Strainers: materials, nuances of choice and care features

A tea strainer is an essential accessory for those who love tea drinking and tea ceremonies. Regardless of where the tea is brewed - in a teapot or a cup - the strainer holds the tea leaves, making the drink much more pleasant to drink.

This product comes from the Middle Ages. It was invented in China. Over time, the tea strainer conquered all of Europe. In ancient times, such filters were made of steel, which does not corrode and deposit. Nowadays, they are made from plastic, stainless steel, silver and silicone. Making tea with such a product has become simple and convenient. In addition, preparing a drink with such an accessory can save brewing and time.

There are a variety of such accessories on the market now. In addition, this filter can also be used for Turkish coffee. Coffee grounds are finer in consistency than tea leaves. Hence, to strain the coffee after brewing into a cup, you need a fine mesh strainer.

Strainer filters are also used for brewing herbal teas and infusions. For such drinks, you can take any product for filtration. Herbal infusions most often have a large leaf. For these drinks, you can use those filters that are immersed in the mug. The drink must be allowed to brew, and then pull out the strainer by the handle or chain.

The main feature of a tea strainer for tea or coffee is that the material does not deform during long-term use and is resistant to high temperatures. Also, all the materials from which this accessory is made are non-toxic, absolutely safe and do not emit harmful compounds upon contact with boiling water.

Infusion filters are divided into several types:

• open or closed;
• a bucket for tea leaves;
• spring;
• tea cup;
• standard filters.

Open are a small concave mesh. It can be with a handle for convenience or with another protrusion that clings either to the spout of the teapot or slides over the cup. With a strainer with a handle, you can very conveniently and quickly filter small infusions from several mugs at once. This is the oldest tea brewing method. It was used in ancient times.

Bucket filter differs in its design and brings a touch of aristocracy to the tea ceremony. The product is attached to the spout of the teapot. There is no need to hold anything, which makes it very convenient to use. But there are also disadvantages: the bucket must be cleaned often, because it is clogged with small tea leaves.

Another type of filter is spring for catching tea leaves. The upper end in the form of a small hook is hooked onto the spout of the teapot, the spring is lowered inward, where it straightens out and takes the form of a net. This type of filtration is suitable for opaque dishes.

Strainer glasses come in a complete set for some models of teapots. The tea leaves are poured into a glass, put in a teapot, and then it is necessary to cover the teapot with something dense so that the drink is infused. After that, they take out the glass and enjoy a beautiful and transparent drink. Such products are made from silver, aluminum or stainless metal.

The above filters are of the open type. Closed filters are also classified into several subtypes.

• Chain infusion strainer - a small, most often a silver ball, on a chain. At the end of this chain there is a counterweight that hangs from the cup during brewing and prevents the ball from falling into the drink. When the tea is infused, the ball is pulled out by pulling on the chain. Such accessories are made not only from silver, stainless steel and other alloys are also used for their manufacture.
• Float filter - another type of closed tea strainers. The float sieve is on the surface and does not sink. As soon as the tea has reached the desired strength in its color, the product is pulled out by the handle, which is at the end in the form of a fishing rod.
• Sieve in the form of a clothespin. This sieve fits over a cup or other dish. The part that is immersed in water is made in various shapes with holes. Such models are most often plastic. Filters in the form of animals and fruits are especially popular.
• A strainer spoon or filter press looks like tongs... Pressing the double handle or button opens the filter, thus cleaning it from tea leaves is not difficult. These tongs are very practical. If you have to pour tea leaves into various filters with a separate spoon, then you can take tea directly from the jar with such a strainer. In some configurations, this accessory comes with a spoon holder. This addition simplifies the use and avoids traces of tea on the table surface. Strainer spoons are made of silver. Some models have beautiful designs and patterns, which makes this product more aesthetically pleasing.
• Strainer press with kettle... This fashion accessory is originally from France. These filters have a long service life. They are made of steel or plastic and are easy to operate. There is a handle on the lid of the teapot. When you press it, the press presses down the leaves of the tea leaves. In this case, you can tilt the dishes and not be afraid that the tea leaves will slip into the drink.

Finally, standard types of strainers are in demand by many buyers. They are easy to use, minimalist, and affordable.These are the most common filters in different sizes, with or without handles. These items can be put on the spout of the teapot. Some can be used to filter the brew through the sieve itself into a cup or other container.

There are also simple tea-steaming tongs. Outwardly, they are similar to a nut. The product consists of two half-spoons, which resemble a nut when closed. These are put on a cup or a teapot spout.

There are a lot of types and forms of tea filters. Some manufacturers make small strainers in the form of various cartoon characters. Egg shapes are also very popular. The upper part is made in the form of fruits or animals, and the lower, which is immersed in the cup, has an ovoid shape with holes.

Infusion filters in the form of dolls, swans, bears, cats, snakes, smiling strawberries are suitable not only for children, but also for adults. Such bright and funny accessories cheer up and make the process of tea drinking more interesting. These cute products are not only made of silicone or steel.

Now many companies produce tea strainers from silver, gold, bronze and even platinum. And the colorful color palette makes the filters a great gift for everyone. You can pick up a beautiful pair of tea with a strainer, and such a cute sign of attention will cheer up adults, children, grandparents.

Strainers-key rings are presented in a wide range. They are made from a variety of materials, but the most useful is silver. Tea with the use of a silver filter-keychain acquires an exquisite taste.

Filter strainers are available without a handle or with a handle. Instead of a handle, there may be a small protrusion at the end of the product that clings to the edge of the mug. All products are made of materials that do not oxidize and are resistant to high temperatures, so do not be afraid that the handle or protrusion will melt on contact with a hot cup.

When choosing a good, quality product, you should pay attention to several aspects in this matter. First of all, it is worth determining the tightness of the product. The distance between the parts should be kept to a minimum. If the filter is not airtight, then you will have to fish out the fine tea leaves from the cup. The simplicity of the filter also plays a big role. You should choose a product where the lid is closed or put on. More complex designs will quickly lose interest and take longer to use.

The strainer filters are securely fastened. But you still need to make sure of this and check all the details of the mechanism so that at the most inopportune moment the handle or protrusion does not sink into the cup with the drink.

Any dishware needs care. Upon contact with tea or coffee, the strainer may darken, plaque may appear in places, which makes the product look untidy. And brewing tea will no longer be such an aesthetic ceremony. To clean a small tea sieve, you will need:

• Toothbrush;
• 100 ml of water;
• ammonia (2 tablespoons).

First you need to mix water with ammonia. Then lower the strainer into a container with water and ammonia. You can keep the product from 3 hours to 12 hours, depending on the degree of plaque. Then you should clean the filter with a toothbrush and rinse well with water.

There is one more way to take care of this accessory. With the help of citric acid, they clean teapots, dishes made of copper and various alloys, and remove plaque. To remove plaque from the filter using citric acid, two glasses of water are poured into the container with the addition of two teaspoons of citric acid. It is necessary to lower the strainer into such a solution and hold it there for some time. After that, the solution together with the filter can be boiled. This will speed up the result.A soda solution is also suitable for cleaning these products.

Nowadays, using tea strainers is not only fun but also stylish. You can brew tea without a strainer, but it is not so convenient.

There are many varieties of tea, from small-leaved to large-leaved, that require the maximum infusion rate over time. If tea leaves get into the drink, it makes the process of tea drinking less enjoyable.

This accessory is also suitable as a gift. Those who are fond of tea ceremonies, and those who like to drink tea in a company or enjoy a drink alone, the strainer filter will be to your taste. In the production of these filters, high-quality stainless steel and food grade plastic are used.

In the next video, unusual silicone tea strainers are waiting for you.