How to Choose a Tea Infuser for Loose Leaf Tea

In short: the best tea infuser for most people is a roomy basket infuser with fine stainless steel mesh that sits inside your mug or teapot. It gives the leaves space to open, keeps small particles out of the cup and is easy to rinse. Paper filter bags are the handiest choice for work and travel, and a teapot with a built-in infuser is the easiest way to brew for two or more.

Loose leaf tea needs water to move around the leaves, and a tool that squeezes them into a tiny space gives you a thin, flat brew. Here is how the main infuser types compare.

Why the infuser matters

Whole tea leaves can grow two to five times larger as they steep. A rolled oolong unfurls into full leaves, and a twisted black tea opens into long strips. If the infuser is too small, the leaves stay packed together, the water cannot reach them evenly and you lose flavor.

Three things decide whether an infuser works well:

• Room. The leaves should fill no more than a third of the basket when dry.
• Mesh size. Fine mesh holds back small leaf pieces, rooibos needles and herbal dust. Wide holes let them float into your cup.
• Depth. The basket should reach well below the water line, so the leaves sit fully under water for the whole steep.

Tea infuser types compared

Basket infusers: the everyday choice

A basket infuser is a wide mesh cylinder with a rim that rests on the edge of your cup. It gives the leaves room to open and lifts out cleanly when the tea is ready.

Our easyTEA Infuser is a good example: stainless steel, about 6 cm wide and 7 cm tall, with extra-fine mesh and a lid. It fits most mugs and teapots, and the lid doubles as a drip tray when you lift the basket out. Browse more options in our tea infusers and accessories section.

Tip: pour a little hot water over the empty basket before you add the leaves. It warms the metal and stops it from cooling the first sips.

Tea balls: small and limited

Tea balls are cute but usually too small. A 4 cm ball holds a teaspoon of leaves, and once they swell there is no space left. They work for small-leaf herbal blends, not for whole-leaf greens, oolongs or white teas.

Paper filter bags: no cleanup at all

Filter bags turn any loose leaf tea into a tea bag. You fill the bag, fold the top over the rim of the cup and pull it out when the tea is ready. Unbleached paper keeps flavor neutral, and the paper holds back even fine rooibos.

Our Tea Brew Filter Bags come 100 to a pack and are biodegradable. They suit the office, travel and cold-brew iced tea.

Teapots with infusers: brewing for more than one

For two or more people, a teapot with a deep removable infuser is the most convenient tool. Lift the infuser out when the time is up, and the tea will not keep getting stronger.

The Daze Porcelain Teapot 44oz has a long, extra-fine stainless steel infuser that reaches deep into the pot, which suits family tea time. See more in our teapots and kettles section. For desk tea, an infuser mug is the one-cup version of the same idea; we compare them in our guide to tea mugs with infusers.

Matching the infuser to your tea

• Rolled oolongs and whole-leaf black teas: a large basket or teapot infuser. These leaves expand the most.
• Green and white teas: a basket or glass teapot, so you can watch the leaves and lift them out on time at 175°F (80°C).
• Rooibos and finely cut herbal blends: extra-fine mesh or paper filters, or you will find needles at the bottom of the cup.
• Iced tea and cold brew: filter bags or a large basket in a jug.

How to use an infuser well

1. Measure: about 1 heaping teaspoon (2-3 g) of loose leaf tea per 8 oz (240 ml) of water.
2. Fill no more than a third of the basket with dry leaves.
3. Pour water over the leaves, not around them, at the right temperature for the tea.
4. Steep, then lift the infuser out at the end of the steeping time. Our tea steeping times chart lists times for every type.
5. Reuse the leaves for a second steep if the tea allows it. Oolong and pu-erh often give three or more.

Cleaning and care

Tip the spent leaves into compost and rinse the infuser under hot running water straight away, before the leaves dry onto the mesh. Once a week, soak stainless steel in hot water with a spoonful of baking soda for 15 minutes, then brush gently with a soft toothbrush to clear the holes. Avoid steel wool, which scratches the mesh and widens the holes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best type of tea infuser?

For most people, a roomy basket infuser with fine stainless steel mesh. It gives the leaves space to open, fits most mugs and teapots, and is easy to clean.

Are tea balls bad for loose leaf tea?

They are not bad, but most are too small for whole-leaf tea. The leaves cannot expand, so the cup tastes weaker. Use tea balls for small-leaf herbal blends and fill them only halfway.

How much tea should I put in an infuser?

About 1 heaping teaspoon, or 2-3 g, per 8 oz (240 ml) of water. Fill the basket no more than a third full with dry leaves.

Can I use a tea infuser for cold brew?

Yes. Put the leaves in a large basket or a paper filter bag, place it in a jug of cold water and refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours, then lift it out.

How do I clean a stained tea infuser?

Soak it in hot water with a spoonful of baking soda for 15 minutes, then brush the mesh with a soft toothbrush and rinse well.