Forget Tea Bags! This Is the Only Method of Steeping Loose-Leaf Tea

There are so many products and methods of steeping loose-leaf tea — and I've tried them all. Metal infusers, disposable tea bags (made from every kind of material possible), and more. But I find these products impact the flavor of high-quality loose-leaf teas. Metal has a tendency to give the tea an iron-y flavor. And disposable tea bags can leave the tea tasting papery . . .

And what about a classic Chinese guywan? There's artistry and grace to the guywan, but it only allows you to steep a small cup (a few sips) of tea. Admittedly, while I wish I was badass enough to steep and strain my tea out of classic teaware, I'm partial to using the ceramic infuser in a ceramic mug. Hands down, it's my favorite method of steeping tea. The ceramic infuser fits most standard mugs, captures most of the tea leaves, and does not impart any off flavors. It's easy to use (and reuse), can be cleaned in a jiffy, and allows me to brew a giant mug of tea in one go.

Most ceramic infusers come with a small, lipped ceramic plate, so when the tea is finished steeping, you can set the infuser on the plate until you are ready for a second (or third or fourth) steeping. Lastly, there are some "loose-leaf" teas that can be on the dusty, powdery side or have very fine, twiggy particles that escape through the infuser holes and into your tea. If you encounter such a tea, you'll have to resort to using a disposable tea bag. But for any high-quality full-leaf or loose-leaf teas, the ceramic infuser should work like a charm.