Tea Infuser Strainer

What it is

A fine-mesh brewing basket made of food-grade 304 stainless steel, with a silicone lid. The basket drops into a mug or teapot; the handle is extended to about 4.3 inches so it spans the rim of most cups rather than sinking. Overall it measures roughly 4.2 by 3.6 by 3 inches. The lid holds heat in while the leaf steeps, and when the tea is done it flips over and becomes a tray for the wet basket so you are not carrying a dripping thing across the kitchen. It is dishwasher safe.

Why it’s on this list

The case for loose leaf is not snobbery, it is mechanical. A tea bag is a small paper prison. Leaves need room to unfurl and water needs to move through them, and in a bag neither happens — which is why the industry fills bags with dust and fannings, the broken remains of the leaf, rather than whole leaf that would never open in there. A basket wide enough for the leaf to expand is the entire technology required to fix this.

Buy the stainless one. The novelty silicone infusers and the little spring-loaded tea balls are too small, they clamp the leaf, and they are a nuisance to clean. This is a piece of steel mesh with a handle. There is nothing in it to break.

What to know before you buy

• Measure your mug. A 4.3-inch handle span is designed for standard mugs and teapots. In a narrow tumbler or an espresso-sized cup it will not sit properly.
• Very fine tea will clog the mesh. Rooibos, ground spices, and heavily broken leaf work their way into fine mesh and stay there. Rinse it immediately after use, while it is still hot, and it stays clean. Let it dry in the basket and you will be scrubbing.
• Silicone can pick up odors. If you brew strong spiced blends, the lid may hold the smell. Wash it separately from the steel.
• The purist should not buy this. The best cup is made by brewing leaf free in the pot and straining as you pour — nothing constrains the leaf at all. A basket is a compromise in favor of convenience. It is an excellent compromise, but it is one.
• If you drink one cup a week, a paper filter is fine. This earns its place on a desk where someone brews every day.