Tea Sacs

Seems like a pretty good deal. I use cup sized unbleached filters from somebody or other that I get at the local co-op. Maybe 3 bucks for 40. Since I resteep a couple times, I don't think I've ever needed more than 40 in a month. Not a big deal to me.

While they are not overpriced or that costly, you would be much better off with an in-mug infuser basket. I bought mine from a local bookstore for about $3.00. It is a nylon mesh basket that fits inside your cup and rests around the rim of the cup, and I believe it is made by Republic of Tea. It allows the tea to fully expand with no restriction and can be used over and over. I use them at home and at work and they are IMO the best option. Might want to check it out... If I find a link online I'll post it.

- Dominic Drinking: Getting ready to brew some Oolong

Finally! I found it! It is called "The People's Brew Basket" it is made out of "Polymesh" (which is why all my searches for nylon/plastic turned up nothing.) I'm not promoting this online store/seller, they were just the first link I found with a good picture and description.

For $3-4 it really can't be beat.

- Dominic

Hi Dominic, I absolutely think the easiest most money saving way (especially if you drink just a cup of some particular tea,) is this little mesh basket you are talking about. I love it!!! I found it at Whole foods and some places they sell ROC.I actually have 2 and keep tea leaves in each so I can change around brew many times or just toss the used tea when your done. Clean Easy. Thats my 2 cents for then day! Jenn

If I could find something like that for my teapot, I would get one. I have a Bodum Assam press, which I don't use much anymore because it's a bit cumbersome to clean. My favorite teapot - the only one that doesn't drip - has a very wide mouth - the lid is the width of the entire pot, if that makes sense. So it would be hard to find an infuser that would fit into it.

It CAN be beat, because the one that Upton's sells for about the same price seems to be more rugged.

But the People's Brew Basket is available from anyone who carries Republic of Tea products. In the southeast, that means if you need one on short notice, you can get it off the shelf at a Fresh Market. This is very handy.

--scott

Two comments:

1. The Chatsworth pots don't drip, and are available with internal infusers. I highly recommend them. I use a vitrified hotelware Chatsworth and have had it for twenty years now. It's hard to damage, does what a teapot should, and is easy to clean.

1. If you take one of the standard baskets and you cement two bamboo rods to it (say, cut off chopstick ends), it will fit nicely in a wide-mouth pot.

--scott

Sure, there are others... just that this one works well and is easy to get a hold of inexpensively. As for ruggedness... it is just a tea infuser. Mine goes through the microwave daily at work, gets abused as much as a tea infuser can I guess, and it has not failed me.

As for the Teapot, I'm not sure, how wide is the mouth of it? The brew basket is exactly as wide as a standard coffee mug. I'm sure some quick addition could make it work, such as the chopstic suggestion or even just gluing three "tabs" in a triangle pattern that would extend the lip of the basket.

- Dominic

I would highly recommend a permanent filter, there's a few that filter very well with little to no sediment passing through (and enough room for the leaves to unfurl at the bottom of the cup/pot, depending on how much tea you're using). SpecialTeas sells a couple of sizes, the bigger goes in my larger 16oz mug (it says it's designed for pots):

Or there's a size for smaller mugs and pots:

I've had 2 of them for about 2-3 years, and they're still in great shape.

Justin

While I agree on the permanent filter, I personally don't like metal of any sort to come in contact with my tea or water. That's the reason I choose the polymesh basket over the metal filters. I'm sure they work fine though and more sturdy.

- Dominic

T-Sac products are available at Sur la Table, for about $4.95 per box of 100.

I prefer them to reusable infusers in office situations because I can just throw the whole bag away and get on with things, and don't have to deal with going from my desk back to the office kitchen to rinse out the infuser.

--Blair

My teapot is similar to this one, except that mine is a larger, 6-cup pot. You can see why it would be difficult to find an infusion basket to fit:

As for the metal issue, my teapot is stainless steel and so is my kettle I have never noticed a metallic taste to my tea. All of my relatives in Ireland use stainless steel teapots, and believe me, there is nobody more fussy about their tea than the Irish. I've never heard of anyone not using a metal teaspoon for fear of tainting the taste of the tea. I actually like the stainless steel pot because it keeps the tea hot longer, and because I don't have to worry about breaking it when I clean it. I have an entire collection of ceramic teapots with no lids. :)

The only time I've ever noticed a metallic taste to my tea was several years ago when I tried using one of those perforated tea eggs. That left a very distinct metallic taste. It also did not allow for sufficient water circulation around the leaves, so I only used it a couple of times.