How to Use a Tea Infuser: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Use a Tea Infuser: Step-by-Step Guide

Using a tea infuser correctly is key to brewing perfect loose leaf tea. The right technique ensures proper leaf expansion, optimal flavor extraction, and clean, leaf-free tea. At The Tea Trolley, we use tea infusers daily in our service, and this step-by-step guide will help you master the technique.

Why Proper Technique Matters

Correct use:

• Allows leaves to expand fully

• Extracts maximum flavor

• Prevents oversteeping

• Results in clean, perfect tea

Improper use:

• Restricts expansion

• Poor flavor extraction

• Can cause oversteeping

• Messy brewing

Step-by-Step: How to Use a Tea Infuser

Step 1: Choose Your Infuser

Select the right infuser for your vessel:

**For teapots):**

• Large basket infuser

• Teapot-specific infuser

• Built-in infuser (if your teapot has one)

For cups:

• Spoon infuser

• Ball infuser

• Small basket infuser

Browse tea infusers/tea-infusers-strainers) to find the right one.

Step 2: Measure Your Tea

General rule: 1 teaspoon of loose leaf tea per 8-ounce cup

For teapot:

• 1 teaspoon per cup plus "one for the pot"

• Example: 4-cup teapot = 5 teaspoons

Adjust to taste:

• Stronger tea: More leaves

• Lighter tea: Fewer leaves

Pro tip: Don't overfill your infuser — leaves need room to expand.

Step 3: Fill the Infuser

1. Open your infuser (if it opens)

2. Add measured tea leaves

3. Close securely (if applicable)

4. Ensure infuser isn't overfilled

Important: Leave room for expansion — don't pack leaves tightly.

Step 4: Prepare Your Vessel

For teapot:

• Warm teapot with hot water (swirl and discard)

• Place infuser in teapot

• Ensure infuser fits properly

For cup:

• Warm cup with hot water (optional)

• Place infuser in cup

• Ensure infuser fits without touching sides

Step 5: Heat Water to Right Temperature

Water temperature by tea type:

• Black tea: Full boil (212°F)

• Green tea: 175-185°F (simmering)

• White tea: 175°F (simmering)

• Oolong: 185-205°F

• Herbal: Full boil (212°F)

See our guide on how to brew loose leaf tea properly for detailed temperature guidelines.

Step 6: Pour Water Over Infuser

1. Pour hot water directly over the infuser

2. Ensure water covers the tea leaves

3. Fill to appropriate level

4. Cover teapot or cup if possible

Important: Pour water over the infuser, not around it — this ensures proper extraction.

Step 7: Steep for Recommended Time

Steeping times by tea type:

• Black tea: 3-5 minutes

• Green tea: 2-3 minutes

• White tea: 2-3 minutes

• Oolong: 3-4 minutes

• Herbal: 5-7 minutes

Set a timer! Don't guess the time.

Step 8: Remove Infuser Promptly

When time is up:

1. Remove infuser immediately

2. Don't leave it in — this causes oversteeping

3. Place infuser on saucer or infuser rest

4. Enjoy your perfectly brewed tea

Critical: Remove infuser as soon as steeping time is complete to prevent bitterness.

Step 9: Clean Infuser

After use:

1. Rinse with warm water

2. Remove any stuck leaves

3. Dry thoroughly

4. Store properly

Pro tip: Clean immediately — dried tea is harder to remove.

Tips for Best Results

Don't Overfill

Problem: Overfilling restricts expansion

Solution: Use recommended amount, leave room

Remove Promptly

Problem: Leaving infuser in causes oversteeping

Solution: Set timer, remove immediately when done

Use Right Temperature

Problem: Wrong temperature affects flavor

Solution: Heat water to correct temperature for tea type

Clean Properly

Problem: Not cleaning causes flavor contamination

Solution: Rinse and clean after each use

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Overfilling Infuser

Problem: Leaves can't expand, poor extraction

Solution: Use recommended amount, leave expansion room

Mistake 2: Leaving Infuser In Too Long

Problem: Oversteeping, bitter tea

Solution: Set timer, remove promptly

Mistake 3: Wrong Water Temperature

Problem: Affects flavor extraction

Solution: Use correct temperature for tea type

Mistake 4: Not Cleaning Infuser

Problem: Flavor contamination, stains

Solution: Clean after each use

Mistake 5: Using Wrong Size Infuser

Problem: Too small restricts expansion

Solution: Choose appropriately sized infuser

For Different Tea Types

Black Tea

Method:

1. Fill infuser with black tea (1 tsp per cup)

2. Place in teapot or cup

3. Pour boiling water (212°F)

4. Steep 3-5 minutes

5. Remove infuser

Tips: Full boil, longer steep, can handle heat

Green Tea

Method:

1. Fill infuser with green tea (1 tsp per cup)

2. Place in teapot or cup

3. Pour simmering water (175-185°F)

4. Steep 2-3 minutes

5. Remove infuser immediately

Tips: Lower temperature, shorter steep, delicate

White Tea

Method:

1. Fill infuser with white tea (1 tsp per cup)

2. Place in teapot or cup

3. Pour very hot water (175°F)

4. Steep 2-3 minutes

5. Remove infuser

Tips: Very delicate, low temperature, short steep

Herbal Tea

Method:

1. Fill infuser with herbal tea (1 tsp per cup)

2. Place in teapot or cup

3. Pour boiling water (212°F)

4. Steep 5-7 minutes

5. Remove infuser

Tips: Full boil, longer steep, no risk of bitterness

Using Different Infuser Types

Basket Infuser

Method:

1. Fill basket with tea

2. Place in teapot or cup

3. Pour water over

4. Steep and remove

Advantages: Maximum expansion, best results

Ball Infuser

Method:

1. Fill ball with tea (don't overfill)

2. Close securely

3. Place in cup

4. Pour water over

5. Steep and remove

Advantages: Portable, works in any cup

Spoon Infuser

Method:

1. Fill spoon with tea

2. Place in cup

3. Pour water over

4. Steep and remove by handle

Advantages: Easy to remove, convenient

Multiple Steeps

Many teas can be steeped multiple times:

Method:

1. First steep: Remove infuser when done

2. Second steep: Reuse same leaves

3. Use slightly hotter water or longer time

4. Each steep reveals different flavors

Best teas for multiple steeps:

• Oolong (excellent)

• High-quality green tea

• Some black teas

• Pu-erh tea

Important: Remove infuser between steeps — don't leave in continuously.

[The Tea Trolley](/afternoon-tea-delta-pa) Method

At The Tea Trolley, we use this method daily:

1. Warm vessel with hot water

2. Measure tea carefully (1 tsp per cup)

3. Fill infuser without overfilling

4. Place in vessel properly

5. Heat water to exact temperature

6. Pour over infuser directly

7. Set timer for exact time

8. Remove promptly when done

9. Clean immediately after use

This method ensures perfect tea every time.

Troubleshooting

Tea is too weak:

• Use more tea leaves

• Steep longer (within recommended time)

• Use hotter water

Tea is too strong/bitter:

• Use fewer leaves

• Steep shorter time

• Remove infuser sooner

Leaves escape:

• Check mesh quality

• Don't overfill

• Use finer mesh infuser

Infuser is hard to remove:

• Don't let it get stuck

• Use infuser with handle

• Remove promptly

Getting Started

**New to tea infusers?** Start with:

1. Quality tea infuser/tea-infusers-strainers)

2. Loose leaf tea

3. Teapot or cup

4. Hot water

Practice makes perfect — you'll develop your technique over time.

Browse tea infusers to get started.

Ready to Use Your Infuser?

With proper technique, a tea infuser makes brewing loose leaf tea easy and enjoyable. Follow these steps for perfect results every time.

Browse our selection of tea infusers — from basket infusers for teapots to spoon infusers for single cups.

Need help? Visit us at The Tea Trolley in Delta, Pennsylvania, or contact us — we're happy to help you master tea infuser technique.