IngenuiTEA Loose Tea Infuser - Brewer - 450ml

Product Information

What makes Firebelly Tea's Stop-Infusion Travel Mug so unique is that it allows users to brew delicious tea without an infuser. Instead, tea leaves steep openly inside the mug, which is much better for diffusion, and a tea press is inserted to stop the infusion process. It works more like a French press than a traditional infuser bottle, and the difference shines through in the flavor, whether you're making hot tea or iced. If the infuser became hot to touch: Tea leaves need to steep in hot water, of course, but that can become a problem if your infuser gets unbearably hot to touch. We made sure that wouldn't be an issue for any of the infusers we recommended. Each infuser was placed in 212-degree water for several minutes and then removed from the mug by hand (or immediately let go of) to see if it was safe to handle. The item can also be counted on to make tasty tea without a mess. It passed our tests by keeping tea leaves out of the cup; only trace amounts of dust slipped through, which is normal for most infusers. Once the tea is done steeping and you remove the infuser, its lid functions as a drip tray, so you can place the infuser on it and avoid liquid spilling onto your countertop. The two handles have what Oxo calls "stay-cool touchpoints," and this was largely true in our experience. The handles got a little warm but remained safe to touch. This question pops up often with tea infusers, especially when people switch over from tea bags. While specific measurements vary depending on the type of tea used, the general rule of thumb is 1 teaspoon of loose tea for every 6 to 8 ounces of water. Adding more tea will lead to a stronger flavor, as will steeping for a longer amount of time. Too much of an extreme for either will lead to an overly bitter cup of tea, however, so keep that in mind when brewing.

This thing solves all my problems above amazingly. The handle is large and practical for a good grip (none of those dainty small designer handles), the lid is not exactly watertight but enough for a good seal if I fill it to the top. At no point does my fingers touch the actual teapot, but even so it doesn't get too hot. The hefty 16oz is good for two cups of tea (not really enough, I may get the larger size, but it's good really). As I drink my tea from my actual tea mug, the tea leaves are safely contained within the ingenuitea teapot so all I have to do is grab the teapot and top it up with hot water, or toss it and rinse it to clean, or pop it into the dishwasher. No need to scoop out tea leaves from a gross rusting tea ball.. you know what I mean. According to Shunan Teng, the founder and CEO ofTea Drunk, one tip for making better tea at home is to use hotter water for high-quality tea and lower-temperature water for subpar tea. "Hotter temperatures bring out the flavors in better tea," she says, "and lower temperatures dilute the flaws in lower-quality tea. With bad tea, the bitterness and astringency would come out with higher temperatures." Other Options We Tested Our Lab team has spent collective decades working in professional kitchens, developing recipes, and testing kitchen gear. Genuine Fred Manatea Tea Infuser: The Genuine Fred Manatea Infuser fell just short of being included on our list, mainly because its performance was inconsistent depending on the type of tea used. A green tea that we brewed had a lot of leaves slip through the filter and into the mug. The tea was drinkable and overall enjoyable, but the last few sips had too much sediment for our liking. Another minor shortcoming of the Manatea infuser is that its two silicone pieces are somewhat inconvenient to attach. While we can't fully recommend this infuser, some customers may enjoy its novelty aspect and could consider it as a gift idea. It just can't be counted on with every type of loose leaf tea.

Questions and Answers

IngenuiTEA vs IngenuiTEA 2 vs Iced IngenuiTEAAll IngenuiTEA models have the same basic functions with some minor differences in filters, sizes, and styles. All IngenuiTEA models are made with BPA-free plastic that can withstand the hot water temperatures required to brew tea. There are two IngenuiTEA styles for hot tea and one for iced tea. Mistakes with brewing tea usually involve time, temperature, or water-to-tea ratio. This means brewing for too long or too short, using an incorrect temperature, or using too much or too little tea. Being mindful of all three factors will help people develop their tea-brewing techniques."— Shunan Teng, Founder and CEO ofTea Drunk What to Look for When Buying a Tea Infuser Size

IngenuiTEA and IngenuiTEA 2 are both the same size at 16oz and were designed with brewing hot tea in mind. Hand WashingAlthough it takes a little more time, some people prefer to handwash teaware (myself included). If you prefer to handwash your IngenuiTEA, here's how I like to handwash it. As far as its performance, the Tea Drop does not have the absolute finest infuser basket. Some small particles ended up in the mug after we tested multiple tea varieties but not to the extent that it marred the flavor or drinking experience. We were impressed by how large the infuser basket is, which is a benefit because it gives tea leaves space to evenly diffuse throughout the mug or teapot.

Teas THE SEASON

Many travel mugs today come with infusers for delicious tea on the go. The infusers themselves are typically basket style, but they are specially designed for the mug’s dimensions. The brewing process, which can be done for both hot and iced tea, is no different than standard models: simply fill the infuser, pour the water, and steep for the tea’s ideal length of time. This tea ball has a dreamy nighttime-themed teapot charmed attached to it, making it a great way to wind down, perhaps with a cup of caffeine-free herbal tea. The charm has a functional purpose too, as it lets users remove the tea ball easily and without burning their fingers. We received the Stop-Infusion Travel Mug from the brand for testing purposes and found that each of the teas we brewed with it was strong and evenly diffused. The steel-and-plastic tea press, or plunger, is also extremely effective at tamping down loose tea leaves and ensuring sediment doesn't end up in any sips. The top of the tea press has a 360-degree vent that lets you drink from any side; it's a unique design that might take a moment to get used to, but sipping is smooth and drip-free. The lid needs to be removed before drinking, though, so you'll need two free hands to open it. The more space that tea leaves have to roam around inside the cup or pot while steeping, the better. This means large infusers are superior to small ones, as they disperse the flavors more evenly throughout the water. If possible, look for an infuser with a basket shape that fills up your entire mug. Does this mean tea balls are too small be effective? Nope! Even small tea balls produce a better result than most tea bags, since bagged tea is all too often filled with low-quality dust, fannings, and broken leaves. Those looking for a teapot with a built-in infuser can follow the same rule of thumb: a larger infuser likely means more flavor. Of course, the best way to brew tea would be for the leaves to swirl around freely and then be strained after steeping, but that is a messier and more time-consuming process than using an infuser.