The one thing you will find in most tea lovers’ homes is the tea “tools”. Tea tools are an accumulation of items you need to make tea or make tea better. If you have been a tea lover long enough, you have plenty of tea tools. If you are new to tea, welcome to the world of tea. What will your first tea tool purchase be? A teaspoon, tea caddy, tea strainer, teacups, or tea infusers. Let me know (after you read this article) what your first purchase will be.
So it begins…it’s time for tea tools
You’ve decided to dig deeper into the world of tea. There’s a lot out there. There are personal preferences and then there are things that you really need. I’ve just shared my love of tea with my work partner and she’s diving in big time. It’s such a healthy way to enjoy a beverage. The healthiest.
I’ve got her started and I’ll share with you where and how to start your tea journey. Sharing with you products along the way. The market is flooded with so many items. Some are needed and some are wanted. Some make tea necessary while others make it fun. Let me say this, there is nothing wrong with having fun with your tea.
The tea market is growing. The tea market is full of ample opportunities for products to make brewing tea easier and fun. There are large selections of infusers, brewing devices, and even tea pets.
What tea tools do you need?
Tea is a lot of fun. There are vendors who sell you things you do not need. There are many things you may buy that will not benefit you at all. Not even in a fun way.
If you want to go simple all you have to do is
- Heat some water
- Have a vessel (cup to put it in)
- Tea to brew
Yes, it’s that simple. Know that this is the way a lot of people drink their tea. When they sip and get a tea leaf, they eat it. You can also slip it back into the cup. So tea is as simple as that. Simplistic to complex. That’s the wonderment of tea.
But here is where it gets interesting. Where it gets started. Most people, people who fall in love with tea have to have MORE, much more.
What about those tea leaves? Especially if you are using loose-leaf tea. You can always enjoy that tea while the tea leaves are still in your cup. That’s actually a thing. Today is not for that article. What comes next? An infuser or strainer. Like a tootsie pop (is that still a thing?) you can never have just one. What if your first one needs cleaning. So, yes, you will need two, or a few. Some are so practical while others are so cute.
Oh no, we’ve added another thing to our collection. Have you seen the infusers? OHHH BOY! There are so many choices. Before you know it you will have a tea area, then a tea cabinet
To strain your tea leaves without leaving them in your cup you will need one of two items.
Tea Strainer
A strainer is to be for larger leaf teas (white, green). A strainer will fit into your cup or teapot like a basket. You will brew your tea and remove the strainer. The strainer is then left in another cup or holder at that time. I use more strainers in my cups. I find the flow of water to the leaf a plus. A tea strainer is generally large enough to allow the tea leaves to expand. Expanding allows the full flavor of the tea to release into your cup. I also drink a lot of tea and a tea strainer holds more tea so I can keep steeping my tea several times throughout the day. Not giving your tea leaves enough room to expand will not give your tea its best maximum flavor. Most tea strainers are made of stainless steel.
Some tea strainers may be too large for your cup. Be careful in choosing a strainer that will work for your cups and teapots. There are many available and the choices are a combination of stainer hole size, the strainer size itself, and the handle or handle to remove the strainer.
You can find tea strainers anywhere tea is sold and the price goes from affordable to “I have to have it”.
Perfect size and the right size and amount of infusing holes so the tea does not escape but the infused tea does.
A mesh strainer with a large capacity. Good for a bigger mug or cup. Holds plenty of tea with room for the tea leaves to expand.
Might not hold as much tea but great for those small cups. Whimsical and makes a great gift for your tea-loving friends.
Tea Infuser
Your other choice will be an infuser. An infuser does sit inside your cup. An infuser is generally smaller with a string or handles that sit outside the water and cup. This makes it easy to remove the infuser when you are ready. The infuser as with the strainer sits to the side of the teacup to use again. The problem with tea infusers is that they do not hold a lot of tea, the tea does not have a lot of room to “breath” to infuse. Brewing a fine tea like rooibos or CTC black teas? You will need an infuser with very small holes to keep the tea inside the infuser.
Brewing several cups of tea from one infusion is also limited. An infuser does have its place. If you are drinking one cup of tea an infuser works. Infusers are easy to travel with and most are silicone. I am sure you are aware of the teabag. A tea bag is made of paper and disposable and is easier to use at functions or places with limited space for tea making. As I’ll show you tea vendors have become creative with their tea infusers. The most common is metal mesh balls with small chains on them.
Costs may vary for both tea infusers and strainers. You can spend a small amount or you can dive right on it and get some elite ones. The tea world door is open and ready for you
The whole deal. You get a mug, and Infuser, and a lid. The lid also can double as a coaster for your tea infuser.
Unique teacup w/ strainer. The hand holds the cup in a unique way and gives a new perspective to holding a cup of tea.
Kettle or Teapot
If you have reached the next step in your tea “game” then there is one thing you must never do again. Do not heat your tea water in a microwave. The taste will be off. This influencer believes that microwaves are more a problem than a solution. When you use a microwave you also have no sign of the temperature of your water. Water temperature is very important in tea brewing. The temperature of your water will affect the taste of your tea. Each tea has its own boiling point. Too hot and the tea will taste bad, too warm and the tea will not infuse enough and be bland. You will be spending a lot of money on those precious tea leaves. Don’t destroy the taste with bad water heating choices.
Want to find out the difference yourself? Made several cups of tea using the same tea and the exact same amount. Heat your water in a microwave to boiling, another cup less than boiling, and a kettle. Let them all steep the recommended time. See! The difference is amazing. Let me know what you found out.
**If you absolutely have to use a microwave, heat the water alone and add the tea leaves later.
Clay gives your tea a unique flavor and a must-try. A beautiful centerpiece.
Love the way this tea kettle looks. Very eclectic and perfect to set on a tea cozy for dinner or a tea party. Bamboo lid, metal infuser. Perfect.
Teacup
What are you drinking your tea out of right now? This section is very personal. The teacups that are out there range from plain to elaborate. They can be a tea mug or fine china sitting on an elaborate saucer. Teacups are personal choices. They can say a lot about your tea drinking style as well as you in general. Some teacups are mugs. Some teacups are metal while most are ceramic and a few are glass. Some teacups are handmade. Some are large and others are small. Most of it is a personal preference.
The size of your teacup, the material used as well as the shape of your teacup will influence the taste of your tea. Not that one is better or worse than the other. It’s a matter of preference. What tastes best to you.
Plastic however is NEVER a teacup choice, ever.
You get a teacup (that really is unique) DId you see that handle? This comes with its own infuser as well.
Moving further into the world of tea is the Gai wan. This cup takes tea to a whole new level. The tea is brewed in this cup and poured into drinking cups. It's the next level of tea, are you ready?
Double walled glass lets your drink stay warmer longer. Those double walls also keep your hands safe from too hot of a mug. I think this little guy is adorable.
Teaspoon / Tea Scoop
Won’t just a normal teaspoon do? The simple answer is yes, of course.
My grandmother and many like her had a teaspoon collection. Some hung on the wall and were never touched. Others are laid in a drawer to be used on special tea occasions and others are used with every cup of tea.
I can hear the sound now of the metal teaspoon as it hit the walls of the teacup. It was used to add sugar or honey, other times to take a sip or two to make sure the tea cooled to the perfect temperature. Teaspoons are not necessary but they are one of the many tea tools many of us tea lovers own and continue to use. There are also larger spoons that people call tea scoops.
A tea scoop is generally made of wood and oblong. It’s used to scoop the tea from the source into the cup. It’s a unique and cool gadget. Earthy is why I love it. If you try to pick up tea with a kitchen teaspoon, well, go ahead and give it a try. It does not work well. Gone are the days of using our fingers to pick our tea. A wooden scoop has marks to measure your tea. Picking up the tea is easier and measurements are no longer a guess or trial to get.
Measuring out at a teaspoon. The perfect measure for tea. The circular scoop allows you easy access into the tea container to measure the perfect teaspoon of tea.
Customized teaspoons are always an option. Great gifts and perfect showpieces. What would your teaspoon say?
Bamboo tea scoops are used to scoop tea from the tea source into containers for safe storage. You can also use them to scoop tea into your infuser.
Tea Storage
Now that you have all these cool tea tools for your preparations you are going to need a place to store all your teas. That is where tea tins come in. Again from simple to elaborate. Tea storage needs to be in a dark container. Glass that the sun can get through can damage your tea. There are five things you need to concern yourself with in the preservation of your teas. Those are light, heat, moisture, odor, and air.
You want your container to be opaque so the sun does not get in. The lid must be secure and air-tight. Most containers are made of tin, porcelain, or wood. You can also store your teas in double-bagged containers that tea vendors sell their tea in.
Whatever you choose make sure it is food safe.
Perfect for your teas. A six-pack to hold a variety of your favorites. They are three inches tall. 1-Cup Capacity
Designed to be a certain piece on your counter. Store your tea and place it right next to your tea kettle.
I have samples of tea that I may not drink right away. These mini tea tins are perfect for holding smaller amounts of tea. Keeping the tea fresh until I'm ready to enjoy them.
Fun tea tools that are just a bit extra
Lemon Squeezers – Everyone should have a lemon squeezer, not just for tea. But for tea. It’s an awesome tea tool used to squeeze the juice into the tea without it getting all over your fingers and counter.
Lemon in your tea and the perfect keepsake lemon squeezer to make lemon juice.
Drip catchers – Some of these are so cute. They go on the spout of the teapot to keep the tea from dripping down the spout, down the side, and onto the tablecloth.
Tea spout protectors are important to keep your tea from dripping down the spout. It also helps protect the tea from staining certain materials used in making tea kettles.
Sugars – Sugars can be a fun feature with tea. Not just a spoonful of sugar. Sugar can come in different sizes and shapes, decorative. There are cubes and holiday shapes and colors. These stand out in a bowl and are excellent for parties.
32 Assorted Molded-like teapots and adorable. The teapots are White & Amber. Melts right in your teacup to sweeten that cup of tea.
Dollies – This is something my grandmother used to crochet. I have several. A vintage added touch to any tea party or tea set. Mine always sat under the tea kettle or tea service. They can also be used to designate the placement of guests. Some use the dollies to cover the sugar or milk containers.
Tea cozy – My sister made me very fun and glittery tea cozy. I love it. Glitter is my favorite color. A tea cozy is a tea warmer. You place it over your teapot to keep the contents warmer longer. There are also tea cozies that are for your teacups.
Made in the USA of 100% cotton. This cozy measures 10 inches tall and 13 inches wide; fits most standard 6 to 8 cup teapots. It is lined with extra thick padding. Preshrunk and machine washable.
I saved the best for last. While researching for this article I came across this item. I have to be honest, I never heard of it. Now I want it. It’s a great tea tool and an even greater idea. So, sparing no more time, let me introduce you to:
The teabag squeezer – it’s like it sounds. It squeezes your teabags. While it’s a practice that’s frowned upon. Squeezing your teabag releases the liquid inside. That liquid has a higher concentration of tannic acid. Squeezing the teabag will cause your tea to be bitter or sour by adding acidic tannins into your cup.
But, the tea squeezer is still pretty cool!
Tea tool concerns
Are our tea infusers safe?
Yes, even the silicone ones are safe to use and BPA-free. The tea balls or metal infusers are made of stainless steel and are safe to use.
Can you drink loose tea without a strainer?
You can always drink your tea without a strainer. The tea leaves can be eaten or placed back into the teacup. You can also make your own tea bags from muslin, cheesecloth, or a coffee filter
The simplest way to make tea
- Boil water. Different types of tea require different water temperatures to brew
- Warm-up teapot
- Put the tea into a teapot
- add hot water
- Cover teapot and steep tea
- Strain tea leaves and pours into teacups
Conclusion
Did you even guess that our tea world was so expansive? Looking at how far it branches out beyond a cup, of tea, and hot water. I even learned something new. There is a lot to love about tea and all the tea tools that surround it. Sure, you don’t need a lot of them but, they will brighten your day or that of a tea-loving friend.
No matter what your choice is, enjoy your tea. From modest to flamboyant. Fill that tea space with joy and smiles. Share your love with those around you and never, never microwave that water and put it in a plastic cup. Just saying!
