative flavor filled tea times in motion.

Many tea infusers are decorative and the different materials used make no difference in the quality of tea produced, it is simply a matter of preference. Whether the tea drinker chooses glass, bamboo, metal mesh, porcelain or silken infuser bags the drinker can be assured of a fresh cup. Tea bags can be cut open and the loose leaves within can be used with a tea infuser if no loose leaves are available.

Infusing tea is a long enjoyed tradition especially in European households, but the popularity of this practice has spread the world over. With new takes on the old design today the tea drinker is able to choose by a seemingly endless variety of designs and sizes.

The JING tea infuser mug is an excellent option. In the video below it's use is demonstrated.