Ceramic Tea Strainer

The world of coffee drinking is vastly different from the tea-lover's world. Where coffee drinkers seem to favor action, tea drinkers (including those who a ceramic tea strainer) prefer to relax and enjoy the experience. Unlike coffee, preparing and drinking tea requires some precise preparations. Perhaps that's why most tea drinkers are finicky about their brewing accessories, including ceramic tea strainers.

The Perfect Cup of Tea And Your Ceramic Tea Strainer

What is a ceramic tea strainer -- and why should you use one? Most tea buffs insist that to properly brew tea, tea bags should not be used. In fact, the 'tea' found in typical store-bought tea is nothing more than small pieces of tea leftovers - flakes, really.

True tea connoisseurs insist the tea that they brew must float free in the water while it is steeping. But when you go to drink the tea, what then? You don't want tea leaves choking you with every mouthful. This is where a ceramic tea strainer comes into play. Ceramic tea strainers are designed to catch (trap) the loose tea leaves so that they are not poured into your individual cup. Most ceramic tea strainers are built right in as a part of your teapot - usually a series of small holes on the side of the teapot, where the spout is located. These holes are small enough to trap the tea leaves, allowing the pure brewed tea to flow out, into the cup.

Is a Ceramic Tea Strainer Really Necessary?

Why use a ceramic tea strainer? Why not just use one of the metal strainers that are so widely available? The reason that many people prefer a ceramic tea strainer over a metal one is that, at least for certain types of teas, passing the tea water through metal, or contact with metal while steeping, can cause subtle shifts in the flavor of the tea.

When you use a ceramic tea strainer instead of a metal strainer, you can be assured that the essence of the tea flavor will be perfectly preserved from brewing (steeping) until the tea is poured out.

Achieving The Perfect Brew With A Ceramic Tea Strainer

If you want to achieve the very best brew with a ceramic tea strainer, you should begin by preheating your teapot and cups. Pour hot water - I like to use boiling water for this phase - into your teapot and all the cups you will be using. Let them sit for a few minutes, while you prepare for brewing. The heat from the water will warm your teawear.

When ready to brew, take pure water (not tap water - that will affect the taste), bring it to the proper temperature in your teakettle. A teakettle is used ONLY for heating the water - never for brewing the tea. When you are ready, put the tea leaves into your teapot (throw out the heating water first), then pour the freshly heated water in. Let stand (this is the brewing phase) - then serve into your preheated individual tea cups. As you pour, your ceramic tea strainer will automatically catch any loose tea leaves and keep them in the teapot.